MERCEDES-BENZ GLC COUPE: As the sporty sibling of the GLC SUV it undoubtedly resonates with the affluent South African clientele

By Ali Mphaki

A fresh rival for the likes of BMW 4-Series and Audi A5 is already available on SA showrooms and Mercedes-Benz hopes it will be snapped like hot cakes. All-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission with luxury appointments such as heated seats,a great sound system, and a panoramic sunroofare as standard (and more) conspire to make the 2023 GLC Coupe an interesting proposition in the tightly contested mid-luxury SUV segment.

For those with a flair for open air driving, word is out that adrop[1]top variant is in the offing 2024 which will square up to cars such as Lexus LC Convertible and the up[1]coming MG Cyberster. Before we get carried away, theoverall visual statement is defined by the sporty coupé silhouette, echoes of the originaland some[1]what controversial BMW X6.

Personal biases aside, at first sight the GLC Coupe imparts a sense of elegance, dynamism and offroad adventure. Another visual highlight is the radiator grille with the Mercedes-Benz pattern (standard). Noticeable is how the headlights which feature daytime-driving ellipses connect to the radiator grille with other characteristic elements like new countoured side adges and roof rails painted in black.

Much of the GLC Coupe’s interior space is dedicated to entertainment and interactive interfaces. A giant 11.9-inch infotainment display handles climate as well as nearly all vehicle controls, but there’s also wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The infotainment display is also central to the GLC’s parking camera, which can rotate its view to check for curbing or other obstacles. For the first time the GLC Coupé is now offered with a Panoramic sunroof.

Active intelligence include voice assistant with a new Mercedes me service – the “Tourguide” acoustic travel guide. The optional Burmester® surround sound system offers 15 premium speakers and a total output of 710 watts – more than enough for a street bash.

GLC Coupé offers four-cylinder diesel units namely the GLC 220 d and GLC 300 d. These are mild-hybrid units with an integrated second-generation starter-generator (ISG). What will certainly impress is the new suspension system of the new GLC Coupé based on a new four-link front suspension and a multi-link independent rear suspension mounted to a subframe.

If you opt for the Engineering Package, you will find the new GLC Coupé is especially agile with the optional rear-axle which at speeds below 60 km/h, sees the rear wheels steer in the opposite direction to the front wheels – and by up to 4.5° when parking.

The wheelbase then feels shorter, making the vehicle more manoeuvrable and agile, and the turning circle is reduced by 90 cm to 10.9 metres. When the speed reaches 60 km/h or more, the rear wheels steer in the same direction as the front wheels by up to 4.5°.

The new GLC Coupé is not scared of the dirt either and has several new features and systems designed for off-road driving. Standard equipment includes an off-road driving mode and DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation).

The Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe undoubtedly resonates with the affluent South African clientele. As the sporty sibling of the GLC SUV, it rounds off the best-selling Mercedes-Benz series of vehicles.

All models are equipped with electric drive technology, in the form of a mild hybrid system with 48-volt technology.

Be prepared to part with R1, 392, 350.00 for the GCL 220D and for the GLC 300D R1,447,350,00. Price includes VAT and service maintenance.

MOTORING:

Briefs

FORWARD KIA SPORTAGE!

Kia South Africa this week introduced a revised line-up of its multi-award-winning Sportage range, building on the success of the model since its local introduction in September 2022.

All Sportage models include a total of six airbags: a driver’s airbag, front passenger airbag, side airbags, and side curtain airbags. ISOFIX child seat anchors are also a standard inclusion across the range, as is Smart Entry with Push Button Start, as well as an electric parking brake with auto-hold functionality.

A variety of Kia’s acclaimed in-house developed Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technology was previously also included on the GT-Line derivatives. However, as of this month, Kia has added these features across all models.

Regardless of which derivative in the range a customer opts for, Lane Follow Assist and Lane Keeping Assist is included as standard, as is Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA).

SWIFT SUZUKI SALES

Suzuki Auto South Africa has set a new record for the number of vehicles sold by dealers to private buyers last month.

Naamsa, the business council for the automotive industry, reports that Suzuki sold 3 857 new cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles to customers in October. This represents 86% of the total of 4 480 vehicles that Suzuki sold in South Africa last month.

According to naamsa, Suzuki dealers sold the second most passenger vehicles of any brand in South Africa and the third most vehicles outright.

The best-performing Suzuki in October’s sales numbers was the Suzuki Swift with 1 248 sales.

BIDEN IN GEAR

President Joe Biden said on Thursday he wants all U.S. autoworkers to get labor deals like the tentative one the UAW reached with the Detroit 3 automakers after a more than six-week strike.

“I want this type of contract for all auto workers and I have a feeling the UAW has a plan for that,” Biden said. He said Toyota Motor Corp. “had no choice” but to raise wages for U.S. hourly workers because of the UAW deal.

Biden spoke to UAW workers here in Illinois as the Democratic president tries to rally support for his economic agenda and firm up sagging popularity numbers, ahead of a re-election campaign next year.

Donning a red UAW T-shirt, Biden congratulated Shawn Fain, the head of the UAW, and highlighted the tentative contract agreements between the union and the Detroit 3 that ended more than six weeks of strikes. As part of the deal, Chrysler parent Stellantis agreed to reopen its assembly plant in Belvidere and invest billions of dollars in new operations in the area.

ONE MORE THING….

Cruise is recalling 950 driverless cars from the roads across the U.S. and may withdraw more following an accident involving one of its robotaxis, General Motors’ self-driving unit and the U.S. auto regulator said on Wednesday.

The recall is because the collision detection subsystem of the Cruise Automated Driving Systems software may improperly respond after a crash, NHTSA said.

Last month, a pedestrian in San Francisco was struck by a hit-and-run driver and thrown into an adjacent lane and was hit a second time by a Cruise robotaxi that was not able to stop in time.

Cruise is facing multiple federal investigations over the safety of its cars, including two incidents where the robot cars appeared not to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.

Cruise — which has operations in Phoenix, Arizona; Houston, Austin and Dallas in Texas; and Miami, Florida — is in a race with Google affilaite Waymo and others to bring robot cars to the market.