Hey, mercedes what’s new?

GLC Coupe gets a soothing mid-life enhancement with new front end, fresh motor and infotainment system

OVER the past year Mercedes-benz has been hitting the refresh button on its C-badged models and now it’s time for the GLC Coupé to get its midlife enhancement.

Like its conventional GLC sibling that was revealed in facelifted form recently, the X4-rivalling, sloping-roof variant gets a new front end design as well as a fresh engine and infotainment gadgets.

Key among the latter is the installation of the company’s MBUX multimedia system, featuring an artificial intelligence voice command system that responds to “hey, Mercedes”.

The basic dashboard design remains as before, but apart from the infotainment upgrade, there’s also a new digital instrument cluster as per the other C models, and buyers can opt for a new magma grey interior.

Functionality is enhanced, too, through a multifunctional touchpad on the centre console and two new multifunction steering wheel designs.

The options list includes Energising Comfort Control, which combines systems including lighting, music, climate and massage functions.

Mercedes-benz has also expanded the range of driver assistance gizmos to include an exit-warning function, emergency corridor function, a tail-end-oftraffic-jam feature and Trailer Manoeuvring Assist.

The big design changes take place at the front end, where, as per the regular GLC, the coupé gets a larger grille flanked by pointy headlights.

The GLC Coupé is also new in places you can’t see, with fresh engines joining the line-up and more scheduled for later in the year.

The turbo-petrol engines have become mild hybrids through the integration of a 48V on-board electrical system, which is called EQ Boost in Mercedes speak.

The belt-driven startergenerator facilitates both energy recuperation and power boost.

The South African engine range has not been announced as yet, but overseas customers get to choose from two petrol variants and three diesels, all with four cylinders and all turbocharged.

The GLC 200 petrol is good for 145kw plus 10kw of electric boost, while the GLC 300 is rated at 190kw plus 10kw.

On the diesel front there’s a GLC 200d (120kw), GLC 220d (143kw) and GLC 300 (180kw). | IOL Motoring