Mercedes reveal the new C-Class Coupé (UPDATED)

After a series of leaks during the past few days, the leak has turned into a downpour leading Mercedes to release official pictures of the new C-Class Coupé, ahead of its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

You’re entitled to be a tadge confused over where the C-Class Coupé fits within the current Mercedes range – okay, the clue is in the prefix (C-Class) but up until 2009 Mercedes offered the CLK, which was a coupé/convertible version of the C-Class. But when the CLK ceased production in 2009, along came the 2-door E-Class Coupé which like the CLK before it was based on the contemporary C-Class platform. See where I’m going with this?

So if both the new C-Class Coupé and E-Class Coupé are based on the same platform and appear roughly the same size, what’s the difference?

For the time being we know that this new C-Class Coupé uses a front-end based on the recently facelifted C-Class saloon, but adopts a more steeply raked windscreen and offers just two bucket seats in the rear – the backrests which can then be folded down to increase boot space. In the UK the new Coupé adopts a distinctive sporting profile within the C-Class range, being fitted as standard with the AMG Sports Package including AMG bodystyling and 18” AMG alloys.

Mercedes are targeting customers aged 35 to 45 for whom professional success, love of life and a strong sense of responsibility are all important – that might sound like a mature segment, but it’s almost 20 years younger than the average Mercedes-Benz buyer, so this is very much a car aimed at the loyal BMW 3-Series customer. “By extending the C-Class portfolio, we are consciously targeting new customers,” says Dr Joachim Schmidt, Head of Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Cars. “The new model is youthful, stylish and dynamic. What we are offering is an exceptionally sporty way to enter the world of the Mercedes-Benz coupé.”

Engines will be as per the C-Class saloon, starting with the 168 bhp 2,143 cc C 220 CDI BlueEfficiency, good for 64.2mpg and 117g/km of CO2 climbing up to the range-topping 302 bhp C 350 powered by a 3,498 cc V6 petrol engine. All cars receive Mercedes new ECO start/stop function and revised 7G-TRONIC PLUS seven-speed automatic transmission. The E-Class Coupé by contrast is already available with a 383 bhp 5,461 cc V8 engine in the E 500, so perhaps that’s where the dividing line will lie between both Coupé models.

The new C-Class Coupé will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in early March with first customer deliveries beginning in June

At a Glance

The range of engines for the C-Class Coupé at a glance:¹

BE = BlueEFFICIENCY, * figures for automatic transmission, manual transmission in brackets

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