Latest news with #Mercedes-BenzEQC
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Mercedes-Benz electrifies its worldwide bestseller
Mercedes-Benz EQC compact SUV has been part of the brand's bestselling GLC model range since 2021. Except for America, that is. So, years after other markets could buy one, it seems as if America will finally get one as well. It should make it to our shores sometime after the new one debuts in September at the IAA Auto Show in Munich, or at least that's the way it appears. Until then, the current lineup includes the 255-horsepower GLC300 mild hybrid or the 313-horsepower GLC350e plug-in hybrid with 54 miles of pure electric driving forthcoming all-electric GLC will be known as the Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ Technology rather than the separate EQ nomenclature used until now. This is a continuation of incorporating EQ models first seen with the G580 with EQ Technology launch last year and integrates the electrified vehicles into the conventional powertrain lineup. The announcement comes as the newest GLC is undergoing winter testing in Sweden and the Arctic Circle, with temperatures as low as -13 degrees. 'During winter testing in Sweden, our new, all-electric GLC demonstrated its reliability and robustness even under extreme conditions. It represents innovation and quality – a fact we have proven in the Scandinavian winter,' said Christoph Starzynski, Mercedes-Benz Group AG's Vice President for Vehicle the Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ Technology may look similar to other GLCs, it actually employs the automaker's platform, a new vehicle architecture dedicated to electric vehicles, that allows them to be built without the compromises that a petrol-vehicle platform might impose. It's fitted with an 800-volt architecture that supports a sustained charging rate of more than 320 kW. Range is expected to be an WLTP-rated 400 miles or so, which should net approximately 320 miles in EPA testing. The Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ Technology comes with rear- and 4Matic all-wheel-drive configurations, with the latter disconnecting the front axle to increase efficiency. Online reports suggest the GLC EV produces about 480 horsepower, which is fairly healthy for the segment, although any official number has yet to be released. Interestingly, its new brake system incorporates the brake booster, master cylinder, and Electronic Stability Program Control into a single compact module that doesn't rely on mechanical linkage, although it does switch to a hydraulic fallback if needed. The system also optimizes the recovery of braking energy to extend the battery's charge. As on other Mercedes-Benz EVs, the climate control uses a heat pump that harnesses waste heat from the electric-drive unit, the battery and ambient air. It preconditions the battery to its optimal temperature prior to fast charging as well as controls cabin the most important aspect of the new Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ Technology may be its appearance. While the Mercedes-Benz has only issued photos of the forthcoming compact SUV painted in swirling camouflage paint, the new vehicle's appearance lacks the obsessively ovoid shape that has plagued other Mercedes-Benz EQ models, the most egregious of which is the EQS that, when painted in white, looks like a suppository with tires. Thankfully, the Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ Technology looks a lot more like its conventional counterparts, one that only happens to be powered by electrons. What the interior might look like remains unknown, however. By fitting its newest EV into an existing lineup rather than separating it out as a unique model, Mercedes-Benz is bowing to the realities of the market in 2025. This makes it appear a more mainstream choice and may make it easier to sell to those initially weary of electric SUVs. While exact details are not known about the new Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ Technology, the fact that Mercedes-Benz is putting its newest technology into its biggest seller worldwide, rather than the S-Class, speaks volumes of its desire to reduce costs of EV technology through mass production. It also renders its EVs somewhat less of an upper one percent plaything and more of a sensible middle-class choice. Love reading Autoblog? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get exclusive articles, insider insights, and the latest updates delivered right to your inbox. Click here to sign up now!
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class EV Prototype: The EQC Rises! Sort Of!
