Mercedes unveils electric GLC that looks like its petrol sibling and packs an AI 'superbrain'

Mercedes-Benz unveiled a new all-electric version of its best-selling GLC SUV at the Munich Mobility Show, preserving the exterior proportions of the combustion-engined model while introducing an AI-driven operating system and a new EV platform.

The vehicle is the first member of a new Mercedes EV family built on the automaker’s MB.MA platform and features an 800‑volt electrical architecture, a 94 kWh usable battery and Mercedes’ new MB.OS “superbrain,” which the company says enables natural interaction with occupants and learning of driver preferences.

Mercedes described the design as “unmistakably a GLC,” a departure from many new EVs that adopt radically different styling. The electric GLC keeps the midsize SUV’s sculpted shoulders, pronounced wheel arches and classic proportions, but adds a redesigned, illuminated chrome grille and an 84 mm longer wheelbase compared with the internal-combustion GLC. That longer wheelbase translates to modest interior gains: 13 mm more front legroom, 46 mm more front headroom, 47 mm more rear legroom and 17 mm extra rear headroom. Luggage capacity is 570 litres with an additional 128-litre front boot.

Mercedes said the 800‑volt system supports peak DC charging of up to 330 kW, which in theory could add about 186 miles of range in roughly 10 minutes when compatible chargers are available. The company quoted an overall range of up to 443 miles from the 94 kWh usable battery; Mercedes did not publish official test-cycle specifics with the announcement. The car also offers vehicle-to-load bi-directional charging and a towing capacity of up to 5,291 pounds.

Inside, the GLC EV debuts the MBUX hyperscreen in a 39.1‑inch format, the largest display to date in a Mercedes-Benz, and integrates the MB.OS superbrain. Mercedes says the system allows more conversational interaction and adapts to user habits. The automaker also highlighted new high-end seats, an updated steering wheel, an optional Vegan Package certified by The Vegan Society and a panoramic Sky Control roof that uses switchable glass and ambient lighting to simulate a star field.

Driving and assistance systems on the new GLC include a “one‑box” brake system that blends regenerative braking software with conventional friction braking, a “transparent bonnet” function that displays objects below the front wheels, adaptive suspension that uses map data to prepare for potholes and semi‑autonomous parking assistance. Mercedes will produce the vehicle in Bremen, Germany.

The electric GLC will enter a competitive midsize EV segment that includes newly revealed rivals such as BMW’s iX3 as well as the Audi Q6 and Porsche Macan EV. Mercedes positioned the model as a mainstream luxury option that retains the brand’s conventional design language while advancing electrification and software capabilities.

Mercedes said the GLC EV is due to go on sale in early 2026. The company did not announce pricing at the reveal; industry commentary and the combustion GLC’s current starting price suggest an electric model could retail above the petrol equivalent, with estimates ranging from the mid-£50,000s to the high £60,000s in the U.K.

The introduction of the GLC EV underscores Mercedes-Benz’s broader push to expand electric offerings without abandoning familiar styling cues, while emphasizing new software and AI-driven features as differentiators in an increasingly crowded segment. The company described the vehicle’s combination of classic SUV design and advanced digital systems as a “turning point” for its midsize portfolio, signaling a strategy that blends established model identity with increasingly central on-board software and charging performance.