It is rumored that the baby-CLS (some are even calling it the 4-door coupe version of the C-Class) will be built on the same architecture as the next-gen B-Class. Front-wheel drive will be available for the standard version, whereas the AMG version will get a all-wheel drive system.

Not much is known about the drive system, but if rumors are correct, it could come in a 1.6 and 2.0 liter engine, with 150 and 207 horsepower respectively.

We’re not exactly sure if this is a prototype version of the car being built for internal use, or if Mercedes-Benz is prepping it for the IAA in Frankfurt this September. Either way, we can certainly confirm that these spy shot, taken at the Mercedes-Benz plan in Hungary, look very much like the all-new CLS, but with smaller dimensions, hence the baby-CLS.

Thanks to Visionhu from MBWorld.org for the tip

It’s been a while since we last wrote about the facelifted C-Class. Well, here’s the saloon variant making rounds on infamous Nurburgring. In case you’re wondering, this is the track that gave the new CLS is first ever recorded crash, as well as the SLS AMG GT3′s first fiasco on a track on its racing debut. You can see that this test car has been lightly disguised to reveal subtle visual enhancements up front, most notably taking cues from the brand-new E-Class range—the headlamps, the well-contoured bonnet and the redesigned bumper.

Now, if you peek at the rear end, you’ll find even less enhancements, limited to the bumper and the taillights. What matters more is what’s going to be sitting under the hood. The engine options will probably be modified versions of the current four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines, plus an optional seven-speed automatic tranny from the conventional five-speed gearbox. Meanwhile, the 3.5-liter V6 that’s currently powering the C350 CGI will most probably make way for a reworked version from Mercedes-Benz’s new family of MoVe engines.

Now, if you’re eager to see the enhanced C-Class Saloon and Estate variants, then you have to make plans for being present at the Detroit Motor Show come January next year. Because, there will be another highlight apart from the two—the new C-Class Coupe—to succeed both the CLC and CLK. This Coupe will probably be the basis of the new C63 AMG model, which is aimed to rival the BMW M3, and maybe even a Black Series for hard knocks. Just don’t expect a Cabrio, folks.

News of this actually comes after fellow German rival BMW talked to the media about creating a shooting break model of their future 6 Series. It seems Mercedes-Benz wants to enter the fray instead of just passively sit around. Autobild magazine thus reports that Daimler’s breadwinner is considering a shooting brake concept that shall be included in the C-Class range. And since the C-Class is about to be reworked, a shooting break variant would be very much welcome.

If successful, the C-Class shooting break will be called the CLC, and should be something of a mix between a sedan and a wagon, although very much sleeker. The image above, however, is a CLS Shooting Break concept. Although the CLC would probably take up similar design cues. More details to follow, but right now, we’ll leave you to your imagination.

Did you really think Mercedes-Benz really let BMW get away with their 1/3 Series Coupe’s success across the globe? Think again, fellow Insider. Because Mercedes-Benz isn’t going to take this sitting down. Not without a fight. It hasn’t been made public, though. That’s why we’re doing you a favor, by releasing spy photographs of the replacement for the leaves-much-to-be-desired CLC. Right now, they’re calling it the C-Class Coupe, but who knows what it’ll be called once it makes its public debut?

Rumors say that it should hit show floors as early as June or July next year. They also say that it’s going to be based largely on the existing, highly respected C-Class platform. No less than Mercedes-Benz US CEO Ernst Lieb revealed to media back in March that their company is coming up with more variants of the C-Class. With this move, Mercedes-Benz is aiming to gain higher ground against its fellow German rival BMW who offers the 3 Series in all forms—coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon.

If successfully launched, the new C-Class Coupe will join the ranks of the new E-Class Coupe, and shall boast of engine specifications that are already being used in the current C-Class range. If you’re already envisioning a 5.5-liter V8-powered AMG variant, well then that leaves much to be desired, doesn’t it?

In this business, you got to have the guts to let go of things that just aren’t performing up to the least of your expectations. And that’s what Mercedes-Benz is about to do with their little hatch, the CLC. It just isn’t attracting enough buyers to keep it in the production line ever since production started way back in 2008.

It doesn’t help that Mercedes-Benz decided to keep it away from the North American market. Even though in other markets, the CLC and the original C-Class Sport Coupe were mildly popular, it still doesn’t add up for redemption. So you can’t really blame Mercedes-Benz for deciding to drop it from production.

The CLC is currently being manufactured in the Juiz de Fora plant in Brazil. But the place is going to be reorganized and restructured to focus production of Mercedes-Benz’s popular heavy-duty commercial truck, the Actros. And here’s the clincher—there’s no word yet whether production of the CLC will be moved elsewhere—so that about wraps up any suspicion that it will be sacked.

But don’t worry. Mercedes-Benz might still surprise you with the next generation of the CLC, but that time will only come when a brand new version of the C-Class comes out, which will probably take at least a couple of years. And, yes—it’s probably never going to reach US soil either. So just keep your fingers crossed.

Press release

“The CLC is a vehicle that appeals to the emotions, particularly to young people’s desire to own a car that has a great performance and is a lot of fun to drive. Alongside a classic marketing campaign, we’re therefore also using new types of advertising, which place more emphasis on the personal experience of the vehicle,” says Dr. Olaf Gà¶ttgens, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars. “This primarily includes exclusive driving events that give customers the chance to enjoy at first hand the many exciting features of the CLC, as well as an interactive online campaign and all kinds of marketing activities on the part of the dealerships.” Directly after the world premiere of the CLC at the Mercedes-Benz Berlin Fashion Week in January 2008, Mercedes-Benz launched a special cell phone marketing campaign featuring a personal video message or voice call from the brand ambassador and top model Eva Padberg.

The integrated marketing campaign for the CLC was launched in Europe at the beginning of June. This comprises a wide-ranging information and mailing package for dealerships as well as ads in the print media, a TV commercial, a microsite, and exclusive test drive events.

“Dreamcatchers” for individual test drive events

With the help of “dreamcatchers,” Mercedes-Benz is directly targeting existing and, most especially, potential customers. The focus here, as with all of the marketing activities in the campaign, is the key slogan “What car do you drive when you’re dreaming?” A bed positioned prominently in highly frequented locations – such as airports, shopping malls, and automobile shows – serves to promote exclusive test drives in the “dream car” – the new CLC. In a continuation of the theme, specially branded pillows and eyeshades in airplanes invite passengers to experience the car of their dreams. Similarly, the door hanger in selected hotels encourages guests not only to dream of the new sports coupe but also to fulfill that fantasy.

Print media ads and a TV commercial

The print campaign continues with the theme of the CLC as an affordably priced entry into the MB sports coupe family. The images selected for the campaign show the car from a range of angles designed to accentuate its elegance, dynamism, and agility. They are combined with a variety of punchy statements such as “Dreams usually get overtaken by reality – here the reverse is true” and “Not every star is light-years away.” The print campaign, which features three ads, will run in high-circulation general-interest and lifestyle magazines as well as daily newspapers.

Meanwhile, the TV commercial for the new CLC, as broadcast on major public and private stations, shows that even little boys are dreaming of the Mercedes-Benz star. Shot in a restaurant, the ad shows a young boy being introduced to his mother’s new partner. The boy is at first obviously indifferent, but then he starts to study the man in some detail and is eventually won over by the sight of his car – the new CLC.