A NEW two-door C-class compact sports coupe is to make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show on September 28 and is expected to go on sale in Britain in March next year. It sits 20mm lower than its saloon stablemate and is 183mm shorter, but has, says Mercedes-Benz, 'plenty of space for four passengers'.

Prices and specification have yet to be announced, but standard equipment is likely to include side and window airbags and electronic stability programme. All engines are four-cylinder units - 2.0-litre 129bhp petrol, 2.0-litre 163bhp mechanically supercharged petrol, 2.3-litre 197bhp Kompressor petrol, and 2.2-litre 143bhp CDI common rail direct injection diesel engine.