Latest news with #EQC
Canberra Times
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Canberra Times
Mercedes-Benz says 2035 ICE ban could ‘collapse' European auto industry
Mercedes-Benz will launch a new mid-size electric SUV – the GLC with EQ Technology, which replaces the old EQC – at next month's IAA Mobility Show in the hometown of arch-rival BMW, which will reveal the rival BMW iX3 that will be the first of its 'Neue Klasse' generation of EVs.
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
What you might not know about insurance in a natural disaster
The Natural Hazards Commission is warning homeowners they are only covered for partial land damage under the Crown-owned insurer. A recent survey shows more than half (56%) of insured New Zealand homeowners expect full insurance compensation for natural hazard land damage. The Natural Hazards Commission (NHC) - which used to be called the EQC - said the national scheme provided up to $300,000 for house damage and some limited cover for damage to land. NHC chief executive Tina Mitchell said the land cover was standalone and could not be topped up with private insurance. "Land cover is specifically designed as a contribution payment, not full cover. "The limits of cover available ensures every homeowner across the country gets access to some protection, and helps keep the scheme affordable as it is funded by homeowners. People needed to understand there were limits to Crown-owned insurer scheme before a disaster occurred, Mitchell said. "When you understand that your landcover is limited, you can take action. "We recommend learning about the risks to your property and seeking expert advice from builders or engineers about how to protect your land from damage. For example, strengthening retaining walls and considering how waterways might impact your property are good things to check regularly. "If you do think your house is in a risky zone, you may want to allow for possible recovery costs in your financial planning. The scheme is a good contribution, but it is not designed to cover all costs." NHC's suggestions • Learn about the risks to the property and how the land might be affected. • Check the limits of cover for the house and the land. • Reduce risk by seeking expert advice from builders or engineers. • Plan for how to manage after an event. The commission's chief strategy officer, Michala Beacham, told RNZ's Morning Report programme today that properties were only covered for land damage within eight metres of the home, or 60 metres of the land needed to access the home. "It is a horribly stressful time dealing with a natural hazard event, it effects people homes, families and livelihoods, and then having an unexpected cost on top of that is really, you know, not a good time for anyone. "So that's why we are just trying to help people understand beforehand." Beacham said settlements for land were based on the cost of repair - within eight metres of the home - or the value of the land damage, but said under legislation NHC paid whatever was less. "So if your cost of repair is greater than the value of the land then you are going to face a shortfall... A number of people do find themselves with less than they expected or less than they might otherwise need to make a repair."
RNZ News
6 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
What you might not know about insurance in a natural disaster
An old abandoned building on Fitzerald Avenue on the edge of Christchurch, on February 17, 2021, nearly 10 years after it was damaged in a 6.3 magnitude earthquake. Photo: AFP / Marty Melville id="4LW03NN_image_crop_138657" crop="16x10" layout="thumbnail"] The Natural Hazards Commission is warning homeowners they're only covered for partial land damage under the Crown-owned insurer. A recent survey shows more than half (56 percent) of insured New Zealand homeowners expect full insurance compensation for natural hazard land damage. The Natural Hazards Commission (NHC) - which used to be called the EQC - said the national scheme provided up to $300,000 for house damage and some limited cover for damage to land. NHC chief executive Tina Mitchell said the land cover was standalone and could not be topped up with private insurance. "Land cover is specifically designed as a contribution payment, not full cover. "The limits of cover available ensures every homeowner across the country gets access to some protection, and helps keep the scheme affordable as it is funded by homeowners," Mitchell said. She said people needed to understand there were limits to Crown-owned insurer scheme before a disaster occurred. "When you understand that your landcover is limited, you can take action. "We recommend learning about the risks to your property and seeking expert advice from builders or engineers about how to protect your land from damage. For example, strengthening retaining walls and considering how waterways might impact your property are good things to check regularly. "If you do think your house is in a risky zone, you may want to allow for possible recovery costs in your financial planning. The scheme is a good contribution, but it is not designed to cover all costs," Mitchell said. Aerial images showing the extent of flooding in Tasman 2025. Photo: Tim Cuff / POOL The commission's chief strategy officer Michala Beacham told Morning Report properties were only covered for land damage within eight metres of the home, or 60 metres of the land needed to access the home. "It is a horribly stressful time dealing with a natural hazard event, it effects people homes, families and livelihoods, and then having an unexpected cost on top of that is really, you know, not a good time for anyone. "So that's why we are just trying to help people understand beforehand." Beacham said settlements for land were based on the cost of repair - within eight metres of the home - or the value of the land damage, but said under legislation NHC paid whatever was less. "So if your cost of repair is greater than the value of the land then you are going to face a shortfall... A number of people do find themselves with less than they expected or less than they might otherwise need to make a repair," she said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Auto Car
07-08-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
A new era of Mercedes will begin the new GLC EV – here's all you need to know
