BEIJING MOTOR SHOW: Benz Concept Coupe SUV

Daimler has taken the unusual step of using its annual shareholders’ meeting to reveal the first image of an all-new crossover from Mercedes-Benz, dubbed the Concept Coupe SUV, ahead of its world debut at China’s Beijing motor show on April 20.

Little information accompanies this rendering, but Mercedes has confirmed the concept provides an accurate preview of an all-new production model to be released globally next year.

“The sportily styled coupé study with the added value of an SUV provides a realistic glimpse of a series-production vehicle expected next year, which will boast very dynamic handling,” said Benz in a statement.

Motoring.com.au understands the Concept Coupe SUV points to a new family of coupe-style crossovers, the first of which will be based on next year’s new-generation GLK mid-size SUV and called the GLC.

It will be followed a larger coupe crossover called the MLC due in 2016 and based on the M-Class.

Contrary to widespread reports, therefore, the Concept Coupe SUV is unlikely to preview the MLC, which is at least two years away following the upcoming release of a facelifted M-Class and will be a direct rival for the BMW X6.

The GLC, meantime, will be Merc’s response to BMW’s all-new X4, which will also be shown at Beijing after its world debut in New York next week, before its international launch later this month and its Australian release in June.

The GLC and X4 – and Porsche’s Macan -- are also likely to be joined in this new mid-size crossover-coupe segment by the Audi Q6, which will also be previewed by a sleek five-door wagon concept, in this case borrowing design cues from the TT coupe.

Just as BMW has flagged its intention to offer an SUV ranging from the X1 to the recently announced X7, Audi has indicated it will expand its Q-badged crossover range by filling in all the gaps between the Q3 and Q7. But it will also go another size smaller than its German rivals by launching the all-new Q1 in 2016.

Now Mercedes appears to be following suit, with Daimler AG Chairman Dieter Zetsche announcing the next stage of its “Stuttgart-based product offensive” in Germany overnight.

The SUV expansion is part of Mercedes’ plan to renew most of its current line-up by the end of 2016 and introduce 13 new models by 2020 as it aims to almost double its annual global sales to two million and match BMW and Audi’s global sales growth.

"With the Concept Coupé SUV we aim to secure new customers by opening up new segments for Mercedes-Benz,” said Dr Zetsche.

"We see a great deal of potential for Mercedes-Benz in the combination of coupé and SUV. We will be officially unveiling the Concept Coupé SUV in just under two weeks at the Beijing Auto Show.”

While the GLA is based on the same MFA front/all-wheel drive architecture as the A-, B- and CLA-Class, the second-generation GLK, which replaces a model never produced in right-hand drive form, will be based on the MRA rear/all-wheel drive platform that underpins the upcoming C-Class.

Just as BMW’s X4 is based on the X3, the GLC will be closely based on the new GLK, with which it will share its turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel four- and six-cylinder engines, while 63 AMG range-toppers should also be forthcoming.

Similarly, the 2016 MLC will share its four-, six- and eight-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with the ML upon which it’s based, and should be topped by the MLC 63 AMG.

While there has been speculation the GLC would emerge as a three-door coupe, it and the five-door GLK will effectively bring to seven the number of MRA-based Mercedes models, including the W205 C-Class sedan and its wagon, coupe, cabriolet and, if the rumours are true, hatchback derivatives.

Mercedes’ fresh SUV onslaught starts with the all-new GLA this week and will also include the new GLK and all-new GLC next year.

Together, given Australia’s booming SUV segments, the GLA, GLK and GLC are expected to play a key role in propelling Mercedes-Benz, which is already Australia’s top-selling luxury brand, into the outright top 10 by mid-decade.

Last year Mercedes sold more than 27,500 cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles in Australia (versus 20,500 for BMW and 16,000 for Audi), placing it just behind Kia (29,778). Honda was the nation’s 10th most popular brand with 39,258 sales.