GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Merc C-Class Cabriolet

Mercedes-Benz has lifted the lid of its new C-Class Coupe to create the first C-Class Cabriolet and the fifth member of the latest C-Class family following the sedan, wagon, coupe and SUV (GLC).

To prove it, it's released this teaser sketch of the C-Class drop-top's world debut at the Geneva motor show on March 1.

Due on sale in Australia around August – following the launch of the new C-Class Coupe in April and the C 63 Coupe in May, the C-Class Cabriolet adds a folding fabric roof to its two-door C-Class Coupe donor car, as confirmed by these spy shots last year.

As such, it will be a replacement for the E-Class Cabriolet, which itself replaced the CLK Cabriolet – just as the C-Class Coupe replaces the E-Class Coupe, which replaced the CLK Coupe.

As such, the first C-Class Coupe will be a direct rival for German mid-size convertibles like the BMW 4 Series Convertible and Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet, priced from about $90,000.

As the sketch shows, exterior styling design will be as per the C-Class Coupe, with a strong family resemblance to Mercedes' big new S-Class Cabriolet, including the headlights, tail-lights, overall proportions and even surface detailing.

To this the C-Cab adds an electrically-operated soft-top with integrated rear glass window and Mercedes' AIRSCARF neck-heating system.

Naturally, expect a similar engine line-up to other C-Class models, ranging from – at least in Europe – the C 180 with a 115kW 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder to (eventually) the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Cabriolet powered by a 375kW/700Nm twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8.

In between, there should be the Mercedes-AMG C 43 Cabriolet, powered by a 270kW/520Nm twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6, and a plug-in hybrid version powered by the same petrol-electric powertrain as the upcoming C 350e sedan.