Mercedes-Benz is poised to debut a new coupe-SUV at the forthcoming Auto China show in Shanghai later this month. Called the Concept GLC Coupe, the new concept previews a direct competitor for BMW’s X4.
The sketch, revealed by Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche at the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting in Berlin today, shows a vehicle with a rakish profile, similar to that of the recently revealed production GLE Coupe shown at the Detroit auto show this past January. The mid-size coupe-crossover concept will sit below the GLE Coupe in the GLC-class when it makes its expected debut next year.
“The Concept GLC Coupé is a near-production-standard study which transforms the successful GLE Coupé formula into a more compact segment,” says Mercedes-Benz. “The dynamically expressive show car combines typical coupé stylistic features with the sensual and pure design idiom of forthcoming Mercedes SUVs.”
Given the increasing popularity of coupe-SUV typology in emerging markets, Mercedes-Benz has been quick to roll out vehicles that fill the niche. Just as the GLE Coupe made its debut ahead of the standard GLE (M-Class replacement) model — currently on the Mercedes stand at the New York auto show — the GLC Coupe will also be shown before the redesigned GLC SUV. Has the coupe-SUV typology superceded the traditional SUV?
We’ll bring you more details on the Concept GLC Coupe once it makes its debut in China on April 20th.
