Think of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe as a work in progress. It won't arrive in Canada until spring, by which time it will have a drivetrain updated from the Euro-spec samples we recently drove in Spain. Expect the bad-ass C63 AMG versions – which we only drove on a racetrack – in the late summer. And the in-between C450, which we didn't even see in Spain, will cross the Atlantic in the early fall.
To be more specific, the C300 and C450 will be sold here only as 4Matics (all-wheel drive), whereas the C300s at the international preview were rear-drivers. As well, by the time these new coupes get here, they will likely have Benz's new nine-speed corporate gearbox, which is being phased in to replace the familiar seven-speed on the early-prod cars we drove.
Either way, the base C300 version – like its hot-selling sedan sibling that was new a year ago – is propelled by a 2.0-litre turbo-four rated at 241 horsepower. Likewise, the C63 AMG Coupe shares the equivalent sedan's 4.0-litre twin-turbo V-8 that claims 503 hp on the S model, or 469 hp on the common-or-garden version. Touted as the only bi-turbo V-8 in its segment, the engine is a close relative of the one in the AMG GT-S sports car, and replaces a previous 6.3-litre naturally aspirated V-8.
The larger E63 AMGs have shown how adopting AWD can significantly enhance acceleration by allowing all the engine's outputs to be fully deployed even in the lowest gears. The C63, however, promotes the potential for intentional sideways-ness by remaining rear-wheel driven.
While the hooligan-in-a-silk-suit appeal of the C63 is obvious, we suspect the C450 will be the sweet spot in the lineup – or should be, if its bi-turbo 3.0-litre, 362-hp V6 is anything as refined as the less-potent 329-hp version in last year's C400 sedan. That engine was one polished piece.
In the case of the C300, we suspect most prospective buyers will be less concerned with the powertrain than with how they look wearing the car. While the previous-generation coupe was clearly a cut-down version of its sedan sibling, Mercedes worked to give the 2017 two-door its own coupe identity. It is so committed to the form-before-function ethos that, despite sharing the same 80-mm wheelbase stretch as the sedan, the back seat and the trunk actually have less room than last year's version. At least, however, the new shape is as aero as it looks – the coefficient of drag is among the industry's lowest at 0.26.
Like the sedan, the coupe's interior decor moves up a class in the richness of materials and quality of assembly. And it catches up with other recently-renewed Benzes in the envelope-pushing availability of on-board connectivity and (especially) automated driving aids. Many of those will be reserved for option packages, though even the base car does include a seven-inch touch-screen and internet capability through MB Apps, as well as Attention Assist (which detects driver drowsiness) and Collision Prevention Assist Plus (up to and including automatic braking).
It's still too soon for Canadian pricing, but the equivalent 2016 C300 4Matic sedan starts at $43,800. Figure on an extra $2,000 for the coupe. As always, whether it's worth the money is your call. You still have a few months to work on that decision.
TECH SPECS
- Price: TBA
- Engine: 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder; 3.0-litre turbo V-6; 4.0-litre turbo V-8
- Drive: All-wheel drive (C300/C450) or rear-wheel drive (C63), seven-speed automatic
- Fuel economy (litres/100 km): TBA
- Alternatives: Audi A5/S5, BMW 4 Series/M4, Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Coupe, Infiniti Q60 Coupe, Lexus RC/RC-F
RATINGS
- Looks: A little bulbous around the rear haunches, but note the placement of the door-mounted mirrors, an aero tweak that also benefits front-three-quarter visibility.
- Interior: Rear leg room takes a back seat to sporty styling. Front-seat occupants enjoy more room in an opulent cockpit, with decent forward visibility despite a low-slung driving position.
- Performance: Even the 2.0-litre four-cylinder C300 is no slug (0-100 in 6.0 seconds) but the “ear candy” is less sweet than rivals’ turbo four-cylinders. The C63, conversely, is a Hallelujah Chorus on wheels, with performance (3.9 seconds for the S) . Meanwhile the in-the-middle C450 version, we predict, will be just right.
- Technology: An available Intelligent Drive package includes automatic braking in multiple scenarios, as well as a limited degree of automatic steering that pro-actively keeps the vehicle centred in the lane (as opposed to reactive systems that activate only when the car drifts out of lane).
- Cargo: Overall car length is up, but official cargo capacity has shrunk. Still, that should be more than enough considering how rarely the two back seats will be used – and the seat backrests do fold down.
The Verdict
7.5
The base C300 will sell more on its looks than its powertrain.
The writer was a guest of the auto maker. Content was not subject to approval.
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