One month ahead of its world premiere at the 2025 Munich Motor Show, Mercedes has unveiled the grille of the new Mercedes GLC EV.
For over 100 years, the chrome grille has been an essential identifying element of almost every Mercedes model. From the vertical proportions and simple details of the earliest models to the sophisticated horizontal architecture of recent decades, the grille has become an unmistakable visual signature of Mercedes vehicles.
After the failure of the EQS grille—which Mercedes tried to redesign during the facelift without much success—the designers in Stuttgart started from a blank sheet of paper to create the new grille for the Mercedes GLC EV, officially named Mercedes GLC with EQ Technology.
The new grille is defined by four main elements: a large chrome frame, a light strip surrounding the grille, a smoked-glass imitation at the bottom, and three slats with two air vents between them that integrate 942 backlit light points. The Mercedes logo is embedded in the three slats and is also illuminated.
The new grille will have its world premiere on the Mercedes GLC EV, debuting on September 7 at the Munich Motor Show, and will later appear on other Mercedes models. According to Gorden Wagener, Mercedes’ chief designer:
“Our new signature grille is not just a unique feature for the GLC, but it redefines the brand’s image. It is the perfect fusion between our established design elements and our vision for the future, giving our models an absolutely unmistakable look.”
Mercedes has not released official photos of the interior yet, but it announced that the dashboard will feature the new MBUX Hyperscreen, and the multimedia system will run on MB.OS, Mercedes’ in-house developed operating system.
The Mercedes GLC is the brand’s best-selling model, and the electric version will, for now, coexist alongside the combustion engine and plug-in hybrid versions. The Mercedes GLC EV is built on the new dedicated MB.EA electric platform featuring 800V technology, a silicon carbide inverter, and a two-speed gearbox for the rear motor.
The top version will come equipped with the 85 kWh Li-Ion battery from the new CLA and with two motors delivering 360 kW (489 PS). Single-motor variants will follow, as well as AMG performance versions using YASA axial-flux motors.