What's the news?

Following on from the sneak peek earlier this month at the Concept Coupé SUV, Mercedes-Benz has revealed a full gallery of images and further details on what it is expected previews a new MLC production car, tasked with taking on the BMW X6.

Exterior

There really is no way around it; the Concept Coupé SUV is huge. Coming in just shy of five metres nose-to-tail, it is longer than the BMW X6 - itself no shrinking violet. Yet despite the length the Concept stands just over five-foot seven inches tall at its highest point. Gargantuan 22-inch alloy wheels fill the flared wheelarches and styling cues are taken from across the current range with the front end drawing inspiration from the recently released GLA. Around back there is a nod towards the S-Class Coupé, the daddy of Mercedes-Benz's coupé line-up, with shapely new lights.

One of the new technologies introduced on the concept are the indicators. Not only do they light up to show direction change but they light up from inside to out on a moving digital lighting band to give a second indication.

Interior

No official word on the Concept Coupé SUV's innards, but with a wheelbase of nearly three metres, space should be generous. Expect to see the interior treatment from the S-Class mixed with some of the newer features from the C-Class like the touchpad for the Comand infotainment system.

Mechanicals

Under the bonnet of the Concept Coupé SUV is Merc's tried and trusted 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine. Good for 333hp and 480Nm of torque it is paired with the latest nine-speed 9G-Tronic Plus transmission and 4Matic permanent all-wheel drive. The Drive Select system for the concept has been tailored for SUV use with a 'Slippery' setting joining the usual Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual modes and, like the rest of Stuttgart's SUV range, features an Active Curve System that uses active suspension stabilisers to limit body roll while cornering.

There are also suggestions that the production version of the concept will feature the same Active Curve Tilting system as the new S-Class Coupé, which should be fun in an SUV. Speaking of fun, an AMG model is inevitable.

Anything else?

The MLC is one of 12 new models Mercedes-Benz plans to introduce by 2020. Other new cars include a Shooting Brake version of the CLA, the 911-rivalling GT AMG, a plethora of S-Class variants and a GLC SUV/coupé that will do battle with the BMW X4.

Paul Healy - 24 Apr 2014