The day has come! – This is the new Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé

The game is on! The car meant to fight the bulls in the arena of the SUV Coupes is here. One year after the presentation of the concept bearing the same name at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2015, the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé comes to reunite the super sporty genes of the coupes with the robustness of the SUVs.

The basic structure and the stretched greenhouse of the series production car remain basically unchanged. The new Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé comes with the sports suspension, the DYNAMIC SELECT  and 4MATIC system standardly fit, as the 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission finds room in the SUV Coupe as well.

Mercedes-Benz offers a choice between two suspension variants with continuously adjustable damping: the new DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL with steel springing and the already familiar AIR BODY CONTROL multi-chamber air suspension.

The SUV with coupe DNA brings to the road an extra sporty fusion of emotion and intelligence. With 4.73 meters long, it is almost eight centimeters longer and some four centimeters lower (1.60-meter high) than its standard sibling, the GLC, with which it shares the basic architecture.

As the pictures of the new blue SUV Coupe show, the car comes wih a diamond grille with a single louvre integrating the star logo, and naturally, a dropping roof outline flowing into a muscular rear end with the typical lines of a coupe. Its broad shoulders, muscular bumper design with integral exhaust tips sets the vehicle into a new road dimension. Narrow, split tail lights, relocated number plate, a centrally positioned brand star and a sharp spoiler lip reflect a design that made its debut with the S-Class Coupé and which all Mercedes-Benz coupé models have since followed.

At the opposite end, the groundbreaking headlights concept, with optional LED High Performance technology, the strikingly gaping side air inlets bring the characteristic Mercedes-Benz design details.

A typical coupé flair and a high-quality ambience put the occupants into a world of plush and dynamics. Already familiar from the GLC are the dashboard and the center console with its flowing lines, a large, one-piece console panel making an elegant sweep below the semi-integrated media display from the center air vents to the armrest. The well-defined lines give a feeling of spaciousness mixed with modernity.

The brand-new GLC Coupé comes as standard with sports suspension including DYNAMIC SELECT with the five transmission modes “ECO”, “Comfort”, “Sport”, “Sport Plus” and “Individual”.

DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL sports suspension with steel springing and adjustable damping is optionally available. The feature combines excellent driving stability and optimal comfort with sporty agility. Also with this option, the DYNAMIC SELECT gives the driver the liberty to adapt the individual character of the vehicle.

Unique in this market segment, Mercedes offers AIR BODY CONTROL air suspension.

In “Sport Plus” mode, the suspension turns stiffer and is lowered by 15 milimeters, giving the occupants feel as if they are sitting in a sports car. As for the “Comfort” mode, a magic carpet should lift the passengers above the road for extreme comfort.

An extra feature of the GLC Coupé compared with the classic GLC SUV is the retuned Direct-Steer system with a more direct steering ratio (15.1:1 instead of 16.1:1) and a sportier characteristics in the SPORT and SPORT PLUS modes.

The design has also bestowed superlative aerodynamics on the new GLC Coupé, at a Cd value of 0.31. Despite its generous exterior dimensions and a long wheelbase, the vehicle weighs only 1,710 kilograms (GLC 250 4MATIC Coupé), which makes it a market leader. It is all due to an intelligent mix of materials, comprising aluminium and ultra-high-strength steel.

The previously mentioned optional AIR BODY CONTROL multi-chamber air suspension features spring elements in lightweight, yet robust glass-fiber-reinforced plastic, reducing the system weight compared with the conventional air suspensions.

18-inch light alloy wheels, a Chrome package with visible exhaust tips, EASY-PACK tailgate, Audio 20 CD multimedia system, reversing camera, KEYLESS-GO start function and upholstery in ARTICO man-made leather are all standard features for the sporty SUV. On the standard features list, assistance systems such as COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS, Crosswind Assist, Headlamp Assist, ATTENTION ASSIST and ESP® with Curve Dynamic Assist are included as well.

On the engine front, the all-new GLC Coupé is available in a total of eight model variants: customers can choose between four diesel and four petrol engines.

The range begins with the four-cylinder diesel-engined GLC 220 d and GLC 250 d 4MATIC coupé with outputs ranging from 170 HP (125 kW) to 204 HP (150 kW) as well as the four-cylinder petrol engined GLC 250 4MATIC coupé rated at 211 HP (155 kW).

The market launch with this engine line-up is set for the autumn of 2016. Further models will follow at the end of 2016.

A plug-in hybrid variant is also on the list, the GLC 350 e 4MATIC Coupé, with a total output of 320 HP and running up to a top speed of 235 km/h. The semi-electrical version boasts low fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions at just  59‑64 g CO₂/km, a new best-in-class value.

The desire of those with a need for power and speed will be satisfied once the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4Matic Coupé hits the market: the top-of-the-line model comes with a V6 biturbo engine roaring out 367 HP, sprinting from a standstill to 100 km/h in less than 5 seconds.