Mercedes-Benz will expand its coupé range early this year when the new C-Class Coupé reaches Irish showrooms. Set to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the neat two-door model slots underneath the E-Class Coupé, giving even more choice for style-conscious buyers in the Mercedes-Benz range.
Crucially, the C-Class Coupé gives Mercedes-Benz a car to rival BMW's 3 Series Coupé and Audi's A5. Replacing both the CLC and CLK models, the C-Class Coupé borrows heavily from its saloon namesake, riding on the same platform and sharing its styling.
Inside, the C-Class Coupé's interior is shared with the recently revised saloon too, with the dashboard and instruments almost identical to the four-door's. The engine line-up will also be largely shared with the saloon. All will feature stop-start to improve their eco credentials, with the C 220 CDI BlueEfficiency using (4.4 litres/100km (64.2mpg) and emitting 117g/km of CO2. Even the range-topping C 350 V6 petrol model with 310hp manages 6.8 litres/100km (41.5mpg) on the official combined cycle, despite its six-second 0-100km/h time and (electronically limited) 250km/h top speed.
Lower by some 41mm over its saloon relative, the Mercedes C-Class Coupé features a steeper rake on its windscreen to give it a sportier profile.
There's no official line on whether AMG is preparing a high-performance C 63 model, but we'd be amazed if the engineers in Afflaterbach have not considered a hotter example for release later this year.