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"Mercedes-Benz just announced that it will unveil an all-new 2012 C-Class Coupe at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show on March 1. If all goes according to plan, the striking 4-seater with folding rear seats and standard panoramic sunroof will arrive in the U.S. this September, as a 2012 model.   Although the chassis has the same 108.7-in. wheelbase of the C-Class Sedan, we like the new Coupe&amp;#039;s compact proportions, which are highlighted by a lower roofline, a steeply raked windshield, a long hood and short rear deck. And along the side, the sloping beltline sweeps up in the C-pillars to help set it apart from the C-Class Sedan. When viewed from the front, however, the new C-Class Coupe looks very much like the C-Class Sedan, with that familiar (and pedestrian-friendly) upright grille. Bumper-mounted side air intakes with daytime running lights help give the C-Class Coupe a low-slung road-hugging appearance. And around back, the new Coupe is set apart by wide-set taillights and a diffuser that adds a sporty and dramatic quality to the car.    Two Engines   Mercedes says there will be two powerplants available, both direct-injected and both mated to the only gearbox available: a 7-speed TouchShift automatic with paddles on the steering wheel. The turbocharged 1.8-liter 4-cylinder in the C250 puts out 201 bhp at 2200 rpm, as well 229 lb.-ft. of torque from 2200 rpm to 4300. According to Mercedes, this C-Class hits 60 mph in a reasonably quick 7.1 seconds and has a top speed limited to 130 mph. Moreover, it&amp;#039;s expected to get 24 mpg (EPA combined).   The C350 is powered by, you guessed it, Mercedes&amp;#039; 3.5-liter V-6, which produces 302 bhp at 6500 rpm and 273 lb.-ft. of torque from 3500 rpm to 5250. As with the C250, the C350 is limited to 130 mph but it reaches 60 mph much more quickly, in a claimed 5.9 seconds. As you&amp;#039;d expect, fuel economy suffers a bit, the C350 rated at 22 mpg (EPA combined).    Inside the car, the instrument panel features three tubular gauge shrouds with a metallic finish, a flat-bottom 3-spoke steering wheel and a large 5.8-in. central display. The metallic finish continues on the trapezoidal air vents and the center stack, where matte and glossy finishes are employed, along with a new controller knob, to give the interior a high-tech, high-quality look. For the record, the C350 Coupe comes with standard aluminum trim, while the C350 has Burl Walnut. Ash Olive Matte Wood trim is also available as an option on both models, as is Mercedes&amp;#039; COMAND multifunction controller.   Mercedes also says the new C-Class Coupe features the latest telematics, aided by the larger display. Bluetooth audio streaming and a USB interface are now located in the center armrest, and services include Sirius weather information and a special destination search by Google. Buyers of the new C-Class Coupe can download a Google map on their PC and have it sent to the car where it can be displayed on the new 3D map with city views.    The Suspension Story   As with the C-Class Sedan, the new Coupe will feature MacPherson struts in front and a multilink rear, with damping that&amp;#039;s soft and comfortable on the highway but automatically gets stiffer on curvy roads or whenever an evasive maneuver is needed. Mercedes calls this setup &amp;quot;Agility Control,&amp;quot; and it&amp;#039;s said to noticeably reduce road noise and tire vibration without compromising any handling safety. The tires of both new C-Class Coupes are the same size, a staggered setup featuring 225/45R-17s in front and 245/40R-17s in back.   With further regard to safety, the 2012 C-Class Coupe features nine airbags as standard equipment\u2014this includes front, side and pelvic airbags for the driver and front passenger, plus a kneebag on the driver&amp;#039;s side and headbags. Also standard is Attention Assist drowsiness detection. Not considered standard equipment, but available with the various packages, are Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Blind-Spot Assist, Lane-Keeping Assist, a 10-gig hard drive for music storage, plus a rearview camera, a 7-in. color display and bi-xenon headlamps with active curve illumination.   Special-order options include Obsidian Black paint and an Advanced Agility Package. Guess that latter option will have to do...at least until a C63 AMG Coupe arrives.   Wouldn&amp;#039;t that be nice? "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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