Leaked images: Mercedes C-Class coupe

Merc's stylish new coupe caught with its pants down... or is it all part of a calculated ploy?
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The public unveiling of Mercedes-Benz's new C-Class coupe is still two months away (it's due to debut at March's Geneva motor show), but these images of the suave two-door have found their way -- apparently prematurely -- onto the internet.

The coupe will take its bows at Geneva alongside the updated C-Class sedan and wagon, which we first showed you in prototype form last March.

Effectively the replacement for the defunct CLK that was discontinued almost 12 months ago, the C-Class coupe will slot in below the existing E-Class coupe.

With the imminent arrival of the C-Class coupe the end of the road is nigh for the CLC, which is now distinctly long in the tooth.

The brochure images of the new C-Class coupe reveal an elegantly proportioned package with a fastback-esque roofline. Although it borrows much of its design language from its sedan sibling, the coupe has a far more wedge-like stance

Our preliminary impression is that the two-door C-Class is a more attractive proposition than the E-Class coupe and, at face value, it should give the Audi A5 and BMW 3 Series coupe a few headaches.

As per the updated C-Class sedan range, its cabin features a new instrument binnacle as used in the larger E-class, and there's also a redesigned steering wheel, updated switchgear and better quality trim than in the outgoing C.

There are no specs or tech details available as yet, but the C-Class coupe is likely to feature identical powertrains to the sedan range, including a new 3.5-litre V6 direct-injection petrol unit with 225kW and 370Nm. A seven-speed automatic transmission will be standard across the line-up.

More exciting still is the prospect of a C63 AMG variant, which would square up against the BMW M3 and Audi RS5. Also an eventual possibility is a hardcore Black Series variant.

The list of available features in the C-Class coupe is likely to include Attention Assist, radar-controlled Distronic Plus cruise control and automatic Pre-Safe brakes.

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