We have just received a new lot of spy shots picturing the new Mercedes CLC while undergoing some winter testing. The new baby CLS - codenamed C117 - is a little 4-door Coupe is being developed on a longer version of the platform that generated the new A-Class and B-Class, meaning that it is likely to become available in both front- and all-wheel drive configurations. The pictured prototype is still quite heavily disguised, but we can see a white paintjob under the cammo, a few details like handles and wing mirrors (although, like the wheels, they might not be the definitive version) and have a rough anticipation of the car future design.

There are quite a few rumors surrounding the birth of this model: the engine range, for example, should include a petrol engine available in power steps of 121 and 154 hp, while a 1.8-litre diesel unit should also be available in two stages of power, 107 and 134 hp. As for the mandatory all-wheel drive AMG version, it is thought that it will end up having something like 300-340 hp. Transmission options should be a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox and a 6-speed manual. The final version of the new CLC is supposed to be ready by early 2013.

View 2013 Mercedes CLC spy shots

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The Mercedes CLC - the younger sister of the CLS model and first FWD offspring of the new Class A/Class B MFA platform - could make its debut in its final form next April at the 2012 New York International Auto Show. The news was spread by Inside Line and collected directly from some executive during the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The car will then hit the showrooms in 2013, and will probably look a lot like the F800 Style concept car on display at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

The new 4.5meters long saloon-coupe will introduce a new niche in the market (to which competitors will have to relpy with similar models) and will allow the next Class C generation to gain even more visibility, bringing up new reference points in the Premium segment. The CLC will be followed by a GLC compact SUV and, probably, a CLC Shooting Brake. The new models will adopt the same range of engines as the Class B, with the addition of a 300hp 4WD AMG that will come up at a later time. This means that it will also become the new AMG entry level car, the first one featuring all-wheel drive (sports SUV aside).

Via | Inside Line

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The Mercedes CLC is the smaller version of the Mercedes CLS coupé-sedan and is expected to debut in the few years. And as per the larger CLS, it seems the CLC will also get its own shooting brake version which will be similar to a sporty station wagon-coupé. This could be considered another example of how Mercedes is creating new niches in the car market to snap up customers looking for new and flexible options.

Dieter Zetsche himself has confirmed the CLC Shooting Brake project, announcing that they expect to have the car ready by 2014: two years after the CLS Shooting Brake and one year after the standard CLC is set to debut. The CLC Shooting Brake will use the new Mercedes MFA platform, with front-wheel drive, which will also form the basis of the new Mercedes B-Class and A-Class. A new compact Mercedes SUV will also be developed off this platform and which will go to compete with the Audi Q3 and BMW X1.

The CLC Shooting Brake is expected to be quite similar in design to the Mercedes Shooting Brake Concept which appeared at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show. It will be probably be more compact but will have the same sporty, dynamic looks and plenty of practicality - which should be quite refreshing in this new wave of “new segments”.

The CLC engine range will have updated four-cylinder petrol and diesel powerplants with direct injection, turbocompressors and start&stop systems. Six-speed manual or seven-speed dual clutch transmissions are likely to appear, and the CLC will come with either front-wheel or 4Matic all-wheel drive. A CLC AMG will also appear, most likely with a new two-litre engine and about 300 hp.

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It looks like the Mercedes CLC could be killed off by the end of year, putting an end to a car that never managed to make the sales impact Mercedes had wanted. The car is currently assembled in the Juiz de Fora facilities in Brazil, which will soon be dedicated to Actros production for South America. This is main reason given for the production end of the CLC which was only introduced two years ago in 2008.

The Mercedes CLC, apart from its modest sales, was often viewed as a restyling of the C-Class Sportcoupé rather than as a totally new vehicle. The CLC was based on the same platform of the vehicle it was supposed to substitute: the C-Class W203 compact sedan. The new Mercedes C-Class Coupé is expected to appear in 2011 and should fill the gap of a mid-size coupé in the Mercedes range.

Mercedes CLC

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The Mercedes F800 Style Concept Car will appear at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show as the company prepares its coupe-sedan design for the replacement of the Mercedes CLC. I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting something quite so sexy from Mercedes, but the F800 Style is not just about what its name suggests.

The concept car is 474 cm long which suggests it might adopt the A-Class and B-Class platform, which will also be used on the Mercedes SUV range, previously known as BLK. The F800 Style is also 194 cm wide, 144 cm high and has a boot capacity of 440 litres. The car is equipped with a traditional hybrid drivetrain with a V6 engine with 300 hp and an electric motor with lithium ion batteries for another 109 hp.

Emissions measure 68 grams of CO2 per kilometre and fuel consumption is just 2.9 litres for every 100 km. The F800 Style has plenty of speed though, accelerating to 100 km/hr in 4.7 seconds with a top speed of 250 km/hr. It has a seven-speed, semi-automatic transmission also used on the Mercedes S-Class hybrid, and can also be equipped with a combustion fuel cell system for zero emissions.

Continue reading: Mercedes F800 Style pics: Geneva show preview

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Mercedes-Benz is warming up for the 78th edition of the Geneva Motor Show: the brand is coming with a massive five world premieres: the all-new CLC, the facelifted CLS, SLK and SL, and the CL 500 4Matic, that features for the first time the extremely light all-wheel drive system on this model. You can find the complete press release after the jump.

Continue reading: Mercedes-Benz at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show

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