World Premier Of The Mercedes Benz GLC Coupé: Sports Coupé Meets “G”

The new GLC Coupé translates the design idiom of the show car, with its distinctive basic structure and stretched greenhouse, virtually unchanged into series production. At the same time, the sports car among Mercedes-Benz’s mid-size SUVs impresses with its brand-typical safety, modern assistance systems and an especially sporty-dynamic character. The as-standard sports suspension as well as more direct sports steering, DYNAMIC SELECT and 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive with 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission combine effortlessly superior ride comfort with decidedly sporty agility. Two suspension variants with continuously adjustable damping are optionally available: the new DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL with steel springing as well as the already familiar AIR BODY CONTROL multi-chamber air suspension. Both options make for further enhanced driving dynamics and comfort.

The combination of multifunctional SUV and emotively appealing coupé constitutes a skilful fusion of emotion and intelligence. With an exterior length of 4.73 metres, a height of 1.60 metres and a wheelbase of 2.87 metres, the GLC Coupé is dynamic and compact in appearance. This makes the Coupé almost eight centimetres longer and some four centimetres lower than the multi-talented GLC, with which it shares its basic architecture. The GLC Coupé owes its distinct character to a typically coupé-esque, single-louvred diamond radiator grille and a restyled, dropping roofline. The A-pillar is less steeply raked, while the continuation of the roof outline is lower, terminating in the elegantly flowing, muscular rear end typical of a coupé. The rear window dispenses with a wiper, as the airflow does not break away until after the spoiler lip, which means that water is unable to strike the rear window.

“The GLC Coupé reflects our iconic Mercedes-Benz coupé design while symbolising the bipolarity of our brand – it is ‘hot and cool’,” said Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Daimler AG. “With its design idiom of sensual purity, it perfectly embodies our styling philosophy while at the same time representing contemporary luxury.”

Key parameters for high energy efficiency

The design has also bestowed superlative aerodynamics on the new GLC Coupé. With a c_d value of 0.31 and a drag area of 2.53 m², the Coupé clearly leads its segment with c_d x A = 0.79. Apart from the vehicle’s streamlined basic form, this exceptional aerodynamic performance also results from a host of detail solutions, such as sealing of the radiator and headlamp surrounds, a radiator shutter and optimised underbody panelling.

Despite generous exterior dimensions and a long wheelbase – both of which benefit especially the occupants and the luggage compartment – as well as a full equipment configuration, the vehicle weighs in at just 1710 kilograms (GLC 250 4MATIC Coupé), which puts it among the leaders in this market segment. The main contributory factor in this is the all-new body, which features an intelligent mix of materials, comprising aluminium and high- to ultra-high-strength steels. Aluminium components additionally reduce the weight of the suspension, which also benefits ride comfort due to the attendant reduction in unsprung masses. The optional, fully supporting AIR BODY CONTROL multi-chamber air suspension features spring elements in lightweight yet robust glass-fibre-reinforced plastic, which reduce the system weight in comparison to conventional air suspensions. The use of the new compact transfer case as an add-on module and the 9G-TRONIC with its magnesium transmission housing results in a 12 kg weight reduction in comparison to the previous versions installed in other models.

The models at a glance*:

* Provisional figures