The trick is on the roof

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In fact, it doesn’t look all that different from its predecessor: when the GLC Coupé arrives at Mercedes dealerships in July, you’ll have to look closely to see the new features. “Because our customers were very satisfied with the previous model to the end,” says Mercedes project manager Axel Benseler: Actually, not much should have changed.

But then they changed it because there was a huge customer demand: more space. That’s why the new version of the GLC coupe is 32 millimeters longer and half of that is used for the wheelbase. It doesn’t sound like much, but inside it makes a difference: the new proportions leave more headroom and 545 liters of luggage fit in the trunk. Or just 390 liters if it’s a plug-in hybrid. The rear entry may be a little tighter than the standard upright GLC, but the rear seat doesn’t feel cramped at all.

Panoramic roof for more light

Visually, the coupé remains close to the regular GLC at the front, while narrow, curved taillights accentuate the width at the rear – but the width has remained the same. However, the GLC Coupé now looks much more mature than its narrow-chested predecessor, which many customers have sharpened: all four-fifths have ordered the AMG optics package. “That should be the case again,” says Benseler.

In the cockpit with a huge touchscreen and virtual instruments in the middle, you sit as if walled off by the large center console, but you still have more than enough room and good visibility, even if the rear window is small. Above all, the optional XXL panoramic roof stretching almost across both rows of seats provides a generous sense of space. Many customers will probably buy it, because without it the interior will be much darker. And Mercedes realized one more thing: the interior looks much better than the C-Class, for example, with its relatively high proportion of hard plastic.

Very quiet interior

You can choose between a sports suspension one centimeter lower than the regular GLC or an air suspension with four centimetres height adjustment. Also, the rear wheels steer up to 4.5 degrees at high speeds and when manoeuvring. This reduces the turning circle to 10.9 meters. The five-seater also makes a big leap in soundproofing on the first test lap – it stays very quiet inside, even with the combustion engine running. “One trick is to use the bitumen-coated sheet metal facing the engine compartment to counter vibrations,” explains Benseler.

Surprising: so many possible propulsions: two mild-hybridized petrol engines and two turbodiesels using a 48-volt electric motor with 23 hp (17 kW), as well as three plug-in hybrids (PHEV) electrics with 136 hp (100 kW). engine A PHEV comes with a turbodiesel – no other brand offers a second PHEV concept. The performance spectrum ranges from 197 hp (145 kW) to 381 hp (280 kW) system performance for the most powerful PHEV. But Mercedes is reducing equipment variants: many options are now standard, such as heated seats. “This reduces the number of varieties in production and helps to keep costs down,” says Benseler. When it comes to options, Mercedes now offers more packages so that the configuration is less complicated for customers.

However, prices are likely to increase significantly. Swiss prices are not stable yet. But they should probably exceed the base price of its predecessor (from 65,100 francs). This is also part of the new Mercedes luxury strategy.

Source: Blick