Mercedes-Benz will reveal 2026 GLC with EQ Technology at IAA Mobility. The best-selling SUV will offer an electric drivetrain option in single- and dual-motor versions.
The automaker decided this year to bring its electric models closer to its ICE offerings in terms of design, moving away from the aerodynamic shapes of the EQS and EQE.
The electric GLC, featuring an 800-volt architecture and over 400 miles in the WLTP cycle, will debut alongside the electric CLA sedan.
With the IAA Mobility still weeks away, it's already apparent the Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ technology will be the main production debut for the luxury brand.
Mercedes has gone as far as calling it the highlight of the 2025 show—one that will present a new face for the brand, along with a new MB.EA platform that will underpin a whole new series of vehicles from the brand.
So the stakes are very high, especially given the current fragmented state of the brand's electric lineup.
The automaker has already given a few hints as to the design of the new model, revealing it during winter testing a few months back. But the camouflage hides a lot of detail, revealing only the familiar profile of Mercedes' popular crossover.
"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, Vice President Overall Vehicle Development & Integration for Mercedes-Benz Group AG.
Quite a bit is riding on the success of the new electric GLC. The small-ish crossover was the brand's best-selling series in ICE form and launched a decade ago, replacing the GLK-Class. In a short span of time, it has captured an important slice of the market for Mercedes, making it imperative that the electric model gets everything right.
Stuttgart’s Sudden Course Correction
Succeeding with electric offerings has not been easy. The all-electric EQS sedan and SUV, along with the EQE sedan and SUV, emphasized smooth surfaces for optimal aerodynamics and ultimately moved the electric lineup further away from the familiar styling of the brand's internal-combustion offerings.
This split has already been addressed in an uncharacteristically open manner for the automaker: Earlier this year Mercedes said it would adopt a more unified design language closer to that of its conventional models.
"Going forward, a coherent design language will be used across the entire portfolio," the automaker said earlier this year.
That sudden course correction signals the German brand admitting it was wrong to pursue a separate styling language for the EVs.
"Mercedes-Benz will apply a coherent, status-oriented design across the entire portfolio, and customers will primarily decide on a model—and then choose their preferred drive type," the automaker said.
The first model to get a new look, to the extent possible as part of a mid-cycle facelift, was the EQS sedan, which adopted a new grille look with vertical slats. But that's about all that could be done on a midcycle budget without heavier reengineering.
Clean-Sheet GLC EV with AWD
The new electric GLC, on the other hand, will be a clean-sheet design, with the expected 4Matic all-wheel drive with 483 hp, an 800-volt architecture, and just over 400 miles of range in the WLTP cycle, which should still yield north of 300 miles in the EPA cycle.
The 94.5-kWh battery, meanwhile, buys the model a longer than expected wheelbase, which should offer plenty of dividends for the ride in town and on the highway.
"The all-wheel-drive models feature a powerful front-axle drive unit, which can be swiftly engaged or disengaged using a Disconnect Unit (DCU) when needed," the automaker noted.
The drive units feature silicon-carbide inverters, ensuring efficient energy usage. Mercedes has also tweaked the recuperative braking system to deliver a consistent and transparent pedal feel for the driver.
Another game-changer will be a two-speed transmission for the rear motor, allowing the GLC to achieve energy savings at highway speeds.
"This GLC establishes a milestone for Mercedes-Benz. Moving forward, there will be a diverse array of powertrains to cater to all customer needs," the automaker said, promising new benchmarks.
The GLC is set to be the star of the show for Mercedes, but it will also share stage space with the new CLA, which is set to be available as an EV as well.
We'll see both during the first week of September at the IAA Mobility in Hannover.
Did Mercedes-Benz field too many electric models too quickly that were too different from their ICE counterparts? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
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