- Mercedes has revealed its first teaser image of an undisguised GLC.
- The single picture shows an illuminated grille with classic influences.
- We’ll see the new compact EV at this September’s Munich IAA show.
Mercedes is breathing new life into what was once its cars’ most distinctive feature. The brand has dropped the first undisguised teaser image of its new GLC compact electric SUV, revealing its retro-futuristic illuminated grille.
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More: Mercedes Is Replacing Its Most Disappointing EV With Something Way More Serious
Though EVs don’t have the same cooling requirements as combustion cars, the replacement for the EQC will have the most eye-catching grille of any Mercedes car when it is unveiled at the Munich IAA next month. The wide-set frame bucks current automotive fashion by going big on chrome, and also features a smoked glass-effect lattice structure between the bars.
A Familiar Shape Reinvented
But GLC buyers will have to pay extra to maximize the grille’s look-at-me potential. An optional illumination package adds 942 light-up dots, which are animated to bring the car to life as the driver approaches, and also illuminates the iconic three-pointed star and surrounding panel.
Mercedes has taken flak for the boring soap-bar design of its slow-selling EQE and EQS electric cars, and the new grille design will help ensure the GLC is more memorable. But it sounds like the BMW iX3 and Porsche Macan Electric rival won’t be the only model to get this new lit front-end.
A Brand-Wide Shift in Design
According to Mercedes design chief Gordon Wagener, the grille marks more than just a facelift. “Our new iconic grille is not just a new front for the GLC, it redefines the face of our brand,” said Mercedes design boss, Gordon Wagener. “It is the perfect fusion of lasting design codes reinterpreted for the future, making our cars instantly recognizable.”
The change is part of a broader strategy. Autocar reports Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius as saying the brand’s reimagined grille would help Mercedes stand out “in current times, with 100-plus Chinese firms.”
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Charging Ahead with GLC 400 4Matic
The first of the new GLCs to launch is the GLC 400 4Matic with EQ technology. Though exact specs are still under wraps we know it can add around 162 miles (260 km) of electric range in just 10 minutes thanks to its ability to charge at over 320 kW. Like all new GLCs it features 800-volt tech, and unlike the launch versions of the new CLA EV, will also be able to charge at 400-volt stations from the get-go.
Mercedes
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