The 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe will debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.
Though the official debut is still weeks away, Mercedes-Benz has lifted the covers on an all-new entry to the line-up, the C-Class Coupe set for a formal introduction at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.
The 2-door that will be unveiled at Geneva’s PALExpo convention center will be a wee bit smaller than the old CLK that was dropped from the German line-up a few years back.
But for the lack of the rear doors and a lower, sloping roofline, the new coupe will bear a distinct familial resemblance to the updated C-Class sedan that made a brief debut during a Mercedes media party prior to the recent Detroit Auto Show. Basic dimensions will be the same, including wheelbase and overall length.
Initially, two versions will be made available, including the C250, with a 1.8-liter 201-horsepower turbocharged inline-four, and the C350, with a 3.5-liter V6 making 304 horsepower. Both will put power to the rear wheels through the Mercedes 7-speed automatic gearbox. Expect to see some diesel power follow, as well as the high-performance C-Coupe AMG model that is on the schedule for a preview at the upcoming New York Auto Show.
The basic shape and dimensions closely follow those of the new C-Class Sedan.
Mercedes is being coy with fuel economy figures but suggests the C250 will nudge 30 mpg on the highway, while it provides a projected 22 mpg combined City/Highway rating for the C350. Both engines, by the way, are direct-injection.
The new C-Class sedan went through extensive exterior and interior renovations, more than might normally be expected in a mid-cycle update. A full re-do is coming in just over two more years, according to Mercedes sources.
The basic layout of the instrument panel is about the only thing that hasn’t changed on the interior of the 4-door, and now the coupe. Notably, both models get the latest version of the German maker’s COMAND infotainment system.