Merc's fashion week showstopper

Mercedes has unveiled its new entry-level coupe, dubbed the CLC in its latest guise, but the German marque shunned the hype of the Detroit motor show, instead whipping the covers off the car at the 2008 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Berlin.

The three-door newcomer replaces the C-Class Sports Coupe, derived from the previous-gen W203 C-Class sedan.

Although not the huge hit with youthful buyers Merc thought it would be, the Sports Coupe has still racked up 320,000-plus global sales since its 2001 launch.

Merc says 70 per cent of Sports Coupe buyers were conquests and over 40 percent of these have since graduated to a larger Benz, such as an E-Class, CLK or an SLK.

The three-pointed star hasn't deviated too far from the form guide with the CLC, as it features the same fastback roofline and truncated derriere.

And although it shares its frontal styling with the latest-gen W204 C-Class sedan, the CLC is still underpinned by the W203 platform (more here). However, Mercedes says its boffins have "newly developed or enhanced over 1100 components".

Engineering highlights of the CLC include a new direct-steer system for "more agile cornering", state-of-the-art infotainment systems featuring a colour display, hard-disc navigation and media interface, as well as an uprated four-cylinder Kompressor engine.

An extensive selection of petrol and diesel powerplants will be offered in Europe -- with power outputs ranging from 90kW to 200kW.

Notably, the 1.8-litre supercharged engine in the volume-selling CLC 200 Kompressor has been tweaked to churn out 135kW, an increase of 15kW, while fuel consumption is also said to be 10.8 per cent more frugal than before.

As per its sedan sibling, four-cylinder variants of the CLC come with a five-speed automatic transmission, but V6 models score Merc's smooth-shifting seven-speed 7G-TRONIC auto.

The interior has come in for its fair share of attention and Merc is boasting of sports seats that offer better lateral support, a new three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, automatic climate control and brushed aluminium trim.

An optional sports package brings goodies such as 18-inch rims, low-profile rubber, headlamps with black inner surrounds, sports suspension, a leather sports steering wheel and dark-hued aluminium trim.

To help create a sporting theme, the speedo and tacho have red needles that spin around the dial and return to their start positions when the engine is fired up.

The CLC is expected here in June/July, and its price range isn't likely to differ dramatically from the $52,290-$78,840 ask for the outgoing C-Class Sports Coupe.

 » Get the best price on a new Mercedes-Benz C-Class

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