Coupe SUVs are soon going to be a rage from German manufacturers. After Audi revealed the sketch of the upcoming Q4 crossover SUV, Mercedes has now previewed the Concept Coupe SUV that will rival the BMW X6 in the segment. Ahead of the 2014 Beijing Auto Show scheduled to commence later this month, Mercedes-Benz previewed the brand’s new Concept Coupe SUV that will be launched in 2015. Touted to be called the MLC upon launch, the new Coupe SUV will share its underpinnings with the ML-Class and the production version has already begun testing globally.
The new concept shares a lot of design cues with the BMW X6, especially with the sloping coupe roofline. While the overall design may not be blatant copy of the X6; it is distinctively Stuttgart with the bold and wide diamond front grille and the receding headlight units with LEDs. The off-road characteristics such as the skid plates, side rails and the front bumper design seem to have taken inspiration from the Mercedes’ Ener-G-Force concept showcased in 2012; while the coupe styling comes from CLA and CLS four-door coupe’s.
While the powertrain and other mechanical details have not been revealed, the MLC SUV is expected to carry over the engines from the ML-Class. An AMG version powered by a 5.5-litre bi-turbo engine and a plug-in hybrid is also expected to join the lineup later in the lifecycle. Mercedes is targeting the MLC Coupe SUV primarily in the US and China where the company is sure to find more takers. The company will be producing the production version of the model at the Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The ML-Class will soon get a mid-life facelift with a launch taking place in India later this year.
