Benz sketches its Q5 fighter

Mercedes-Benz has released an official teaser sketch of the GLC – an all-new mid-size SUV that will rival Audi's top-selling Q5 and the BMW X3 in Australia by December – ahead of its world debut next Wednesday (June 17).

The GLC -- pictured here in the latest spy shots -- replaces the GLK, which was never sold in Australia, and slots in between the GLA and CLE, as the facelifted M-Class will be called when it arrives here in September, accompanied by the all-new GLE Coupe.

As with its larger sibling, the GLC will also be joined by a more stylish GLC Coupe form (pictured here in yellow), as previewed by the concept of the same name at the Shanghai motor show in April, to compete with the Porsche Macan, BMW X4 and Range Rover Evoque in 2016.

Among the few official details released, Benz says the GLC will be up to 19 per cent more efficient than the GLK it replaces, and will comes with the company's AIR BODY CONTROL air suspension, DYNAMIC SELECT drive modes and 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive.

Engine options should include a range of 2.0-litre four- and 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engines (in the GLC 250 and GLC 400), plus two versions of the company's 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel (in the GLC 220d and GLC 250d), matched with seven- and nine-speed automatic transmissions.

Also expect the addition of a 3.0-litre turbo V6-powered GLC 450 Sport, a range-topping Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 model powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 and, later, a plug-in hybrid model employing the same petrol-electric powertrain from the C 350e.