Mercedes has been telling the world all about the GLC Coupé SUV first shown in concept form in Shanghai last year.

All models will have sports suspension as standard. Also on offer; direct sports steering and 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive with 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmissions. Two suspension variants with continuously adjustable damping are optionally available: the new Dynamic Body Control with steel springing as well as the already familiar Air Body Control multi-chamber air suspension.

“The GLC Coupé reflects our iconic Mercedes-Benz coupé design while symbolising the bipolarity of our brand – it is ‘hot and cool’,” said Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Daimler AG. “With its design idiom of sensual purity, it perfectly embodies our styling philosophy while at the same time representing contemporary luxury.”

The GLC Coupé is almost eight centimetres longer and some four centimetres lower than the GLC, with which it shares its basic architecture.  The rear window dispenses with a wiper, as the airflow does not break away until after the spoiler lip, which means that water is unable to strike the rear window.

Inside, distinctive stylistic elements of the GLC Coupé are the dashboard and the centre console with its flowing lines, a large, one-piece console panel making a sweep below the semi-integrated media display from the centre air vents to the armrest.

The optionally available AMG Line includes touches such as sports seats with upholstery in Artico man-made leather/Dynamica microfibre with the option of sports seats with bi-colour look leather upholstery.

Another feature of the GLC Coupé compared with the classic GLC SUV is the retuned Direct-Steer system, which, with 15.1:1 (GLC: 16.1:1), offers a more direct steering ratio together with even sportier characteristics of the power assistance in certain modes.

The new GLC Coupé is available in a total of eight model variants: customers can choose between four diesel and four petrol engines, including a plug-in hybrid, as well as a powerful Mercedes-AMG model.

The entry-level diesels are the four-cylinder GLC 220 d and GLC 250 d 4MATIC coupé with outputs ranging from 125 kW (168 bhp) to 150 kW (201 bhp). Market launch will be in the autumn with these engine line-ups. Further models will follow at the end of 2016.

With the GLC 350 e 4MATIC Coupé, Mercedes-Benz also offers a plug-in hybrid with a top speed of 146 mph, the mid-size SUV emits just 59‑64 g CO2/km with a system output of 235 kW (315 bhp). The semi-electric vehicle can cover up to over 30 km (about eighteen miles) in zero-emission all-electric mode, accelerating to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.9 seconds when needed, courtesy of the boost function.

All models meet the EU 6 emissions standard, and most models come with 4MATIC all-wheel drive, while, with the exception of the plug-in hybrid, all variants of the GLC Coupé are equipped with the 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission. The GLC 350 e 4MATIC Coupé uses the 7G‑TRONIC PLUS transmission, which was specially optimised for the needs of a hybrid vehicle.