Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe is Stuttgart's answer to the BMW X4

PHOTO BY MERCEDES-BENZ

GLC-BASED CROSSOVER CONCEPT TO DEBUT AT SHANGHAI AUTO SHOW

   Mercedes-Benz will unveil a GLC Coupe concept at the Shanghai motor show later this month. The car will preview a competitor to the BMW X4, Automotive News Europe reports. The GLC Coupe is expected to be based on the next-generation GLC-class, which is what the GLK-class is now called, per Stuttgart's reworked model nomenclature.

   A GLC Coupe concept would follow on the heels of the debut of the GLE Coupe that we saw at the Detroit auto show in January, which was followed by the reveal of the regular Mercedes-Benz GLE at the New York auto show during the first week of April. The GLE Coupe, a BMW X6 analog, has been confirmed for production and will be the next new Mercedes-Benz crossover to reach store shelves. It will sport a 362-hp, 384 lb-ft twin turbo V8 engine and 4Matic all-wheel drive in the guise of the GLE 450 AMG Sport Coupe, which is due to go on sale this summer.

  Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche shared a sketch of the upcoming concept car with investors at the annual shareholder meeting this week, with the GLC Concept -- at least the drawing -- hinting at a very sleek and rakish greenhouse, appearing somewhat close in form to the existing GLA-class.

   "The Concept GLC Coupe is a near-production-standard study which transforms the successful GLE Coupe formula [ed: Successful formula? Have they even gone on sale yet?] into a more compact segment," Mercedes-Benz said in a statement that accompanied the sketch. "The dynamically expressive show car combines typical coupe stylistic features with the sensual and pure design idiom of forthcoming Mercedes SUVs."