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Mercedes is preparing to axe the CLC to make way for a new C-class coupe in 2011, Autocar can reveal.

The C-Class coupe will be the second two-door based on the existing C-class but the first to take its name into production.

Set to go on sale in the UK at the same time as facelifted versions of the existing saloon and estate reach showrooms in early 2011, the new C-class coupe has been conceived to replace the CLK, discontinued earlier this year after 12 years and two model genera...Read the full article

Is this another one of those articles thats not actually true?

The E-Class coupe is essentially a coupe version of the current W204 C-Class. It uses the same platform, and is priced and sized to rival with the BMW 3-Series coupe and Audi A5. A new C-Class coupe would therefor occupy the same market sector and be the same size as the existing E-Class coupe, somehow I can't see MB doing that...

From what I've heard, both the CLC and B-Class will be replaced by a new small hatchback based on a shorterned W204 platform to rival with the BMW 1-Series. That essentially takes the segement the A-Class currently occupies, so they will replace that with something smaller to compete with the Alfa MiTo, MINI, A1 and 0-series.

J400uk:

The E-Class coupe is essentially a coupe version of the current W204 C-Class.

 

Not according to Autocar...

"This is the new Mercedes-Benz E-class Coupe, the replacement for the CLK. To be unveiled at next month’s Geneva motor show and due on sale in June, the car represents a departure from its predecessor not only in name but also because it switches from a C-class platform to a modified version of the new E-class’s underpinnings."

supermanuel:

J400uk:

The E-Class coupe is essentially a coupe version of the current W204 C-Class.

 

Not according to Autocar...

"This is the new Mercedes-Benz E-class Coupe, the replacement for the CLK. To be unveiled at next month’s Geneva motor show and due on sale in June, the car represents a departure from its predecessor not only in name but also because it switches from a C-class platform to a modified version of the new E-class’s underpinnings."

Nope, Autocar was wrong back then, Mercedes had a lot of folks fooled with e-class coupe, but it´s mostly a c-class, you know, when you look at the option list, no airmatic and some other features the e-class features. It´s all marketing, weird.

I'm very confused, seem to be lots of reports on the E-Class coupe some saying its W204 (C-Class) based, others saying its W212 (E-Class) based.

Either way, its generally seen as a BMW 3-series and Audi A5 rival, which is the same market segment this proposed C-Class coupe would occupy.

Autocar:

the new C-class coupe has been conceived to replace the CLK

Autocar:

This is the new Mercedes-Benz E-class Coupe, the replacement for the CLK

These two statements contradict each other.

CL apart, Merc's current coupe policy has got to be one of the most confusing around!!

The previous CLK models were simply coupe versions of the C-Class and aimed at rivals like the 3-Series. The last E-Class coupe (based on the W124) was exactly that - an exec-class coupe which had next to no rivals (bar the Rover 800), while the current CLS is simply an exec-class 4-dr coupe, again with no rivals until the Audi A7 arrives.

As for the current E-Class coupe - i'm confused! Is it a 3-Series, A5 and 407 rival, despite its name, or a return to a class Merc vacated since the W124 coupe ceased production??

As for CLC......

 

 

J400uk:

These two statements contradict each other.

The CLK was always an odd beast, neither one thing or the other. The new E Class Coupe seems to be the same. I just checked out the dims on Parkers and the new E Coupe is only marginally bigger than the CLK and is a good bit smaller than the E Saloon. I thought the ELK was supposed to be more related to the E Class than the CLK was, but it seems not. How small is the new CLK going to be then?

I might have misled you when I said the C-class coupe would succeed the CLK coupe. 

The CLK coupe will, in fact, be succeed by two cars: the 2011 C-class coupe and the 2009 E-class coupe. 

The former is a rather conservative looking car by coupe standards. Think of it as a two door C-class. Nothing more, nothing less. Same styling as the saloon but two fewer doors. It won't carry too much of a premium over its four door siblings price wise say my sources.

The later is, in my opinion at least, one of the most contemporary road going cars Mercedes-Benz has produced. The E-class coupe also costs a good deal more than the CLK did when you compare them engine for engine.

What Merc's doing is giving the customers the choice between conservative and contemporary. 

The Brazilian built CLC, by the way, is planned to cease production in 2012. It's set to be replaced by a front wheel drive coupe model using the same underpinnings as the next generation A- and B-class.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the clarification Greg, makes a bit more sense now.

Will be interesting to see the size difference between the C & E Coupes.

VelSatis23:

Mercedes had a lot of folks fooled with e-class coupe, but it´s mostly a c-class

The dashboard, seats and interior fittings are all from the E-Class. Im sure the chassis is too. Ive sat in one and its much bigger than the A5 & 3-series, although its priced similarly.

it's like this: the dashboard, seats and interior fitting are from the e-class. but all the underpinnings, the layout, the chassis is in fact from the c-class. so mercedes are now building two coupés from the c-class. and in four years, they'll kill this new coupé already which hasn't even been introduced and switch to something new AGAIN. dear god, this company seems deeply confused these days. they have no idea of where they're heading. they construct a very good 4-cylinder diesel engine, but combine it with a ridiculously dated 5-gear auto box. what's that? audi has 7-gear DSG already!!! it's nothing but confusion and inconsistency at mercedes headquarters. i see them in deep troubles soon. image-wise they keep being defeated by bmw and audi for a long time now.