Currently reading: 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé - teaser image released

The Mercedes GLC Coupé, a BMW X4 rival, is expected to be unveiled at the New York motor show tomorrow

The Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé is expected to be unveiled at the New York motor show tomorrow, and the manufacturer has released a teaser image of its all-new model.

Testing of the GLC Coupé is well underway ahead of the BMW X4 rival's expected launch in the fourth quarter of this year.

Read our 2016 Mercedes GLC 350d Coupé review here

Through the minimal disguise, the car can be seen sporting a similar rear-end design to the bigger GLE Coupé, with similar lights and a strip, likely to be finished in chrome, across the rear of the car. The front-end treatment follows that of the GLC, while the roofline tapers down before a small lip spoiler completes the rear deck. 

The near-complete appearance of this Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé test mule tells us that a debut isn’t far off; we expect the car to make its debut at the New York motor show later this month.

Previous spy shots showed a GLC Coupé test mule out with the standard GLC.

A Mercedes spokesperson suggested that the concept, which was revealed at the Shanghai motor show last year, is more similar to the production version than the spy shots we’ve seen so far would suggest. The disguised GLC Coupé has the same swooping roof design as the concept, but with smaller wheels, and it features a similar front to its GLC sibling, aside from a different grille. 

Engines for the GLC Coupé will be shared with the regular Mercedes-Benz GLC, although Mercedes would not specify which engines would make it across. The GLC Coupé’s larger sibling, the GLE Coupé, carries over one petrol and one diesel V6 from its namesake, so it’s likely that one petrol and one diesel four-cylinder unit will be used in the GLC Coupé.

No official measurements for the production version are available, but at 4727mm long, 2000mm wide and 1593mm tall, the GLC Coupé concept was 57mm longer, 120mm wider and 28mm lower than the X4.

It also rode on a wheelbase that was 17mm longer than the BMW’s, at 2827mm. Compared with the outgoing GLK, it was 192mm longer, 160mm wider and 77mm lower.

The sporting SUV had a modified version of Mercedes’ modular high-strength steel MRA platform, as found beneath the latest C-Class. It was allied to aluminium-intensive suspension that uses a combination of double wishbones up front and multi-links at the rear.

Although it has not been officially confirmed, Autocar can reveal that production versions of the new swoopy-styled GLC Coupé will have the option of rear air springs, following the lead taken by the C-Class.

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Power for the concept came from a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, one of a number of units that will be made available in the GLC and GLC Coupé, according to senior Mercedes sources.

The twin-turbo V6 kicks out 362bhp and 383lb ft of torque - 60bhp and 88lb ft more than the most powerful petrol-powered X4 model, the xDrive35i.

This particular engine is set to power a GLC450 Coupé AMG model, in line with moves made with the larger GLE450 Coupé Sport shown in 2015.

Channelling these reserves to all four wheels is Mercedes’ new nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox and 4Matic four-wheel drive system.

Officials revealed in Shanghai that the company’s SUV line-up would eventually extend to seven models.

Included are the GLA, GLC, GLC Coupé, GLE, GLE Coupé, GLS and traditional G-Class, which is set to be substantially updated in 2017.

We put the Mercedes-Benz GLC crossover through its paces in our full review

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5wheels 15 March 2016

Lost it again

Sods law, just said the other day MB were getting their mojo back, false flag sorry because this is an effing disgrace
275not599 21 April 2015

It is an indisputable fact

It is an indisputable fact that the MB styling studio is staffed with 14 year old boys whose brains (?) are in perfect harmony with nouveau riche customers who want, above all else, to be seen coming.
Pierre 22 March 2016

Has Anyone seen MB?

If anyone has seen a reputable car company with a reputation for restrained yet innovative design, good taste, and incomparable good manners, please get in touch. The rather elderly company answers to the name Mercedes Benz, but hasn't been seen for a very long time now and we are getting rather worried. Thank you.
oaffie 19 April 2015

What went wrong

Mercedes used to have simple such clean, elegant designs for all their cars. As a child in the late 80's I used to go to the motor shows and ache with desire to own one in the future. Now I would not be seen dead in one. They are horrific. The A-Class looks like a cheap Korean hatchback with comically large badges stuck on to it, as if to desperately self affirm that it is in fact a Mercedes.

Since Audi showed the world that you can in fact increase sales by making cars look repulsive and vulgar, everybody seems to be following suit. Merc are well and truly there. BMW are also heading that way unfortunately but aren't quite at that point yet. The 5 series is still (relatively speaking) quite an elegant design by modern standards, but looking at the new X5 and X6, that will all change if the design language filters down.

marj 29 August 2015

oaffie wrote: Mercedes used

oaffie wrote:

Mercedes used to have simple such clean, elegant designs for all their cars. As a child in the late 80's I used to go to the motor shows and ache with desire to own one in the future. Now I would not be seen dead in one. They are horrific. The A-Class looks like a cheap Korean hatchback with comically large badges stuck on to it, as if to desperately self affirm that it is in fact a Mercedes.

Since Audi showed the world that you can in fact increase sales by making cars look repulsive and vulgar, everybody seems to be following suit. Merc are well and truly there. BMW are also heading that way unfortunately but aren't quite at that point yet. The 5 series is still (relatively speaking) quite an elegant design by modern standards, but looking at the new X5 and X6, that will all change if the design language filters down.

I know what you mean, but they are designing for their largest customer base, China and the Middle East. Mercedes tried to designing something more akin to the W124 with the current E (fore-facelift) and it got panned around the world. I agree, I was looking at a 190, W126 and W124 parked next to each other the other day, and still cannot believe how timeless they are, especially the W124 and 190. They need to return to that. Perhaps we can apply for a job there and sort their design team out.