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Mercedes-Benz GLC (X205) Spied Cold Weather Testing, Looks Ready for Production

The GLK (X204) compact luxury crossover SUV was, when it went on sale in the autumn of 2008, a make-or-break model for Mercedes-Benz. With a nameplate inspired by the GL-Class, the model which added full-size SUV poshness to the more off-road-oriented Gelandewagen, Mercedes-Benz’s bet with the GLK paid off greatly due to the big sales success the X204 generation GLK crossover went on to become.
Mercedes-Benz GLC 13 photos
Photo: SB-Medien
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But with the second generation, officially slated to be launched in June, the GLK will change its name to GLC, emphasizing on the fact that it is related to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. To boot, even the X205 codename is just a letter different from the W205 the three-pointed star named the current family tree of the C-Class. Our latest set of X205 spy pics also reveals that the GLC is nearing production reality.

Cold winter testing in Northern Europe is usually a tell-tale sign that only the fine details are left to be calibrated. There’s one pic our talented team of spy photographers snapped of the Mercedes-Benz GLC’s interior styling, revealing air vents, a steering column-mounted gear shifter, steering wheel, climate control buttons and a rearview mirror lifted from the W205 generation C-Class.

Based on the MRA (Modular Rear Architecture) platform

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC is that little bit bigger than its forerunner, translating to improved headroom and legroom. As for exterior styling, some say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the GLC looks well proportioned and more curvaceous than the GLK, details that classify it as more enticing than its predecessor.

I can hardly wait to see the new GLC out and put it side by side to the BMW X3, arguably the best looking model in its segment at the moment. In addition to the five-door GLC, Mercedes-Benz is going to introduce a BMW X4-rivaling GLC Coupe (C253) variant as well.

As the name implies, it’s the coupe-ified variant of the X205, but keep those fingers crossed Merc won’t mess up the aesthetics like it did with the all-new GLE Coupe. On the powertrain front, do expect carryover motors and transmissions from the outgoing C-Class, Mercedes-AMG C63-rated 467 horsepower 4.0 twin-turbocharged V8 as well.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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