Mercedes’ program is going ahead as planned, with the German car maker laying the ground for the Geneva Motor Show by releasing a C-Class cabriolet.

Since Stuttgart has implemented a new naming strategy for its models, the C-Class-based convertible will, like the coupe, drop the CLK moniker to make its link to the C- family obvious.

The new cabrio will be all but identical to the successful coupe, except of course of the soft-top. It will be offered with same mix of engines on the new C-Class range, which includes four-, six-, and eight-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.

An AMG variant with a 4.0-litre V8 under the hood, pushing 503 hp and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm), will follow, with its debut expected close to the end of the year.

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