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Summer is already looking brighter at Mercedes-Benz dealerships with the prospect of the arrival of a new entry level model for the brand's coupe collection.

Set to go on sale in June the new CLC features over 1,100 newly developed or enhanced elements compared with the previous Sports Coupe.

Engineering highlights of the CLC include a new direct-steer system, state-of-the-art infotainment systems featuring a colour display, Europe-wide DVD or hard-disc navigation and media interface, and Parktronic as standard on all models as well as an uprated four-cylinder engine that now develops 184bhp with improved fuel consumption compared with the outgoing model.

Mercedes designers have completely redesigned the front and rear so that the Sports Coupe embodies the contemporary Mercedes design idiom with its distinctive coupe radiator grille featuring a large Mercedes star in the centre, and the new projection-beam headlamps.

The redesigned large tailgate conceals a variable boot with up to 1,100 litres of luggage capacity. The new tail lights, the long row of LEDs which make up the third brake light unit and the rear bumper subdivide the rear and emphasise its width.

The interior features sports seats with better lateral support, a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, automatic climate control and brushed aluminium trim elements.

Mercedes engineers have developed a new generation of three infotainment units for the CLC offering a combination of colour display, twin tuner, speed-sensitive volume control and Bluetooth mobile phone interface. An iPod, USB stick or other external audio devices can now also be connected to the in-fotainment system.

The forthcoming Mercedes-Benz CLC features a new universal media interface (optional extra) which links these devices to the on-board electronics and the Sports Coupe's control system, allowing the iPod tracks to be displayed in the instrument cluster and on the colour screen in the centre console.

Tracks can then be selected using the buttons on the multifunction steering wheel.

The new Audio 50 and Comand units come with a Europe-wide DVD or hard-disc navigation system.

The Linguatronic voice-operated control system, which Mercedes-Benz has upgraded with a new whole-word recognition capability, is fitted as standard if the integrated six-disc DVD changer is specified.

Linguatronic enables the driver to conveniently operate the telephone, audio and navigation system.

Mercedes-Benz has also put together a Sport model for drivers looking for extra sporting flair.

It includes equipment extras such as 18in 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.

One of the technical highlights is the new direct-steer system, which is based on the previous speed-sensitive power steering plus a variable rack ratio which changes as a function of the steering angle so that the driver only has to turn the wheel slightly when cornering.

The new CLC will come with the choice of four four-cylinder and two six-cylinder engines with power outputs ranging from 122bhp to 272bhp.

The 184bhp powerplant in the CLC 200 Kompressor now develops an extra 20bhp while returning 36.2mpg - the equivalent of up to 2.8mpg more than before.

The CLC 200 CDI returns a consumption of 48.7mpg, which is improved by 2.4mpg over the outgoing model.

A six-speed manual transmission comes as standard with all engine variants while a five-speed automatic transmission is offered for the four cylinder units, and the 7G-tronic seven-speed automatic transmission for the C 230 (7G-tronic is standard on the C 350).

Sport models also come with gearshift paddles on the steering wheel that the driver can use to select the gears of the automatic transmission manually.

12:59pm Tuesday 19th February 2008

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