Remember the Mercedes-Benz EQC? An electric analogue to the GLC-class compact luxury SUV has been in the works for years—and in markets beyond the U.S., it actually existed as a thing people could buy. We in the States didn't get that lucky, though; the EQC as originally conceived suffered several setbacks and ultimately never arrived here. But that'll soon be rectified with the electric GLC. Ahead of the new EV's debut at the IAA auto show in Munich this September, we got a taste of the GLC at Benz's winter proving ground in far-north Sweden. The regular GLC is a bestseller in the U.S., and its electric variant will live within that greater lineup. We don't have an official name yet, but the lineup currently contains the gas-only GLC300 and the plug-in-hybrid GLC350e, so the EV could slide above that as the GLC380 or GLC480, similar to how the electric G580 is positioned above the gas-only G550. Going forward, this is likely how Mercedes will continue to structure its lineups, even when cars within the same line don't share a platform. Despite looking like a gas-powered GLC, the electric variant rides on the dedicated platform, which will underpin additional future EVs as well. Ahead of our prototype drive, Mercedes told us the decision to use was all about compromise—or rather, a lack thereof; putting an EV on the gas-fed GLC's platform would've required the automaker to make undesirable concessions, whereas lets Mercedes engineers optimize for the EV part. The examples we drove were heavily camouflaged inside and out, and concrete specs at this stage are few. But Mercedes did tell us that the GLC EV's body is just a bit longer than the gas model's, granting enough space in the floor to fit a roughly 94.5-kWh battery. The top offering works at 800 volts, and it is said that charging rates of 320 kW can be "sustained" on a 350-kW charger. As for range, Mercedes estimates that this juice box will be good for a hair over 400 miles on the European WLTP test cycle, with an EPA estimate north of 300 miles. Lift the hood, and you won't find any power hardware—just a four-cubic-foot frunk, which, according to our eyeballs, should hold at least 50 pounds of shrimp. At least. Similarly, we're not quite sure of the full breadth of powertrains we'll get in the U.S., but deep in wintry Sweden, we sampled a dual-motor all-wheel-drive variant that makes approximately 483 horsepower. On roads covered in snow and ice, that proved more than enough power to get the rear end loose at will, and Sport mode offers a surprising amount of yaw before it slowly dialed back the power and brought the rear end in line. There's a two-speed transmission tucked in at the rear, too, as in the Porsche Taycan, and like the Porsche, the transmission's shifting is nearly imperceptible. Thankfully, there were some stretches where we were able to assess the GLC EV's ride quality on normal pavement. Unsurprisingly, it was mighty smooth; the vehicle we drove included the optional air-spring suspension, which did a great job counteracting the EV's as-yet-unknown curb weight. The car can take a licking, too; with the suspension raised about an inch, we blasted up a small mountain road riddled with washboard bumps and deep ruts. And aside from having the fillings shaken out of our molars, the GLC sailed its way upward without much drama. That's probably more off-roading than most owners will ever do, but it's nice that the capability is there. Mercedes-Benz's complicated all-in-one brake module makes an appearance on the GLC EV, too. We first sampled this unit on the upcoming new CLA-class hybrid; the module combines the booster, master cylinder, and other components, with the goal of providing a seamless brake feel whether using regeneration or friction. The brakes prioritize regen as much as possible to boost efficiency. In most situations, it doesn't rely on a mechanical link between your foot and the brake discs—the feedback and pressure underfoot are simulated, and they're simulated quite well. The interior was completely shrouded, so we can't yet speak to how closely the cabin resembles that of the gas-powered GLC. But we can say that the EV's extra length pays off in rear-seat legroom, which was ample behind a six-foot-two front-seat passenger. The platform's flat floor also left more than enough space to comfortably tuck our feet under the front seat. Between that and the sizable panoramic glass roof, the cabin is airy and feels more spacious than the average compact SUV. There's a long time to go until the GLC EV's official debut in September, and it will likely end up as a 2026 model when it goes on sale in the States. While pricing likely won't be announced until after the Munich show concludes, we can look at current context; the GLC350e PHEV tops out at $65,2o0 in its loaded Pinnacle trim, so we'd estimate a starting price somewhere above that. The electric GLC will be expensive, but after our brief spin in one, we think it'll fit right into the greater lineup—when it finally arrives. Which we think it will, this time. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
