Here it is: the new Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

This, apparently, symbolises the bipolarity of Mercedes-Benz. Welcome everyone, to the brand new GLC Coupe, revealed at the New York motor show, a year after we first saw it in Shanghai.

So, it’s the smaller brother to the GLE Coupe, Merc's BMW X6 rival, making this one a foe for the X4, spun as it is off the C-Class saloon. It’s supposed to be the “sports car among Mercedes-Benz’s mid-size SUVs”.

At launch, you’ll have eight GLC Coupes to choose from, including a 170bhp diesel, a 200bhp petrol, a 320bhp '350e' plug-in hybrid and the range-topping GLC43, the one with the AMG badges.

That car gets the twin-turbo V6 biturbo seen in other 43 AMGs, together with 367bhp and the ability to hit 62mph in under five seconds. Quick, then. All come with a nine-speed automatic gearbox, except the hybrid, which makes do with seven gears.

You get steel springs and adaptive dampers as standard – ranging through five modes from Eco to Sport Plus – while you can option full air suspension if you so wish. The steering has been sharpened up over its GLC stablemate, too. Because SUV.

It’s lighter than its BMW X4 rival, mind, clocking in at 1,710kg, thanks to a combination of aluminium and high-strength steel. There is much safety assistance, as you’d expect from a Benz, along with a reasonably big boot (1,205 litres with the seats folded), and a rather sumptuous interior. Many options are available. Choose wisely.

The design? Well, we’ll leave that one for you, but it follows the Shanghai concept pretty damn closely. There’s a huge diamond grille, LED headlights, and a rear lip spoiler pinched from the S-Class Coupe. All very clean, you'll see, a point made by head of exterior design Robert Lesnik when speaking to TG, noting how the edges 'used by competitors' were shunned in favour of clean surfacing.

Prices have yet to be announced, but for reference, the GLC starts at a shade under £35k. Expect to pay a little more. Oh, and as for that ‘bipolar’ bit? “It is hot and cool,” explains Merc design boss Gordon Wagener. “It perfectly embodies our styling philosophy while at the same time representing contemporary luxury.”

This, an X4, or indeed, just a regular GLC? Y’know, the standard C-Class Estate is a solid car, too...