Don’t Fret: A Diesel GLC Is Coming
We recently drove the Mercedes-Benz GLC, which will only be available with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine for the 2016 model year. If you’re still a fan of diesel engines despite the Volkswagen diesel debacle, do not fret—Mercedes will launch the GLC 300 BlueTEC 4Matic in North America, probably around this time next year, as a 2017 model.
Known in Europe as the GLC 250d, the 300 BlueTEC will be powered by the same 200-hp 2.1-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel that currently drives the GLK diesel. It produces 369 lb-ft of torque, and in the GLK has a claimed fuel consumption of 8.5L/100 km combined.
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- Also: 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC: We’re Driving It This Week
This should improve in the GLC, as the engine will be mated to Mercedes’ new nine-speed automatic transmission. European testing puts the GLC 250d fuel consumption at about 5.5L/100 km. It will, of course, be available in an all-wheel-drive configuration.
The GLC’s lighter weight and nine-speed transmission have dropped the 0-100 km/h time to 7.6 seconds, from 8.0 seconds in the GLK 250 BlueTEC.
We’ll have more info as it becomes available.