At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes trotted out the F800 Style Concept to little fanfare. The concept, riding on the MFA platform, was a style experiment to see if the CLS' swoopy, four-door coupe styling would work on the smaller C-Class.
And apparently, Mercedes-Benz was happy with the results as we've now got spy shots of the Mercedes-Benz CLC. (The name is still up for debate as CLC has been used before by MB on a now-dead three-door hatch.) This would be the third body style of the C Class following the sedan and coupe. Not a lot is known about this CLC, but we have to go on the assumption that it will carry the same range of engines as the C Class starting with the 3.0-liter V6 and going all the way up to the big-boy 6.2-liter V8 in the CLC63 AMG.
While I'm all for shoving that 6.2 into every car with wheels until the day they stop making it, do we really need another model, and another swoopy fake coupe from Mercedes?
rollk says:
11:56 AM, 07/12/11
this before a wagon?
hfv6 says:
12:47 PM, 07/12/11
they need to stop
jm1212 says:
04:23 PM, 07/12/11
hey, if it sells, Mercedes has every right to make it.
garrym says:
04:34 PM, 07/12/11
This coupe fad is one thing in terms of styling. Quite another in practical application. My bosses CC Passat is awful to get in and out of as a front seat passenger (I'm 6' 1"). Getting into the back is worse, so I'll assume its not much better getting into a Mercedes.
Mike, you're right Mercedes doesn't really need a smaller model with the fake coupe roof style. ultimately, the consumer votes with his/her dollars. How about building cars now with bigger side windows? Makes enjoying the scenery better on that long highway drive and shoulder checking is easier too.
kdizzle says:
08:26 PM, 07/12/11
I thought the F800 concept looked amazing. Very sleek, very futuristic, but very Mercedes.
Why not? Mercedes has a diversity of models, this one will not change that significantly.
ag4 says:
08:37 PM, 07/12/11
Its FWD, isn't this the "BLS" 4-door coupe based on the FWD platform of the new A-class and B-class?
damaje199 says:
11:45 PM, 07/12/11
I think they would have been better off making the actual C class Coupe look a little more distinctive compared to the sedan, I mean if you are behind the coupe in traffic or looking at it from the front it just looks like a plain sedan. You do not need to see the 3series from the side to know if it is a two door or sedan.
cobreezy says:
04:24 AM, 07/13/11
I'ts like this, MB took a page out of a british auto makers playbook and produced the CLS. It works well because of a a certain recipe of styling MB followed from said playbook. This recipe doesn't work on fwd cars. The Audi (A7) is a beautiful designed automobile, the BMW (Gran Coupe is going to be very attractive as well, however both automakers did not follow the recipe to make them as successful as the CLS. Even the VW (CC) is good looking, however this 4 door coupe design doesn't look impressive on fwd cars.
Maybe Ford will offer up a 4 door coupe version of the Taurus ;-)
danwilson1 says:
04:36 AM, 07/13/11
Diversification of ones product lineup is the key to success in this day and age.
In the past luxury brands could compete against each other with a smaller midsize car, a true midsize car and a flagship. These days you need more than that to compete, especially since the luxury market has become even more competitive with newer entrants left and right.
Mercedes is simply being smart by offering a new niche product. If this CLC is successful rest assured that the competition will follow. They did when Mercedes broke ground with the innovative CLS. Ok, so we know it's not a "coupe" but it is an interesting marketing ploy and the design can indeed be described as having the qualities of a coupe but the practicality of a 4-door sedan.
And whether YOU like this car or not is totally irrelevant to Mercedes-Benz since YOU are not their target client and would never buy the car in the first place.
And this brings me to a little rant about something I have observed here (and elsewhere).
Half the comments on Edmunds are posts from people who whine about the lack of serious track performance from certain luxury cars (yeah, as if the people who buy these cars give a sh_t about that). It's one thing if you own a Corvette or Mustang, but don't expect the same performance qualities from comfort- and family-oriented luxury cars.
You want track performance? Buy a Porsche. Period. Ranting on the lack of serious track performance from an E class or A6, GS or even a 5er is so silly. NOBODY in their right mind will ever try to seriously compete with any of these cars on a track. These cars are overweight and constructed for comfort and cruising abilities and in their own way are quite sporty, but not 'track sporty'. If you want serious track performance from these cars, get an AMG, an RS or an M but keep in mind that these are still heavy 4-door sedans that can never perform as well on the track like a smaller, lighter and more compact performance machine like a Porsche Boxster or Cayman for example.
"Oh man, my lowered VTEC Type-R Mugen 1995 Civic DX, which I bought used for $ 500, handles better on the track than a $ 65K Mercedes E350! The Benz is so overpriced!'
^I hope you guys get the sarcasm and utter stupidity of such statements. I don't think I need to explain.^
llahsramecyob says:
11:29 AM, 07/13/11
The position of the front axel reletive to the door cut to me suggests a A class sedan, (or a CLA as it were).
xjayflyx says:
04:16 PM, 07/13/11
is it me or does it look like a Nissan Maxima?
vantageman says:
06:36 AM, 07/14/11
Reading is fundamental, maybe Edmunds should look up what the word "Coupe" means before they call this a "fake" coupe. In fact when company's were making "2 door sedans" were they fake sedans?
danwilson1 says:
11:36 AM, 07/14/11
@ cobreezy
"This recipe doesn't work on fwd cars."
"Even the VW (CC) is good looking, however this 4 door coupe design doesn't look impressive on fwd cars."
-----------------------------
The average person on the street has no idea what FWD is or if his or her car is FWD.
Also, how can this 4-door coupe design not work on "FWD cars"? What gives the Passat CC away as a "FWD design"?
1198sp says:
05:42 AM, 07/18/11
It looks like this model will have a good number of speed holes.