Mercedes-Benz->ke187 is famous for inventing a lot of things, including the first series-production diesel passenger car, the first production vehicle with safety bodywork or ESP. More recently, the Germans made an impact for exploring new car niches with the launch of the CLS->ke539 and CLA->ke3130 four-door, coupe-like sedans->ke142.

And it appears Mercedes is about to expand its 'tweener lineup even further with a C-Class-based, four-door coupe->ke141. At least that what company R&B boss Thomas Weber told Auto Express, adding that the Stuttgart crew is "intensively looking at remaining niches that will provide us with profitability and growth."

"There is room between the CLA and the CLS," he stressed, although without going into specifics, hinting that once the brand-new C-Class Coupe is out, a four-door version of it will follow. Of course, this is far from being an official statement, but it would make a lot of sense for Mercedes-Benz to come up with yet another sleek, aerodynamic sedan->ke142.

However, the new vehicle isn't likely to show up before the 2016 model year, when the C-Class Coupe is rumored to hit dealerships.

Click past the jump to read more about the Mercedes C-Class.

Why It Matters

The brand-new C-Class is already a well-groomed sedan that features a stylish exterior and a well-engineered, luxurious interior. Giving it a more aerodynamic appearance will only make things better. A four-door C-Class coupe would also make a great competitor for the 4 Series Gran Coupe that's a bit bulky and attractive by design only to a limited number of enthusiasts.

Mercedes C-Class

Often described as a shrunken S-Class, the redesigned C-Class received a more aggressive design that blends styling cues seen on both the E-Class and the larger S-Class. The heavily revised interior is plain gorgeous and comes with an unprecedented amount of luxury and technology. Two models are offered in the United States, the C300 4MATIC and the C400 4MATIC. The former is powered by a 2.0-liter four-pot with 235 horsepower and 273 pound-feet on tap, while the latter moves with help from a 3.0-liter V-6 unit developing 329 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque.