Mercedes-Benz had unveiled the Concept Coupe SUV at the 2014 Beijing Auto Expo which was to spawn a production model. It was speculated that the production model would be called MLC but now, reports suggest that the car will actually be christened the ML Coupe. Internally called C292, the ML Coupe will rival the BMW X6 and Porsche’s upcoming Cayenne-based coupe.
The Mercedes-Benz ML Coupe will be based on the M-Class’ platform and will be designed along the company’s ‘Sensual Purity’ design language. The car features design cues from the rest of the Mercedes-Benz range, including the S-Class Coupe, CLA and the GLA. While the overall design looks similar to the BMW X6, the car’s styling makes its easily identifiable as a Mercedes-Benz.
Like the M-Class, the ML Coupe will be available with a host of V6 and V8 engines, with a high-performance AMG version expected a few months after its launch. The ML Coupe will break cover in the first half of 2015 and deliveries are expected to commence in the third quarter.
While the X6 might not be one of BMW’s best-looking cars, it is quite popular in many global markets. The X6 enjoys the monopoly of being the only contender, though Mercedes-Benz and Porsche have announced their intentions of entering this niche segment. While the X6 used to be sold in India, dismal sales led to the model being discontinued. The Mercedes-Benz ML Coupe will be launched here by the end of next year but then, it might have to compete with the second-generation X6 as well as the Porsche Cayenne based coupe.
