Let’s deconstruct one of those three-lettered models – the GLC-Class. The ‘G’ stands for Geländewagen (German for ‘off-road vehicle’) and makes more than a passing reference to the beastly G-Wagon. The letter ‘L’ acts as a linkage with the letter ‘C’ which denotes SUV qualities.
Translation: the GLC is the SUV equivalent to the C-Class, and there’s a smaller sportier coupe version that rivals the BMW X4 and Porsche Macan. More importantly though, there’s a flagship iteration that we like very much.
The GLC 43 4Matic uses the same 362bhp three-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine as the 43 iterations of the SLC and C-Class to romp it up to 62mph in just under five seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. Not bad for a car weighing more than 1.7 tonnes.
This sweet acceleration is made possible partly due to a nine-speed automatic gearbox which enables shortened shift times, and all-wheel drive (that’s what the 4Matic bit means in case you were wondering) with 69 per cent of torque sent to the rear wheels.
Merc’s execs say that on the road, the GLC 43 4Matic Coupe is highly agile with sporty driving dynamics, while its design is expressive and maintains the great everyday practicality of its larger non-coupe sibling.
As you’d expect with any flagship Merc, the GLC 43 comes with plenty of kit. Standard models get 19-inch wheels, but you can upgrade to 21s, as well as sports seats covered in man-made leather, red seatbelts, and a 13 speaker 590-watt stereo with bluetooth streaming and two USB ports,
Pricing will be confirmed in early October and is expected to sit at around £50,000, with the first models being delivered in December.
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