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Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the new CLC, a compelling entry-level model in the Mercedes-Benz coupŽ family that will arrive in Middle East showrooms in May.
"The Sports CoupŽ's design, technology and equipment meet the discerning requirements of young and young at heart drivers looking for an athletic car that gives an involving drive, while at the same time delivering the hallmark Mercedes quality standards in terms of safety, comfort, environmental compatibility and functionality," said Frank Bernthaler, director, sales and marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Middle East and Levant.
Compared with the previous Sports CoupŽ, the Mercedes engineers have newly developed or enhanced over 1,100 components.
Engineering highlights of the CLC include a new direct-steer system for even more agile cornering, state-of-the-art infotainment systems featuring a colour display, hard-disc navigation and media interface, as well as an uprated four-cylinder engine that now develops 184 hp. Fuel consumption has been reduced by up to 10.8 per cent compared with the outgoing model.
The Mercedes-Benz designers have completely redesigned the front and rear so that the Sports CoupŽ embodies the contemporary Mercedes design idiom with its distinctive coupŽ radiator grille featuring a large Mercedes star in the centre, and the new projection-beam headlamps.
The interior of the new Mercedes-Benz CLC is custom-fit and comfortable. Sports seats with better lateral support than ever, a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, automatic climate control and brushed aluminium trim elements form part of the standard specification.
Mercedes-Benz has put together the sports package for drivers looking for extra sporting flair.
It includes exclusive engineering innovations and equipment extras such as 18-inch light-alloy wheels, wide-base tyres, headlamps with black inner surrounds, sports suspension with lowered body, leather sports steering wheel and dark brushed aluminium trim elements.
Another special feature which the CLC inherits from its racing car counterparts is the instrument cluster with red needles for the speedometer and rev counter. Once the engine is switched on, these needles spin once around the dial before returning to their start positions.
Mercedes-Benz offers four four-cylinder and two six-cylinder engines with power outputs ranging from 122 hp to 272 hp for the new CLC.
The 184 hp powerplant in the CLC 200 KOMPRESSOR now develops an extra 20 hp while consuming just 7.8 to 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres in the NEDC cycle - the equivalent of up to 0.7 litres less than before.
The six-speed manual transmission comes as standard with all engine variants. Mercedes-Benz also offers a five-speed automatic transmission for the four cylinder units, and the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission for the V6 models.
In combination with the sports package, the driver can use gearshift paddles on the steering wheel to select the gears of the automatic transmission manually and make optimum use of the engines' high power reserves when the driving situation calls for it.
The new CLC is the successor to a successful Mercedes model that boasts some 320,000 drivers around the world to its name since 2001.
The majority of these were new Mercedes customers. Its high conquest rate of some 70 per cent made the Sports CoupŽ one of the most successful models in the Mercedes strategic product initiative. Over 40 per cent of buyers opted for a larger Mercedes model after the Sports CoupŽ and are currently driving an E-Class, CLK or an SLK.
