All-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLC in two trim levels, Avantgarde and AMG Line and 616km range
The all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLC was showcased in a preview held in Singapore, ahead of the launch in Malaysia. Mercedes’s global best-seller will be available as an all-electric vehicle for the first time, built on a purpose-developed electric architecture.
The midsize SUV will be available in two variants, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic electric Avantgarde and the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic electric AMG Line Plus. Both have a WLTP range of 616km
The electric GLC has a 2,972mm wheelbase, an 80mm longer wheelbase than the combustion-engine GLC. Front and rear passengers gain 13mm and 47mm of additional legroom respectively. Meanwhile headroom increases by 46mm at the front and 17mm at the rear.
The Avantgarde has 20-inch multi-spoke light-alloy wheels, while the AMG Line Plus gets 21-inch AMG multi-spoke light-alloy wheels. Both variants feature the new illuminated grille. This combines a wide chromed frame, a smoked-glass-look mesh structure and integrated contour lighting. The grille contains 942 backlit polycarbonate dots. The central star and surrounding contour are also illuminated.
Both variants have Digital Light headlights and two-part rear lights with a star motif. The rear lights animate when the vehicle unlocks or charges. There is a two-piece roof spoiler with a black lip. In addition, the AMG Line Plus gets an AMG spoiler lip. Mercedes-Benz states a drag coefficient of 0.26 for the electric GLC.
Inside, both variants feature the seamless MBUX Hyperscreen, which measures 99.3 centimetres stretching across the width of the interior. Ambient lighting surrounds the instrument panel and doors, while the Sky Control panoramic roof also incorporates ambient lighting. There are selectable background motifs through a dedicated app. Meanwhile the instrument cluster and ambient lighting match the selected theme.
The variants receive different trim and seating specifications. The Avantgarde has brown open-pore fineline birch wood trim with comfort seats in black or beech brown/black leather. The AMG Line Plus has black/silver metallic mixed-fabric trim and the AMG Line Sports Seat Package. These seats are black leather upholstery with contrasting red topstitching. Both seat types use a one-piece manufacturing process and double stitching.
The centre console houses up to two charging trays for inductive and rapid smartphone charging. A control strip with hard keys sits behind the trays, while separate cupholders sit away from the charging area. Brushed metal air vents add a technical finish, and the ambient lighting and vents briefly change colour when the Thermatic automatic climate control temperature changes. The Burmester 3D surround sound system uses stainless-steel speaker grilles.
The rear boot provides 570 litres of capacity and expands to 1,740 litres when the rear backrest folds down. The front luggage compartment adds another 128 litres. The frunk lid opens at the Mercedes-Benz star, while retaining hooks require unlocking through a central handle. The Boot Comfort Package allows the loading floor to drop by 80mm. It als adds an electrically folding 40:20:40 rear backrest and load compartment roller blind.
While the two electric variants differ in their exterior and interior specifications, they share the electric powertrain and core technology.
The electric GLC produces 310kW and reaches a top speed of 210km/h. Mercedes-Benz states a WLTP range of up to 616km. A two-speed rear gearbox uses an 11:1 first gear for acceleration, towing and urban efficiency, while its 5:1 second gear supports high-speed power delivery and motorway efficiency. The vehicle reaches its top speed in second gear.
Mercedes-Benz developed the rear permanently excited synchronous motor in-house. The company states that the drive unit achieves 93 per cent battery-to-wheel efficiency over long distances. The all-wheel-drive system also uses a front drive unit that can engage or disengage through a disconnect unit almost instantly. Both drive units use silicon carbide inverters.
The electric GLC uses an 800-volt electrical architecture and supports DC fast charging at up to 320kW. Drivers can add up to between 215 to 255km of WLTP range in 10 minutes depending on conditions. The onboard AC charger supports up to 22kW. There is also an electric socket flap.
The electric GLC is powered by a 85kWh lithium-ion battery. The cells use anodes that mix silicon oxide with graphite, while the cell chemistry has a volumetric energy density of 680Wh/l. The proportion of cobalt has also been reduced. The battery design allows workshop technicians to access and replace the electronics/electrical unit from below, while the screwed battery cover avoids the need to dismantle the entire battery for targeted electronic-component replacement.
The battery uses a modular architecture that Mercedes-Benz introduced with the electric CLA. The architecture is for use across different vehicle types and enables high-voltage batteries for the current and future electric models to share a production line.
The electric GLC also introduces a One-Box braking system. The system combines the brake booster, master cylinder and ESP control into one compact module. Mercedes-Benz says the arrangement provides a consistent brake-pedal feel regardless of whether the vehicle uses regenerative or friction braking.
The system can recover up to approximately 300kW of power through regenerative braking. Drivers can choose four recuperation levels: D- for maximum recuperation, D for standard recuperation, D+ for no recuperation and D Auto for intelligent recuperation. Recuperation through the brake pedal remains active.
In D-, there is a one-pedal driving feel. When the accelerator pedal is released, the GLC decelerates electrically at up to 3m/s². The hydraulic braking system remains unnecessary in more than 99 per cent of cases under this mode, while the recovered energy can contribute to a longer driving range. The system also permits recuperation in winter road conditions.
The electric GLC offers five driving modes Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual, as well as Terrain for dirt and gravel roads. Terrain mode automatically engages the front axle and adjusts the drivetrain, steering and brakes. When the vehicle has Digital Light, the system also activates an off-road light to widen illumination and help the driver identify obstacles.
