Mercedes-Benz continues to reshape the definition of a coupe with the introduction of the new 2020 GLC coupe that is almost more sport-utility than it is car. The car will make its world premiere to the public at the New York International Auto Show next month.
The 2020 GLC borrows from its predecessor in its exterior appearance. The pronounced front end screams Mercedes while the rest of the vehicle is clearly becoming the German automaker’s hallmark design for the coupe going forward. Not the typically low-slung, athletic-looking two-door, instead the four-door GLC is a mix of performance and capability.
Highlights at the front end include the powerfully contoured diamond-block grille with an integrated star and single louvre typical of a coupe, complemented by the distinctive air intakes and the new contours of the standard LED headlamps, the automaker notes.
“The GLC Coupe demonstrates how the design features of a coupe can be seamlessly harmonized with those of an SUV,” the company said.
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The focus of the new coupe is definitely on “ability” as the GLC Coupe will be available with a new and enhanced 2.0-liter inline-4 turbo engine capable of 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Of course, how fast the new model goes is only part of the equations. A brand known for its safety offers plenty of the latest advanced driver assistance systems.
Active Distance Assist Distronic and Active Steering Assist provide even more comfortable support to help the driver to keep a safe distance and steer, Mercedes notes. The speed is adjusted automatically ahead of bends or junctions. Active Steering Assist helps the vehicle stay in its lane and change lanes.
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However, it’s on the inside of the new coupe where Mercedes really shines with its new “Hey Mercedes” interactive system. Using it, the driver can access all of the vehicles navigation controls as well as other important functions such as HVAC, radio and other items. It all starts with the driver saying, “Hey Mercedes ….”
The multifunctional touchpad on the center console improves operating convenience even further, and replaces the rotary push button, while the infotainment system has larger touchscreen displays with 12.3 inches in the instrument cluster and 10.25 inches in the central display. In addition, the latest generation of the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) multimedia system boasts intuitive logic and a wide range of control options.
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The new GLC joins Mercedes-Benz other vehicles in the SUV segment, including the GLA, GLC, GLE, GLE Coupe, GLS and G-Class. It will go on sale in the U.S. by late 2019.
Is a car with a rear hatch now considered an SUV?
Funny you should ask. I had a long conversation with Joe Hinrichs, at Ford, about the use of industry designations, What’s a hatchback v an SUV v a CUV? Eye of the beholder? In some cases, however, it has to do with how a carmaker designates the vehicle, perhaps to qualify it in different NHTSA or EPA categories. (The PT Cruiser was a car in some categories and a truck in others!) Reality is, as Joe noted about his mother, to her, the Escape is “my car.” From an alternative perspective, note that today’s utes have very much the same silhouette as the typical car of the 1930s, FWIW.
Paul E.