Until now Mercedes-Benz has never had a proper rival to answer the BMW 3 Series Coupe.
Just why it took them so long is a big question, but they’ve done it and now you can feast your eyes on the first official pictures of the C-Class coupe, which have been leaked onto the internet ahead of the car's official debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
Naturally the front section of the coupe has been carried over from the recently facelifted sedan and most of the rear end has made the transition too, although a curvier boot line does lend a more dynamic appearance.
Continuing the sporty theme the unique side profile displays more than a few hints of BMW in it and Mercedes coupe traditionalists are not going to like that the pillarless design traditionally found on Mercedes coupes has made way for a conventional B-pillar.
All in all, the new C-Class coupe should still prove to be a stylish effort in most people's eyes.
Although the two-door’s technical details are still a state secret, it should inevitably poach most of its engines from the C-Class sedan to offer a wide line-up that rivals the 3 Series coupe and Audi A5 on all fronts.
Yet there could also be some good old fashioned annihilation on the cards too. That's if we're to believe those rumours concerning Black Series AMG version of the coupe, using the new twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8 and shunting out up to 420kW and 900Nm.
If this is the case, that German power war could get nastier and crazier than ever!