“Transparent bonnet” works with MB.Drive Parking Assist 360 to create a virtual view beneath the front of the vehicle. The central display combines images from the front camera and the two exterior mirror cameras, while a trajectory overlay helps the driver select a driving path.
The fourth-generation MBUX system runs on Mercedes-Benz’s MB.OS operating system. The 99.3cm HYPERSCREEN uses more than 1,000 individual LEDs for its matrix backlight and supports zone dimming. The system also features the MBUX Zero Layer, an app grid and folders, while real-time graphics come from the Unity Game Engine.
Mercedes-Benz says the fourth-generation MBUX system integrates artificial intelligence from Microsoft and Google. Its functions include the MBUX Virtual Assistant with generative AI, Google Maps and MBUX Augmented Reality Navigation. The Virtual Assistant can conduct multi-turn conversations and maintain short-term context through its Multi Agent Approach.
The system uses ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing Search as knowledge agents. Google Cloud’s Automotive AI Agent, developed with Gemini through Vertex AI, handles navigation-related questions and can access information from Google Maps. A separate car expert agent can answer questions about the vehicle itself.
Mercedes-Benz Navigation with Electric Intelligence plans routes that include charging stops. It also considers factors such as topography, route profile, ambient temperature, speed and heating or cooling requirements. In addition, it accounts for traffic, charging-station availability, charging capacity and payment options. The system now incorporates additional weather information, including precipitation and snow on the road, while cloud-based calculations combine with onboard data.
The navigation system automatically detects when the vehicle needs to charge and can plan charging stops to optimise the overall journey time. For example, it can determine that two shorter stops at higher charging power may take less overall time than one longer stop. The system also adjusts charging settings for rapid charging and preconditions the high-voltage battery so it reaches the appropriate temperature for fast DC charging at the required time. Drivers can also activate preconditioning manually.
MB.Charge Public brings public-charging functions into one digital service. Customers can use one charging contract, authenticate through the Mercedes-Benz app and receive automatic billing. The MBUX display and Mercedes-Benz app can show the cost per kilowatt-hour or per minute, together with the expected total cost for a full charge.
Safety equipment includes Distance Assist Distronic, up to 10 cameras, five radar sensors, 12 ultrasonic sensors and a water-cooled high-performance computer. MB.Drive Assist combines Distronic with Steering Assist and provides SAE Level 2 assistance, including lane centring and Lane Change Assist through the indicator. MB.Drive Parking Assist 360 provides enhanced 360-degree camera assistance.
The vehicle uses a rigid safety bodyshell and passenger cell with various steel alloys. Mercedes-Benz provides seat belts and up to 11 airbags, including a centre airbag, passenger knee bag and rear sidebags. Pre-Safe can close the windows and sunroof, pre-tension the seat belts and, where applicable, move the memory-equipped passenger seat into a more upright position.
The electric GLC also features a one-piece panoramic Sky Control roof with switchable transparent and opaque settings across nine adjustable segments. Its laminated safety glass incorporates heat insulation, infrared-reflecting properties and a LowE coating. Drivers can select “clear”, “opal” or “Motif” settings and control the roof through voice commands. The roof incorporates 162 stars and supports 64 colours.
The release also highlights exterior and interior welcome sequences enabled by MB.OS. These include grille and rear-light animations, an aura sound, ambient-lighting effects and Hyperscreen animations. The vehicle can preactivate a profile using the vehicle key or face recognition, while Easy Entry can recall the driver’s seat and profile settings, navigation history and apps.
The MBUX system supports more than 40 apps, including video streaming when parked and front-passenger viewing while driving. The vehicle also supports Microsoft Teams, subject to applicable laws and system conditions, as well as Disney+ in more than 40 countries through MBUX, a Digital Extra and an active subscription. Dolby Atmos works through Apple CarPlay, while the vehicle offers several Sound Experience sound worlds.
The electric GLC will be built at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen, which operates within a flexible, net-carbon-neutral production network. The plant builds vehicles with conventional drivetrains alongside the electric GLC. Workers will assemble the electric GLC in Hall 9, the plant’s largest production hall. The plant uses 100 percent green electricity for production. The Bremen plant sources components from several Mercedes-Benz locations. The Star Assembly SRL plant in Sebeș, Romania, supplies the electric drive units. The Hamburg plant supplies the electric axles. Accumotive GmbH & Co. KG in Kamenz supplies the batteries.
Exterior colours for the GLC 300 4Matic electric include obsidian black, Manufaktur opalite white bright, high-tech silver, lavender silver and sodalite blue. The AMG Line Plus also gets Manufaktur alpine grey solid and Manufaktur Patagonia red metallic as exclusive finishes.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic electric Avantegarge carries an estimated price of RM389,000, while the AMG Line Plus costs an estimated RM399,000. The first 100 customers who pre-book the all-new electric GLC will receive passes to an upcoming exclusive Mercedes-AMG F1 Party, subject to terms and conditions.
Mercedes-Benz also offers the Agility+ plan, which includes lower monthly instalments, flexible end-of-agreement options, the MobilityPlus programme and a guaranteed future value for the vehicle. The plan starts at an estimated RM4,288 per month for the AVANTGARDE and RM4,388 per month for the AMG Line Plus. It includes a fifth-year extended limited warranty Star Gold and four Compact Service Packages.
MobilityPlus provides a guaranteed temporary Mercedes-Benz replacement car when the customer’s vehicle undergoes service, maintenance or warrantable repairs for 48 hours or more, subject to the stated terms and conditions.
