The pictures were taken recently in Stuttgart and they show the new car with minimal disguise. Although the new C Sportcoupé will mimic the design of the brand-new C-Class saloon, the forthcoming coupé is actually built around the mechanics of the existing model – and hence based on the chassis of the outgoing C-Class. The basic concept of the car – short coupé with huge tailgate – will remain unchanged, too. The name, on the other hand, is likely to be replaced by the somewhat easier 'CLC' badge.

Like with the outgoing model, buyers will have the option between the four-cylinder C180 (156 bhp, compressor) or C200 (184 bhp, compressor) and the six-cylinder C230 (204 bhp) or C350 (272 bhp).