The new C-Class family will soon be joined by a Coupé, Mercedes has revealed. It is expected to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September and will go on sale towards the end of 2015.
The C-Class Coupé is the third car in the new range and will rival the BMW 4 Series, with a Cabriolet expected in 2016. As the sportiest model, it has been given an extra 95mm of length over its predecessor and is 40mm wider.
A sloping roofline, 15mm lower ride height, 80mm longer wheelbase and a more aggressive backend similar to the S-Class complete the exterior changes.
Inside, the C-Class Coupé borrows from the Saloon so it should be instantly familiar to existing owners, but has been slightly enhanced. Unique sport seats, a seat belt ‘butler’ and special colour combinations continue the sportier theme.
Initially there will be four petrol engines available, including a 1.6-litre four-cylinder with 156hp and a two-litre with either 211hp or 245hp, depending on whether you go for the C 250 or C 300 model. Two four-cylinder diesels, meanwhile, offer 170hp and 204hp.
Suspension duties are taken care of by steel springs with two-mode adaptive damping. The option of a five-stage Dynamic Select Airmatic air suspension system that allows the driver to swap between Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport + and Individual modes, each with their own characteristics, is available.
Safety systems fitted as standard include Attention Assist, which warns you if you are drowsy, Collision Prevention Assist Plus, which warns you of an obstacle beyond 7km/h and Adaptive Brake Assist, which enhances the braking effect.
Distronic Plus, meanwhile, is an optional extra that can adjust the speed to match the car in front from 0-200km/h, while steering intervention keeps you in the correct lane. There’s also Active Parking Assist for helping you slot into parallel and end-on spaces and a 360-degree camera for helping you maneuver in tight spots.
Merc’s Comand Online offers a larger display of 960×540 pixels and infotainment functionality such as Bluetooth connectivity, access to Mercedes apps, integrated WiFi hotspot and a voice control system for keeping your hands on the wheel. Apple CarPlay, which debuts in the new A-Class, appears to be missing.
No doubt AMG will be bringing a thunderous C63 version in the future, which will offer greatly enhanced performance over the initial petrol and diesel engines.
A price for the new C-Class Coupé is yet to be announced. Expect to hear more at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
