Mercedes-Benz CLA a B-Class coupe

Following in the tyre tracks of the head-turning CLS, the four-door coupe version of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class small car range is expected to slot neatly into the pricelist between the B and the C-Class sedan when it lobs here next year. 

Mercedes-Benz David McCarthy says the car carries the "concept" tag but looks near production ready. "It's built on the compact car platform that has the A and B-Class, it looks to be here in the first half of next year but it could be as late as 2014 for us." 

"Dr Dieter Zetsche says "A is for attack," we're absolutely determined to build volume in the  compact car sector and this car will bring new people to the brand that have not looked at us before, we intend to get them,".

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"We've already got the runs on the board with it as a full-size car (the CLS), the compact segment is going to almost double over next decade and we intend to get our share," he says.

More evidence of the importance of the Chinese market, Mercedes-Benz will debut the Concept Style Coupe at this year's Auto China in Beijing later this month, it's latest four-door coupe, built on the same small car platform as the A and B-Class, which will also be the underpinnings for a mini-SUV to slot in below the GLK-Class.

Among the concept model's highlights are the 155kW two-litre turbo-four powerplant (seen in the new A-Class at Geneva earlier this year) that boasts direct-injection, a seven-speed twin-clutch automatic and all-wheel drive.

Among the highlights of the four-cylinder engine are its direct-injection system with exhaust gas turbocharging, an enhanced combustion system and extended stratification ranges for lean-burn operation using fast-acting injectors for the multiple fuel injections, and multi-spark ignition according to need. 

Measuring 4637mm long, 1891mm wide and just 1398mm tall, the concept car is nearly 30cm longer than the current B-Class and 16cm shorter in height; the current CLS shares similar width and overall height but is 30cm longer.

The shapely and muscular Concept Coupe is draped in a paint colour the company calls "Alubeam" and takes the styling cues from other Benz concepts, including the mesh front grille and a neat rear lip spoiler. 

Benz has also compared the headlights to the eyes of an animal, which glow red when not required for road illumination, while the indicators use individual points of light in succession, which the company compares to a piano keyboard. 

The car also has frameless windows and no centre pillar and features a large panoramic clear roof, which if current Benz cars are any indication could turn opaque at the touch of a button. The stance is further enhanced by the turbine-look 21in wheels and the rear end has dual exhausts and an integrated rear diffuser.

The cabin is lashed with carbon fibre, leather and suede - the colour palette ranges from light grey and anthracite, with neon green piping and stitching on the instrument panel, steering wheel, seats and door panels. 

There's seating for four - all within their own bucket seats - and all four occupants get air vents shaped like a jet engine with backlit colours to reflect the air temperature (cool, fresh air is accompanied by blue lighting, red for warm etc.) 

Daimler chairman and Mercedes-Benz Cars boss Dr Dieter Zetsche says the company is staking its claim with the four-door. "The Concept Style Coup is expressive and powerful in its design." "This is the model against which sporty vehicles in the executive segment will have to measure themselves in future," he says.