GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Benz C-Cabrio secrets teased

Mercedes-Benz continues its slow-release reveal campaign for the first C-Class Cabriolet ahead of its official unveiling on February 29, this time releasing a teaser video that provides a sneak-peek at its clever new aerodynamic aids.

As you can see from the video and these screen shots, the all-new C-Cabrio will come with at least three ground-breaking new electronically-activated anti-buffeting devices.

They include an innovative spoiler that pops up from the top windscreen rail when the roof is down, an active rear wing and a powered rear cabin wind blocker.

It's not clear how the latter affects rear passengers in the four-seat convertible, which is based on the upcoming two-door C-Class Coupe, but Mercedes is sure to claim a number of firsts with these wind-cheating inventions.

Due on sale for the European summer, the soft-top C-Class will arrive in Australia during the fourth quarter of this year, just in time for our summer.

As we've reported, the C-Class rag-top will replace the E-Class Cabriolet as the company’s most affordable convertible alongside the SLK roadster (which will soon be renamed the SLC), at least until the all-new A-Class cabrio arrives.

The outgoing E-Class Cabriolet starts at just under $90,000 (within $3000 of the outgoing SLK), so expect its newly named successor to again compete directly with BMW’s 4 Series Convertible (from $71,100) and Audi’s ageing A5 Cabriolet (from $81,200).

Employing an electrically-powered cloth roof, the C-Class drop-top will be offered in a range of variants, including the likely addition of a new Mercedes-AMG C 43 Cabriolet model, powered by a 270kW/520Nm twin-turbo V6.

Like the C-Class sedan and coupe, entry-level models in Europe can be expected to come with a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol unit worth around 115kW and, at the top of the range, a twin-turbo 375kW 4.0-litre V8-powered version wearing AMG’s C 63 S badge.

The video here follows a teaser sketch and a partially draped image of the soft-top C-Class in recent days. Expect more details ahead of a world public reveal at the Geneva motor show on March 1.