Mercedes Unveils Small Sport Crossover Concept

Daimler AG is using the Shanghai auto show to present a "near-production" small crossover concept called the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe.

The five-door hatch is about 7 inches shorter than the Mercedes GLE sport coupe due later this year. Daimler says the GLC Coupe could debut as early as 2016 at the seventh SUV/crossover in the Mercedes lineup. The model would compete with rival BMW's X4 crossover.

Small sporty crossovers represent one of the global auto market's fastest-growing segments. CEO Dieter Zetsche, noting that Daimler will introduce four new or redesigned SUV/crossovers this year, has declared 2015 the "year of the SUV."

The GLC Coupe is 15.5 feet long and 7 feet wide. It sports LED headlamps, 21-inch wheels, frameless side windows, four-pipe stacked exhaust outlets and relatively high ground clearance. The concept is powered by a bi-turbocharged V-6 engine that delivers 367 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels through a 9-speed automatic gearbox.