New Zealanders won’t see the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe until around the middle of next year. But here it is, the pictures above and to the right of these words taken the other day by a bystander near the factory in Germany.
The main picture (above) shows the car with heavy taping hiding the design of the rear side glass; the picture at right shows a front end with its diamond grille. What isn’t as obvious from front on is a bonnet that is 60mm longer between the firewall and front axle than the outgoing coupe.
Other dimensions are not as obvious either, not without laying the new coupe over the old. The 2016 car is 95mm longer and 40mm wider but, more importantly, has a 80mm-longer wheelbase.
“The increased vehicle volume above all creates more spaciousness for the driver and front passenger. There is more shoulder room, elbow room and headroom in all seats,” says Benz.
The pictures elsewhere on this page are from the Mercedes-Benz press office and were released a few hours ago. The coupe is all Benz gene pool with its high beltline, frameless doors and side mirrors on the doors. The sedan’s side mirrors are mounted on the base of the A-pillar.
The interior borrows from the sedan but with individual trim elements and sportier front seats. Driver and front passenger have automatic seatbelt feeders.
The coupe rides 15mm lower than the sedan. Standard are steel springs with selective comfort or sport settings. Air suspension and its five driving modes – ECO”, “Comfort”, “Sport”, “Sport +” and customised “Individual” – will be optional.
Under the bonnet are the same Euro6-compliant engines as the sedan – four petrol and two diesel – although the choice is expected to be narrowed down for NZ to perhaps the 155kW C250 and 180kW C300 petrol units and 150kW CDI diesel with its new Selective Catalytic Reduction technology, an exhaust gas treatment.
Expect the two-door to come with the same suite of safety equipment that helped the sedan win the 2015 World Car of the Year.