In September, the BMW X3 will receive another worthy opponent: the new 2015 Mercedes GLC. The midsize SUV builds atop the previous GLK model and not only gets a new name, but also new engineering and design philosophy. The GLC is 80kg lighter than the old GLK – thanks to an entirely new body and use of aluminum.

Even at first glance, the significantly design changes stand out immediately. The exterior design is reminiscent of the C-Class, as the C at the end of the new name is derived from the C-class, while the GLC moniker hints to a midsize SUV between the GLA and a GLE. Gone are the sharp creases and angles inspired by the G-Class, replaced by more attractive curves and a sleek grille.

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At 4.6m in length, 1.8m in width and 1.6m high (a fraction taller if you spec the ‘off-road’ pack), it’s basically a raised C-Class sedan.

All variants come with permanent ‘4MATIC’ four-wheel-drive (with a basic torque split of 45:55 front/rear), and a nine-speed gearbox.

On request, Mercedes GLC customers can equip their compact SUV with air suspension and Head-up Display.

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170 hp and 204 hp versions of Mercedes’ four-cylinder 2.2-liter diesel (GLC 220d and GLC 250d), and a 211 hp 2.0-liter petrol in the GLC 250, good for a 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds.

Then there’s the petrol-electric GLC 350e, which combines that same 2.0-litre petrol engine to an electric motor, for a combined 323bhp output and 413lb ft of torque. It has 60g/km of CO2 and sprints to 62mph in 5.9 seconds.

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There is still no answer to the 313 hp six-cylinder diesels — X3 xDrive30d and X3 xDrive35d — offered by Stuttgart.

The second generation of the BMW X3 is already in late production days of its lifecycle, with the next generation G01 X3 being scheduled for 2017.

Click below to see the full photo gallery:

[Photos: Bimmertoday]