Upgraded Mercedes-Benz GLC to dump diesel

Australia’s most popular luxury vehicle in 2018 will not be available with diesel power when the facelifted Mercedes-Benz GLC range arrives in Australian showrooms from September.

Indeed, the only variant of the upgraded mid-size luxury SUV and ‘Coupe’ range so far confirmed for Australia from launch is the GLC 300, powered by a new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine.

The GLC 300 will be joined in December by the range-topping Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S wagon and coupe, powered by an upgraded 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8.

At the other end of the scale, an updated entry-level GLC 200 rear-wheel drive model is also expected to be available here by year’s end, giving Mercedes a price-leading version of its volume-selling model.

Also likely – but not yet confirmed – for local release late this year is an improved version of the Mercedes-AMG CLC 43, which will continue with 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6 power rather than employ AMG’s straight-six turbo ‘53’ mild-hybrid powertrain when it debuts at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

However, missing in action will be the 2.2-litre and 3.0-litre diesel engines seen in the outgoing GLC 250d and 350d, and carried over into Europe’s facelifted GLC 200d, 220d and 300d models.

This is despite the fact that diesel power comprised as much as 20 per cent of GLC sales last year, when the mid-size crossover wagon and coupe outsold the C-Class to be Mercedes’ best-seller Down Under, and originally about half of all sales.

Mercedes-Benz Australia says the lack of diesel variants will simplify the GLC line-up, which currently stands at 11 model variants priced between $62,300 for the GLC 200 RWD wagon and $172,400 for the AMG GLC 63 Coupe.

It also says a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version – employing the GLC 200’s new turbo-petrol four – is under consideration for Australia, but warns it won’t be cheap.

As we’ve reported, the midlife makeover for Mercedes’ most important model brings fresh interior and exterior styling, new base petrol engines, improved connectivity and infotainment, and DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL variable damping as standard.

Externally there’s a redesigned grille and headlights with LED High-Performance beams as standard (full-LED headlights with MULTIBEAM tech will be optional), full-length chrome elements, new graphite grey paint and new (17- to 19-inch) wheel designs and, for Mercedes-AMG models, a chromed diamond mesh grille, specific front bumper, big angular exhaust outlets and sports seats.

All 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLCs also score the German car-maker’s latest Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) multimedia system with touch, gesture and voice control. The standard centre screen is 7.0-inch with a resolution of 960×540 pixels, while a 10.25-inch display with 1920×720 pixels and a 12.3-inch customisable digital instrument cluster are optional.

Also inside are two new multifunction steering wheels with MBUX controls, higher-quality surface materials, KEYLESS-GO starting, DYNAMIC SELECT drive modes and the option of a new ENERGIZING system that integrates lighting, audio, climate and massage functions.

New safety features include exit warning, emergency corridor and traffic jam functions, plus Trailer Manoeuvring Assist, DISTRONIC Active Distance Assist, Active Steer Assist and Active Brake Assist.

Under the bonnet, the new four-cylinder petrol offer improved efficiency thanks in part to a 48-volt electrical system with belt-driven starter/generator.

Australian specs are yet to be announced, but all five engine variants available in Europe from launch will be matched with all-wheel drive as standard.

The petrol-powered GLC 200 4MATIC and GLC 300 4MATIC run a 2.0-litre turbo engine outputting 145kW/280Nm and 190kW/370Nm respectively, combined with a 10kW/150Nm electric motor. Fuel consumption is listed at 7.1-7.4L/100km for both models.

Matched to a nine-speed automatic transmission, three four-cylinder turbo-diesel models comprise the GLC 200d 4MATIC (120kW/360Nm), the GLC 220d 4MATIC (143kW/400Nm) and the GLC 300d 4MATIC (180kW/500Nm), consuming between 5.2 and 5.8L/100km.

At the top end of the range, there’s an upgraded Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 and GLC 63 Coupe offering a 350kW/650Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, and an S version of both models that offers 375kW/700Nm and is again likely to be Australia’s only GLC 63 model, from December.

The only biturbo V8-powered model in its class is now claimed to hit 100km/h in just 3.8 seconds on its way to a limited 250km/h top speed (280km/h with optional AMG Driver’s Package) and remains the fastest SUV to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife with a 7:49 lap time.

All four GLC 63 variants employ air suspension, adaptive damping, an electronically controlled differential lock and fully variable all-wheel drive, with the S model also adding dynamic engine mounts.

Rounding out the GLC 63 upgrade are new headlights and tail-lights, optional 21-inch wheels, a pair of 90mm tailpipes, new steering wheel and AMG-specific infotainment and interface systems including a Track Pace head-up display option and warm-up, set-up, G-force and engine data displays.

Replacing the original GLK that wasn’t sold in Australia, the GLC arrived here in December 2015, followed a year later by the Coupe version, by which time it was second in popularity to Benz’s own C-Class. The GLC quickly overtook the Audi Q5 and also the BMW X3 and X4 in 2017 – the same year SUV sales overtook those of cars overall cars in 2017.

Last year, as medium SUVs overtook small cars to become the most popular vehicle type, the GLC’s popularity eclipsed that of the C-Class, which slipped to 5055, with a record 6599 sales including almost 1000 coupes. Its closest competitors were the X3 (4864) and X4 (1380).