Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe here November

Mercedes-Benz Australia has confirmed its sporty new SUV, the GLC Coupe, will arrive in Australia this November with a modest price premium over the regular wagon-bodied GLC.

Powered by a number of petrol and diesel four-cylinder engines, not to mention go-fast V6 and V8 AMG-tuned powerplants, the chic new mid-size luxury SUV is expected to be priced from just under $70,000.

Slightly longer (+76mm) and lower (-37mm) than the regular GLC, Mercedes' answer to the BMW X4 and Porsche Macan is being pitched as the 'sports car' of the SUV world according to the German company, in terms of form and function.

In conversation with motoring.com.au in Italy during GLC Coupe's international launch, Mercedes-Benz Australia's Senior Manager of PR communications David McCarthy, said four models would be launched here in 2016, followed by a fifth in 2017.

And the importer is also angling for the 350 e plug-in hybrid model further down the track, along with lusty V6 turbo-diesel, the 350 d.

The 220 d and 250 d turbo-diesel models will be the most fuel efficient in the range (5.0L/100km) and are expected to be priced at around $69K and $74K respectively.

They'll be joined by GLC 250 Coupe (7.0L/100km) and AMG 43 turbo-petrol variants, the latter netting a new V6 that will pump out at least 270kW and will accelerate to 100km/h in less than five seconds.

That's plenty of hustle by anyone's measure, but the 500Nm rip-snorter will command a six-figure price for its performance boost, says the importer.

McCarthy noted that the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupe "might sneak in before year's end" along with the regular models, and could give the Audi SQ5 a run for its Deutschmarks.

The thundering V8-powered Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 variant will follow in mid-2017.

"The AMG GLC 63 Coupe is going to be a car that everyone's going to want and the new AMG 43 will be popular too. Like in the C-Class, it's a useful bit of kit. We all want a V8-powered AMG 63 but a 43 will suffice in a lot of cases," said McCarthy.

All models will be 4MATIC (4WD) and nine-speed automatic, alongside other Benz staples such as electric leatherette seats, reversing camera, 18-inch wheels and a chrome pack.

Along with standard sports suspension, two other chassis types will be optional: Airmatic body control and dynamic body control suspension. Benz calls it "cutting edge" suspension and all models have sports steering too, to deliver a more direct ratio.

The full specification list hasn't been confirmed for Australia yet, but Benz says the regular GLC models are a good guide for the kind of fruit that'll come as standard on the 'coupe'.

Asked if the BMW X4 rival would be a niche seller for the brand, McCarthy said: "I'm sure BMW hope it will be! GLE Coupe has done really well for us. But having said that, no it's not going to sell 500 per month. But I think 100 to 150 cars per month is quite achievable.

"It's a bit hard to forecast its popularity because it's not really a segment. It's a niche in a bigger niche.

"But there's been a lot of interest at the dealer level. They want a pretty looking, affordable SUV at the front of the showroom, and that's what they're going to get."

Despite its form-over-function body design, which measures 80mm longer, 40mm lower and offers less cargo space than the regular GLC, with 500 litres of space expanding to 1205 litres with the back seats folded down, McCarthy is confident the GLC Coupe won't significantly cannibalise sales of the regular GLC.

He said that, like the large GLE Coupe, the GLC Coupe would grow the Stuttgart company's overall share of the SUV market in Australia.

"There's been a small impact on the Mercedes-Benz GLE from the GLE Coupe model, and I think if someone came in to look at a GLC and went for a GLC Coupe, that's possible.

"But for the most part I think someone buying a GLC wants more space. The GLC Coupe is more compromised in luggage space," he said.

Stay tuned for our first drive of Mercedes-Benz's new SUV style-meister on July 6.