SPY PICS: Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet

With sedan, wagon, coupe and now SUV (GLC) versions of the latest Mercedes C-Class hitting the market over the last 18 months, there’s only one piece left to complete the puzzle – a drop-top.

Spotted near the German luxury giant’s second-largest production plant in Germany, two examples of the new C-Class Cabriolet can be seen here going under pre-production testing, before the market version arrives later in 2016.

After the CLK was replaced by the E-Class coupe/cabriolet, Mercedes no longer had a competitor to smaller premium convertibles such as the Audi A5 and BMW 4 Series -- a problem the C-cabrio rectifies.

Looking like a shrunken version of the larger S-Class Cabriolet, the C-Class Cabriolet follows the familiar design already seen on the current C-Class, S-Class and A-Class model families.

In these photos one of the mules accompanies a production C-Class Coupe two-door, which shows that the overall design of the drop-top version largely mirrors that of the coupe with the exception of the folding fabric roof.

Last year we reported on prototypes testing with folding metal roofs, however, these images confirm that the production version will utilise a rag-top instead.

The prototypes pictured appear to be different variants of the upcoming convertible; the silver/red roof mule seems to be a lesser C200/C250 model while the blue/black roof and black/red roof examples appear to be hotter AMG C450 models, distinguished by the twin tailpipes, larger AMG alloy wheels and red seat belts.

While the engine and specification range is expected largely to mirror that of the sedan and coupe variants of the C-Class, it is unknown whether Mercedes-AMG plans to produce a full-fat C 63 Cabriolet, but the AMG C 450 variant could provide a clue.

Expect the C-Class Cabriolet to make its global debut at the Geneva motor show in March, followed by a global launch in May and first local deliveries either late in 2016 or early 2017.