Mercedes-Benz is simplifying its badging range-wide, trying to tie its SUVs and roadsters in with the more prosaic saloon models on which they're based.
This leads to the end of some badges - for instance, the SLK will now become the SLC, while the ML/M-Class nomenclature will be dropped entirely. It's fairly simple otherwise, though, in that all Mercedes SUVs will from now on carry GL badging, in homage to the G-Wagen (which soldiers on and remains the exception to the rule, staying as the G-Class).
So the GLA is the SUV A-Class, the GLC is the SUV C-Class, the GLE is the SUV E-Class (this is the former M-Class or ML) while the GLE Coupé is the BMW X6-rivalling machine currently in final development, and the GLS is the artist formerly known as the GL.
Over in open-top Merc world, as already mentioned the SLK morphs into the SLC - a nameplate last seen in 1981 on the C107 Benz - while the SL remains as is, 'in recognition of its iconic status'.
Four-door coupés stick with CLA and CLS, although this confuses us as we thought the CLS was based on the E-Class, not the S-Class. Hmm...
Anything else?
Merc is also taking the time to tidy up the badging for the varied forms of propulsion under the bonnets of the range. Lower-case lettering denotes what fuel the car runs on, with 'c' for compressed natural gas, 'd' for diesel, 'e' for anything with plug-in electric drive or full electric power, 'f' for fuel cell and 'h' for non-plug-in hybrids. Petrol models have no suffix at all and the 4Matic badging for all-wheel drive continues, ahead of its 30th anniversary in 2015.