Currently reading: Mercedes-Benz GLC Cabriolet under consideration

A drop-top Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV is being discussed by top Mercedes-Benz engineers, to rival the Range Rover Evoque Convertible

Senior members of the Mercedes-Benz engineering team would like the company to build a convertible version of its new GLC Coupé SUV, to rival the drop-top Range Rover Evoque.

Speaking to Autocar, Michael Kelz, chief engineer for the Mercedes-Benz GLC, Mercedes-Benz CLS and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, said the rise in popularity of drop-top SUVs made a GLC Cabriolet viable and that he was a fan of the Evoque Convertible.

“It would be fun, and it’s actually not that much of an engineering challenge,” he said.

However, Kelz said that at present there was no space in the Mercedes line-up for such a model and for it to built, another model from the range would have to be axed.

The GLC Coupé, which would provide the donor car for any GLC Cabriolet, made its debut at the New York motor show last week and will reach the UK in September. The range will be topped by a GLC 43 Coupé model powered by a 362bhp twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 engine.

 

Mark Tisshaw

mark-tisshaw-autocar
Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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superstevie 23 March 2016

@ahaus Probably haven't seen

@ahaus Probably haven't seen a 4 door convertible because they won't pass the crash tests without 4 tonnes of structural bracing.

I have no quaims about convertible SUVs, although they wouldn't be my first choice of car. If the standard hatch is being replaced by them (Qashqai outsold the Focus in Jan & Feb from memory), why shouldn't manufacturers try this? Lets face it, there will be more room for passengers, more space for the roofs etc

ahaus 23 March 2016

Why?

It's such a tiny and specific market, why even try to compete?
I'd rather see one of the gorgeous S-class 4-door convertible concepts come to market as a Maybach model. That would be a better fit for Mercedes' brand and probably more desirable, but definitely more attractive. We really haven't seen a production 4-door convertible for many decades, why not now?!