Mercedes GLC EQ in detail: Which technology should bring success

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The impact has to be right: Mercedes-Benz is currently not making it into the top ten of the German registration statistics with any of its e-cars, and things are not looking good in other markets either. The Stuttgart-based company wants to change this with the GLC EQ, among other things. A zone architecture of the electronics and the supply of driving energy are to provide important building blocks for this.

GLC: significance for the brand

According to figures from the Federal Motor Transport Authority, the GLC with combustion engine is the brand's best-selling model this year with 23,625 units. Last year, only the E-Class was ahead of the 32,335 GLCs. The first electric version is still labelled “with EQ technology.” However, the manufacturer is likely to drop this soon and concentrate on the traditional model designations. The Mercedes-Benz Electric Architecture (MB.EA) is also new for the GLC. The platform is an important milestone for the manufacturer, as future models of the electric E-Class and S-Class will utilize it.

The GLC is also likely to be the last model for which Chief Technology Officer Markus Schäfer will be responsible. At 60, Schäfer has already reached the group's internal age limit, and his contract expires in May 2026. The trade magazine Automobilwoche reports that there is currently no prospect of an extension. The search for a successor has already begun. Schäfer has been with the company since 1990 and has been responsible for technical development since 2019. He has driven forward the digital Factory 56, the Drive Pilot in Level 3, the MB.OS operating system, and the EQ XX test vehicles.

Increased voltage

The battery utilizes an 800-volt system. However, at 94 kWh, the storage system has a lower energy content than the Munich-based competitor BMW iX3. The GLC can be charged with up to 330 kW direct current. The charging time of 10 to 80 percent cannot yet be found in the manufacturer's documentation. Around 22  minutes is considered likely. Mercedes only states that up to 303 km of range can be recharged in ten minutes. Three restrictions: the battery must be at operating temperature for this, and the charging infrastructure must be able to deliver at least 330 kW. In addition, this range is of course an unusual path in the WLTP – the range in practice is also likely to be somewhat lower here.

It is also unclear whether the GLC will charge at older fast chargers with 400  volts in Germany. Mercedes-Benz wants to install the corresponding DC-DC converter on a country-specific basis. They have not yet revealed what the situation is for Germany. There was a lot of criticism of the CLA for omitting the 400-volt pillars. For orders from spring 2026, the manufacturer is offering the converter for the CLA as an option.

Switch to zone architecture

Just like BMW, Mercedes-Benz has opted for a zone architecture with four computers for the GLC. The CLA is based on the Mercedes Modular Architecture (MMA). The fact that another architecture will be used in the next e-car is surprising. However, in an interview with Heise Autos, Schäfer mentions similarities between the two platforms: “They share the battery, electric motors, charging technology, and the MB.OS software. The chassis and axles are designed differently for the MB.EA due to the higher vehicle weights.” The MMA is intended for compact and medium-sized models, and it also works with hybrid and combustion drives. MB.EA is only designed for electric drives in the mid- to luxury class.

Two-speed gearbox

The larger GLC 400 4Matic is powered by a PSM engine developed in-house with a two-speed gearbox on the rear axle. Mercedes has opted for the gearstick due to its higher efficiency. In this all-wheel-drive version, a so-called “disconnect unit” separates the second PSM engine from the front axle so that there are no drag losses when the vehicle is at rest. The system output is 360 kW and the top speed is 210 km/h.

Front illumination

Three things catch the eye in the GLC: the illuminated grille, the 162 illuminated stars in the non-opening panoramic roof, and the large screen across the entire width of the dashboard. With 942 LED light points in the optional grille, animations can be switched on for greeting, departure, and charging. Whether this also works in colour remains unclear, as the videos so far only show white light. It also remains unclear what the grille does while driving. According to the UNECE type approval, front lights must not be confused with parking or daytime running lights. It must also not dazzle. Given its size, the KBA could have difficulty approving it. On the other hand, BMW and Skoda, for example, already illuminate parts of the front of some cars.