Mercedes-Benz all-new Concept Coupe SUV is a “four-door coupe” that comes across, visually, as the love child of a Mercedes CLS and the ML sport-utility vehicle
It’s been a busy week for Mercedes-Benz. Fresh on the heels of introducing an all-new S63 AMG Coupe at the New York International Auto Show, the maker has yet another high-level model making its debut in Beijing this week.
And while it’s officially called the New Concept Coupe, you can be quite certain that this prototype will be returning in production form in the near future as a pretty much direct competitor to the likes of the BMW X6. It’s expected to be dubbed the Mercedes-Benz MLC.
It’s part of a full-on product assault from the tri-star brand which plans to roll out an astounding 30 new vehicles between now and the end of the decade, an average of one per quarter through 2020, according to Steve Cannon, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA.
The Mercedes-Benz Concept Coupe is "sensual as a coupé - visionary as an SUV," according to Mercedes-Benz executives.
“Sensual as a coupé – visionary as an SUV,” is the less than modest way that Gorden Wagener, the design chief at Mercedes-Benz, describes the Concept Coupe.
The “four-door coupe” comes across, visually, as the love child of a Mercedes CLS and the maker’s more traditional ML sport-utility vehicle, the roof touching down almost all the way back by the taillights. Up front, the three-pointed Mercedes logo is flanked by a broad chrome bar and framed by the bright grille we’ve been seeing on a number of other recent Benz concepts. The Concept Coupe relies on multi-bulb LED headlamps.
The body is defined by a series of wave-like curves that flow backwards across the hood and side panels. There are the requisite SUV details, including skid plates and running boards, while the show car picks up on one of the latest industry trends: recessed door handles
In back, there’s a simple, integrated deck spoiler and the thin taillights stretch across nearly the entire back end. The Mercedes Concept Coupe rides on 22-inch, five-spoke wheels.
Unleashed at the Beijing Auto Show, it measures more than 194 inches, nose-to-tail, with a 115-inch wheelbase, a height of 68 inches and a width of 71 inches – in all, something that would have quite a presence on Chinese roads, especially in urban settings like Beijing.
The Concept Coupe comes in a bit wider than the current Mercedes ML, which should translate into better shoulder and hip room, but the arching roofline will likely translate into less rear seat headroom.
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To move all that metal, it’s powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 making 329 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque pumped through a 9-speed G-Tronic gearbox. This new engine first appeared in the 2014 Mercedes E-Class.
Mercedes-Benz new coupe SUV concept boasts a big profile while being lower to the ground.
Mercedes is rapidly expanding its ute line-up and the production MLC will follow the launch of the new Mercedes-Benz GLA that’s due to market later this year.
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While the concept is a glimpse at what could be, Mercedes also provided a look at what it’s doing right now in China: a long-wheelbase version of the most popular sedan built by Mercedes-Benz: the C-Class.
In Beijing where luxury sedans are a common sight, the C-Class was extended by more than three inches and was developed specifically for the growing market in China. With the extension the C-Class gains about three inches more legroom in the rear seats. The design is what Mercedes executives described as “sensuous clarity.” The interior features a sense of modern luxury with high-quality materials and meticulously finished details. It also offers powerful yet economical engines.
“The market is not about to compromise,” noted Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the Daimler Board of Management. “We love that attitude, after all, our customers around the globe demand of our products what we demand of ourselves, the best or nothing,” he said.
More than 35,000 C-Class cars were delivered to customers in China in 2013, making it the second-largest market for the midsize sedan. All in all, more than 150,000 vehicles of the prior generation were sold in China.
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With the long-wheelbase version of the new C-Class, which is built exclusively in China,Mercedes-Benz is now able to serve its customers in the brand’s third-largest market even better.
The rear compartment offers its occupants an impressive amount of extra legroom. The larger entrance clearance at foot level furthermore facilitates passenger entry and exit. The high-quality appointments of the interior ensure a prestigious and pleasant atmosphere. A special feature will be the passenger seat that can also be adjusted from the rear compartment.
The longer wheelbase also makes for longer rear doors, larger rear side windows and a stretched roofline. This lends the car harmonious proportions that give it a dynamic and at the same time elegant appearance. The favorable overhangs-to-wheelbase ratio also contributes to the car’s overall visual appeal, according to Mercedes’ designers.
Joseph Szczesny contributed to this report.