Question mark over whether plug-in hybrids have a role here.

ENHANCED styling drama has landed on the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe in its second generation, but whether the New Zealand market selection achieves the most advanced of a selection of fresh drivetrains is not yet clear.

With Mercedes’ stock selection here tied into the Australia market choice, the likelihood of the car adopting the plug-in hybrid power that is making headlines in Europe could be slim.

Media across the Tasman say their understanding is that the car will deliver in just one specification, with a pure petrol powerplant, when it arrives there, in the fourth quarter of 2023. The 190kW/400Nm GLC300 4Matic that is expected to start the roll-out is set to be followed by an AMG high-performance edition.

Mercedes Benz New Zealand has yet to offer any clarity.

Conceivably, there’s more to choose from. In Europe, the second-generation model will be sold with the choice of either a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol or turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine. 

There are two petrol models and two diesel models – all featuring mild-hybrid technology with an added 17kW and 200Nm under acceleration, as well as Mercedes-Benz’s nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox and 4Matic all-wheel drive as standard. 

Below the GLC300 4Matic coming to this part of the world is a petrol-powered 150kW GLC200 4Matic, while the home market also sees a diesel-powered GLC220d 4Matic and GLC300d 4Matic, with 145kW and 198kW. 

Aside from those, there are three plug-in hybrid models: The petrol-electric 230kW GLC300e 4Matic and 280kW GLC400e 4Matic and a 245kW diesel-electric GLC300de 4Matic.

Each of the plug-in hybrid models receive a 31.2kWh battery, providing them with electric driving ranges of between 119km and 131km for the petrol-electric models and between 113km and 130km for the diesel-electric model, a report out today says. Those distances are gauged from the WLTP test. 

The battery can be charged at up to 11kW on an AC system and at up to 60kW on a DC charger, with a full charge in around 30 minutes.

Also planned are successor models to the GLC43 4Matic Coupe and GLC63 4Matic Plus Coupe from AMG. There’s expectation these will run the 300kW mild-hybrid and 500kW plug-in hybrid drivetrains already in the latest C43 4Matic and C63 E Performance 4Matic Plus sedans. 

The new model will continue to be produced from a factory in Bremen, Germany. 

The model is based on an updated version of Mercedes-Benz’s MRA platform and is underpinned by the same four-link front and multi-link rear suspension as the latest Mercedes-Benz C-Class and its GLC SUV sibling. 

As with its predecessor, the new model retains a distinctive coupe-like roofline with a plunging liftback-style tailgate, but the stylists have altered almost everything else – this one delivers more shapely LED headlamps that extend into a larger grille, a more heavily contoured bonnet and tauter surfacing throughout the bodywork.

 The car’s width remains at 1890mm, but the length is up to 4763mm – a 31mm gain – and, at 1699mm in height, it’s 55mm higher than the first-generation GLC Coupe introduced in 2016. It also has a 15mm longer wheelbase at 2888mm, while track widths extend by 6mm at the front and by 23mm at the rear.  

The longer wheelbase and an extended rear overhang serve allow 45 litres’ more boot capacity, to 545 litres in the ICE models, and 390 litres in the plug-in hybrids.

 The interior refresh brings a heavily-restyled dashboard with a 12.3-inch instrument display and 11.9-inch portrait-style centre touchscreen together with a new multi-function steering wheel and newly styled air vents. Among the options is a new head-up display unit, panorama glass roof and 710-watt Burmester surround sound system with 15 speakers.