The baby Mercedes SLS has been given the green light and it will be called the SLC, the firm's design chief told Auto Express.
Head of Design Gorden Wagener confirmed plans for the car and its name during an interview at the Beijing Motor Show. He also said that the production version of the Concept Style Coupe - or CSC - which debuted at the show, will be called the CLA.
While explaining the firm's three-pronged design strategy, Wagener said: "There is traditional design for cars like the S-Class, progressive design for vehicles like the CLA and dynamic design for the SLS and SLC."
There has long been speculation of an £80,000 Mercedes sports car to rival the Porsche 911 and Aston Martin V8 Vantage, but this is the first time any high-ranking official has confirmed its existence. The car is believed to be a joint venture between Mercedes and its AMG division.
In order to keep costs down, the SLC is unlikely to feature gullwing doors. Power is expected to come from an all-new 4.0-litre V8, while a V6 version based on the SLK's engine is likely to be offered too.
Wagener suggested that a coupe version of the ML 4x4 is also in the pipeline. The BMW X6 rival would be part of a new breed of Sports Utility Coupes, the first of which is likely to use the new A-Class platform.
The SLC isn't likely to arrive until 2014. In the meantime, there will be two more versions of the SLS, the first of which will be the Black Series in July. The CLS Shooting Brake will be unveiled later this year, followed by the CLA and a new S-Class in 2013.
The firm's flagship luxury car will be the first model in the line-up to get Mercedes' new 'black box' technology, which will allow Mercedes to monitor each car's health via the Internet, allowing the early detection of any potential mechanical problems.
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I definitely want one of these...
Front works but the rear needs a bit more work I think.
Front end of Jaguar F-Type plus rear end of that Chrysler thing the name of which I can't remember
The front view is pretty much perfect for me-good mix of SLS and the recent concepts. The rear isn't bad but doesn't live up to the front unfortunately
CL, CLS, CLC, SLS, SLC CLA, ML, MLS, BBS, BBC, PTO ... my head is spinning already. There is no logic to the range of letters. Shame. Why didn't they go for more imaginative and more evocative names to suit their good looking cars? The Americans got it right with names like the Thunderbird, Viper, and Mustang. Even the Japs are good at names for their bikes like the Fireblade, Blackbird, and Ninja. I've got an MCC somehow just doesn't sound vey exciting....
The back of the car looks like Crossover
I agree with some of the comments on here about the rear needing a little more work. Mostly under where it appears the hatch base is. Between that and the bumper could do with some 'relief work' done to it. However, even without it, money no object, I'd buy one. At least all Merc's don't look the same, HELLO! Audi, BMW.
Dear me the back end looks awful. SLC stands for Sports Lightweight Cockmobile
And MB service is shocking.
Rather have a 911 any day.