Oh Good, the Electric Mercedes C-Class Is Also Getting a Jumbo Grille

The GLC with EQ Technology is Mercedes’ big star (pun intended) at the IAA Mobility Show in Munich this week. However, the luxury brand figured it would also be a good occasion to tease the electric crossover’s sedan equivalent. A shadowy image gives us our first glimpse of the C-Class with EQ Technology, arriving in 2026 when BMW will launch a direct rival, the i3.

While Munich is refreshingly moving away from supersized grilles, Stuttgart appears to be embracing them. BMW has a design with vertical kidneys for SUVs and another with horizontal kidneys for cars. By contrast, Mercedes plans to use its “reimagined iconic grille,” complete with contour lighting and a smoked-glass-look lattice structure, across the whole lineup. The electric iX3-rivaling GLC leads the way, with the electric C-Class to follow next year.

Look past the XXL grille and you’ll notice another change compared to the gas-powered C-Class. The quarter glass is located beyond the rear doors, a layout usually seen on the Maybach S-Class. The new CLA adopts a similar design, while the long-wheelbase E-Class in China also follows this approach. It’s likely a sign that the C-Class with EQ Technology will have a longer wheelbase than the conventionally powered model.

Since Mercedes didn’t want this car to steal the electric GLC’s spotlight, it withheld most details. The only information shared is the range: 800 kilometers (497 miles) on the WLTP cycle. That’s a substantial increase of 54 miles (87 kilometers) over the crossover, though not surprising given the sedan’s sleeker, lower body and improved aerodynamics. It should also be slightly lighter.

Technical specifications will largely mirror those of the GLC with EQ Technology, so expect a 94-kWh battery pack and a 330-kW maximum charging capacity enabled by an 800-volt architecture. The crossover recovers 188 miles (303 kilometers) of range in just 10 minutes. Multiple power outputs are expected at launch, including a potent dual-motor setup with 483 hp.

Whether a front trunk will be offered remains unclear. Even if it is, the C-Class’ lower nose may not allow for the same 4.5 cubic feet (128 liters) available in the crossover. Love it or loathe it, the GLC’s massive 39.1-inch display is all but confirmed for the C-Class with EQ Technology. Spanning the entire dashboard, it integrates over 1,000 individual LEDs and supports customizable screen sections.

During the GLC with EQ Technology’s world premiere, Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius also confirmed the expansion of the G-Class lineup with the return of the Cabriolet and the addition of a smaller model.