Mercedes just unleashed a new SUV to take on BMW
(Mercedes-AMG GLC43 Coupe.Mercedes-Benz)
Mercedes-Benz has been on a tear lately.
The three-pointed-star has thus far outsold its luxury rivals Audi, BMW, and Lexus by a solid margin.
Leading the way for Mercedes has been the brand's C-Class, E-Class, and flagship S-Class sedans.
This is particularly impressive considering the market's insatiable demand for SUVs — which is why the Stuttgart-based brand has also been hard at work beefing up its SUV offerings.
The latest SUV to arrive is the sleek GLC Coupe that's based on the GLC concept Mercedes rolled out at the 2015 Shanghai Auto Show.
The GLC Coupe will be available in the US in two forms — the GLC 300 and the high performance AMG GLC43.
"The new GLC43 Coupe is characterized by a high level of agility and sporty driving dynamics," Mercedes Chairman Tobias Moers said in a statement to the press. "With its expressive design and high everyday practicality, the Coupe is able to appeal to new target audiences."
(Mercedes-Benz)
At showrooms, the GLC Coupe will compete directly against BMW's X4 — a fact Mercedes made very clear in its communications with journalists.
The GLC Coupe and its more conventional GLC crossover sibling are both related to the company's C-Class sedan. The three models share everything from powertrain to interiors.
Business Insider reviewed the 2016 GLC300 crossover earlier this year and came away impressed by the Mercedes' well-appointed interior and high level of refinement.
Power for the GLC300 Coupe will come from a 241 horsepower, turbocharged, 2.0 inline-four-cylinder engine while the GLC 43 Coupe will get an "AMG-enhanced" 3.0 liter, twin-turbocharged V6 producing 362 hp. Both engines are hooked up to Mercedes' 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive.
(BMW X4.Newspress USA)
According to Mercedes, the AMG GLC43 Coupe is good for a 0-60 mph sprint in a quick 4.8 seconds and reach an electronically-limited top speed of 130 mph. Performance figures for the GLC300 Coupe have not yet been released.
And neither have the prices for both cars which will reach US showrooms in early 2017.
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