Mercedes GLC Coupe facelift caught with very little camo

Mercedes didn't put much effort into camouflaging the prototype.

It’s a bit difficult to keep a track of everything that’s going on at Mercedes due to its vast lineup. Because there are so many models, it means there’s a facelift or a next-generation car right around the corner almost throughout the entire year. The GLC Coupe has only been out for less than three years, but in today’s hugely competitive automotive world, the Daimler company needs to keep the crossover-coupe mashup fresh and relevant in its battle with the BMW X4 and next year’s Audi Q3 Sportback / Q4.

A barely disguised prototype of the compact crossover was spotted out and about on the streets of Germany not shy to show off its mildly updated headlights and taillights. A GLC 300 4Matic test vehicle, the high-riding Merc had camouflage only on the front bumper and the horizontal slat of the grille, while the revised LED taillights were also carrying a bit of mascara.

Being more or less the crossover equivalent of the C-Class, it means the GLC / GLC Coupe will inherit the same novelties as the facelifted C. As such, the GLC 43 will get a power boost to mirror the C43 while on the inside there’s going to be an updated infotainment system, but sadly not the MBUX of newer Mercedes models.

Don’t hold your breath on seeing a GLC 53 since the three-pointed star has mentioned the C53 – for which it has filed a trademark – will have to wait until the next-generation C-Class. By the way, our spies have already caught on camera the W206 undergoing cold weather testing in Sweden ahead of a possible market launch in 2020.

Meanwhile, Mercedes will introduce the facelifted GLC lineup in the months to come, so we might get to see it at the Geneva Motor Show in March. It certainly won't be in Detroit since Mercedes along with BMW and Audi are skipping NAIAS in 2019.

COE prices end mixed in last round of bidding for 2018

Certificate of entitlement (COE) prices rose for small cars, the Open category and motorcycles in the last round of bidding for the year, which ended yesterday.

The price for cars up to 1,600cc and 130bhp closed at $25,501, up from the $23,568 of the previous bidding round.

In the Open COE category, which applies to any vehicle type except motorcycles but is typically used for bigger cars, the price rose to $31,809 from $30,851 in the previous round.

Premiums for motorcycles rose to $3,789 from $3,399 in the previous round.

The price for cars above 1,600cc and 130bhp remained unchanged at $31,001.

Premiums for goods vehicles and buses dipped slightly to $27,001 from $27,009 in the previous round.

Honda agent Kah Motor's general manager Nicholas Wong attributed the small-car price hike to recently released figures for deregistration of cars in October and last month.

Deregistration means the vehicles are scrapped and taken off the roads permanently.

"Deregistration numbers have gone down, which means that from February onwards, the quota will be reduced. So dealers will make a move now," he told The Straits Times.