► Mercedes GLC Coupe spied
► It’s Daimler’s BMW X4 rival
► Another New York show debut
Fresh spyshots have surfaced of the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe – a fastback, coupe-inspired crossover to challenge the BMW X4. It’s a week before the car is unveiled at the 2016 New York motor show.
The new images give us our clearest look yet at the not-very-thoroughly disguised Coupe filling up on diesel during cold-weather testing in Sweden.
It’s clear to see that Daimler is fast cottoning on to the opportunities proffered by the more sporting SUV mash-ups; it’s already deployed an M-class-replacing GLE Coupe to showrooms and the smaller GLC – the successor to the GLK – will be next.
CAR’s already driven the regular, high-roofed Mercedes GLC – click here for our online review.
Mercedes GLC Coupe: the swoopier GLK follow-up
This car follows the concept shown at the 2015 Shanghai motor show. Mercedes openly hinted that it would launch such a car for real and now we can see they weren’t joking. It’s aimed at those wanting more of the style of a coupe but with the raised ride height, larger boot and 4wd architecture of an SUV.
Underpinning both GLC bodystyles is four-wheel-drive architecture and optional air suspension (unique in the sector) nabbed from the C- and E-class ranges, including greater use of aluminium to save around 80kg from the kerb weight. No rear-wheel drive models have been confirmed yet, but engineers have told CAR magazine that it would be a simple, CO2-saving move to launch one should the market demand it.
When can I buy the Merc GLC Coupe?
The mainstream, high-roof GLC range went on sale in October 2015, priced from £34,950. Expect to see the coupe spied here to follow suit at the end of 2016, powered by a similar range of mostly four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines (straight sixes will follow once they premiere in new 2016 E-class). The engine line-up is expected to reflect the regular GLC, which means it’ll go something like this:
- GLC 220d 4Matic 168bhp, 8.3sec 0-62mph, 56mpg, from 129g/km CO2
- GLC 250d 4Matic 201bhp, 7.6sec 0-62mph, 56mpg, from 129g/km CO2
- GLC 250 4Matic 208bhp, 7.3sec 0-62mph, 43mpg, from 143g/km CO2 (Continent only)
- GLC 350e 4Matic plug-in hybrid 5.9sec 0-62mph, 21-mile zero-emissions range, 60g/km CO2
Just remember the lower roofline will likely impinge on headroom and bootspace; while the regular GLC has a roomy passenger compartment and 580 litres of loadbay, we expect both figures will shrink with this more swoopy bodystyle. The interior is expected to be a carbon copy of the one already seen on the regular high-roof GLC (pictured below), non-retractable multimedia screen and all.
Click here for CAR magazine’s exclusive one-to-one interview with Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche, in which he explains why the company is investing in more and more crossovers and SUVs.
