Gettin’ sketchy: Mercedes previews the C-Class Cabriolet ahead of Geneva debut

By Andrew Hard February 13, 2016

2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The temperate climate of Switzerland isn’t usually known as a haven for convertibles, but at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz will showcase four new vehicles that encapsulate the thrills of open-air driving.

The 2017 model year SL, SLC, and AMG S65 Cabriolet will celebrate their European premieres at the event, but the German brand will also take the wraps off a car that has never been seen by the public — the 2017 C-Class Cabriolet. The centerpiece of the Mercedes booth, the convertible C-Class will go on sale this fall with a folding soft top, which should please some traditionalists.

Outside of the roof design, the droptop C-Class shouldn’t look too different from its hardtop siblings, and the stuff under the skin is expected to remain relatively unchanged as well. A C300 version will likely be revealed first with a 2.0-liter, 241-horsepower four-cylinder, but Mercedes-AMG C43 and C63 models should follow with a bit more heat under the hood.

We have just the official design sketch to show you for now, but more should soon be available as we inch closer to the show’s initial press day on March 1.

On the opposite end of the Mercedes spectrum lies the brand’s Sprinter Extreme concept, which is currently on display at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show. Based on the Sprinter Cab Chassis, the eye-catching one-off looks like it belongs on the set of Jurassic Park, with its bright green paint, roof rack with spotlights, fake mud splashes all around, and Scattolini ScattoMaax “Tipper Bed,” which can dump cargo from the back or either side.

Mercedes enlisted Florida-based customizer RENNtech to create the Sprinter Extreme, which is more than 20 feet long, nearly 8 ft. high, and can haul up to 6,400 pounds. You can read more about the vehicle here.

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