Successor to EQC will go toe-to-toe with forthcoming BMW iX3 in Europe's most hotly contested segment Close Mercedes-Benz will launch a radical new GLC next year, an important new model for the German firm as it looks to gain a foothold in Europe's most hotly contested new car segment. Launching at the same time as the new BMW iX3, its key segment rival, the electric GLC not only marks Mercedes' next step in electrification but also will be the first car to embody the brand's bold new-era design language – something that will be adopted across the rest of the range in the coming years. It will be sold alongside the current, second-generation combustion-engined GLC, which was launched in 2022. That car has regularly been Mercedes' best-selling model since its introduction in 2015 and the firm hopes the new GLC EV – successor to the discontinued EQC SUV – can leverage the equity built by the GLC name and be a catalyst for Mercedes' EV sales. Going on sale in early 2026, the electric GLC – which we've already driven in prototype form – will become the first model to use the Mercedes-Benz Electric Architecture ( which will also form the basis of the upcoming electric C-Class, due at the end of 2026 or start of 2027. It supports an 800V electrical architecture and has an expected maximum charging speed beyond the 320kW of the new MMA-based CLA EQ – the longest-range and most efficient EV currently on sale. Mercedes officials have confirmed to Autocar that the electric GLC will draw electricity from a 94.5kWh battery, which will provide up to 435 miles of range in its most efficient form. While that is a significant amount of range for an SUV, matching today's class-leading Peugeot e-3008, it will be beaten by the new iX3, which is promised to offer 497 miles. The electric GLC will be sold with single- and dual-motor powertrains, offering up to 482bhp in dual-motor guise. An AMG performance flagship is due in 2027 and is tipped to offer up to 600bhp. In styling terms, the GLC will introduce Mercedes' new look. A key aspect of this is the new nose. Official pictures from the German firm show a reinvented grille design that fuses classic styling with bold lighting elements. This includes a chrome front perforated with 942 small holes. Behind the panel are more than 100 LEDs, which enable the grille to light up in a variety of customisable ways. The central star logo is also illuminated, although the extent to which it is will be dependent on local regulations. Mercedes boss Ola Källenius said the new design would ensure Mercedes could maintain its identity through its EVs 'in current times, with 100-plus Chinese firms' and others entering the market; and ensure it could carry 'the calling card of Mercedes, the unmistakable Mercedesness' into the future when new ICE cars finally go off sale from 2035. Like the smaller CLA, the GLC's overall design is of a progressive look. It draws heavily on Mercedes' Vision EQXX concept car in terms of aerodynamic performance and minimising the loads on the motors to maximise efficiency. For reference, the streamlined EQXX extracted 627 miles from a 100kWh battery pack last year. As a result, this approach will yield a futuristic-looking design, with a rakish bubble-like roofline. According to Mercedes design chief Gorden Wagener, the ambition is to give the new model 'a strong identity' in the 'sea of sameness' that he perceives among today's EVs. Much of the GLC's cockpit design remains under wraps, but the new CLA hints at what to expect. That car's dashboard is designed around the latest iteration of Mercedes' Superscreen, which spans the width of the dashboard with three digital displays – a 10.25in screen for driving information, a 14.6in infotainment screen in the middle and a 14in screen for the front passenger. Like its iX3 rival, the GLC will dispense with many physical buttons and instead use voice controls backed by artificial intelligence systems. Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you'll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here. Next Prev In partnership with
ArabGT
05-08-2025
- Automotive
- ArabGT
The 2026 Mercedes GLC EV Unveils a Game-Changing Futuristic Grille
Mercedes-Benz is setting the stage for the future of its design language—starting at the very front. Leading the charge is the striking new front grille that will debut on the upcoming 2026 Mercedes GLC electric SUV. Teased in official previews, this grille isn't just a facelift—it marks the beginning of a new chapter in Mercedes' design evolution. This is more than a design refresh. It's a visual manifesto. With the release of detailed teaser images, the direction Mercedes-Benz is heading with the all-electric 2026 GLC has come into focus. And while the specs are impressive, what's making headlines is the radical redesign of the front grille—a bold, unmistakable statement that signals where the brand is headed. A Grille That Redefines Identity The new GLC will arrive as a fully electric model, stepping in to replace the outgoing EQC. But this isn't just an EV version of an existing SUV—it's the flagship of a new design language that moves away from the separate EQ aesthetic. At the center of this identity is the grille, which seamlessly blends luxury, heritage, and future-forward thinking. Far from being a blanked-out front panel, this grille reinvents the idea entirely. Mercedes draws inspiration from its design heritage—particularly the iconic Ponton era—but reinterprets it through a futuristic lens. Advanced LED lighting is integrated directly into the grille, creating a dramatic visual signature that's as expressive as it is elegant. The illumination isn't just eye-catching—it's emotional, changing the atmosphere and creating a visual rhythm that connects car and environment. The Beginning of a Brand-Wide Shift The 2026 GLC EV won't be a one-off. Mercedes confirms this new front-end design will shape the look of its entire future lineup—electric and hybrid alike. It marks the brand's departure from the now-retired EQ design language, opting instead for a unified, sophisticated identity that feels both rooted in the brand's DNA and daringly new. Launching this design philosophy with the GLC makes sense: it's one of Mercedes' best-selling and most versatile models, and serves as the ideal entry point to showcase this transformation to the world. Engineering Meets Expression Built on the Mercedes-Benz electric platform, the GLC EV will support ultra-fast charging up to 320 kW and deliver over 700 km of range in its top configuration (WLTP). Performance enthusiasts will also have an AMG variant to look forward to, promising thrilling capability in the luxury electric SUV segment. Inside, the tech revolution continues. Expect a massive Hyperscreen stretching across the dashboard, powered by the next-generation operating system—delivering a user experience that's just as forward-looking as the exterior. This Is Not an Upgrade—It's a Statement With the new GLC EV, Mercedes isn't tweaking its existing formula—it's rewriting it. The brand is signaling that its electric future isn't just about switching drivetrains—it's about reshaping the entire ownership experience. The GLC EV embodies a design philosophy that respects heritage while embracing the full potential of electric innovation. It's more than a car. It's the face of a new era. And that face is striking, futuristic, and undeniably Mercedes. As 2026 approaches, one thing is clear: the electric GLC isn't just another model. It's the vehicle that will carry Mercedes-Benz into a new design generation—and possibly redefine what German luxury means in the EV age. Are you ready for the next chapter in electric luxury?
