By Otsile Kadiege

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the all-new GLC. The latest iteration of the GLC boasts the automaker’s newest design philosophy, the latest technologies sourced from the German automaker’s luxury sedans, a range of hybridised powertrains, a modern and luxurious interior, high passive safety systems and enhanced driver assistance systems.

Sporty and confident exterior design

The new GLC boasts Mercedes-Benz’s latest ‘Sensual Purity’ design language which is accentuated by its sleek body and minimal use of sharp body lines. One of the defining design highlights of the Mercedes-Benz GLC is the redesigned front end, with LED headlamps that connect directly to the redesigned radiator grille to emphasise the vehicle’s width. From the AMG Line upwards, a radiator grille with Mercedes-Benz pattern is available: a three-dimensional star pattern with high-gloss chrome surfaces.

Digital Light headlights with additional daytime driving light ellipses and new blue trim, plus active floor lighting, are available as optional extras. The body design is characterised by a full, spanned surface design enriched with precisely shaped edges in the sides. Other features contributing to the sporty and confident appearance are the wide track, and flush wheels in 18- to 20-inch size. Several of the wheels available ex factory not only feature a modern design with a high-sheen finish and bicolour surfaces, but are also aerodynamically optimised.

The new two-section rear lights with a handle strip in high-gloss black emphasise the width of the rear. The rear end also has a simulated chrome under-guard, which encases the simulated chrome-look tailpipes.

Modern and luxurious interior

Inside, the new GLC adopts the modern design seen in cars like the new C-Class and some EQ models. Highlights include a 12.3-inch free-standing digital instrument cluster, a 9 x 3 inch head-up display as well as a 11.9-inch high-quality touchscreen running on the brand’s latest generation MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system with ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice assistant. As standard, the sound system in the new GLC is comprises of a front bass woofer and four mid-range speakers. Customers can opt for more powerful sound systems. These include the Advanced Sound System and the Burmester surround sound system. The former makes comprises of nine speakers whilst the latter has a total of 15 premium speakers.

Driver assistance systems

The latest generation of the Driving Assistance package contains additional and further improved functions. These systems include Active Distance Assist Distronic, Active Steering Assist, Traffic Sign Assist and the new Parking package with 360-degree camera.

The new trailer menu and the towing route planner are two highlights of the GLC for towing operations. The aim of these and numerous further advanced functions for operation as a towing vehicle is to make towing as safe and pleasant as possible. The optional trailer hitch has a fully electrically swivelling ball-head. In conjunction with Trailer Manoeuvring Assist, the ball-head includes a positioning ring for easier coupling. The image from the reversing camera includes the trailer hitch and the area directly behind it so that the hitching process can be observed on the central display.

Engine line-up

The new Mercedes-Benz GLC is available only as a hybrid: either as a plug-in hybrid or as a mild hybrid with 48-volt technology and an integrated starter-generator. The engine range has four-cylinder units from the current FAME (Family of Modular Engines) Mercedes-Benz engine family. The power spectrum of the four-cylinder engines ranges up to 190 kW and 400 Nm of torque in the petrol models, and up to 195 kW and 550 Nm in the diesel models, each plus up to 17 kW and 200 Nm of electrical support from the ISG. All models of the new GLC come with the latest 4Matic all-wheel drive system and a 9-speed automatic transmission.

The plug-in hybrid models makes use of the automaker’s fourth-generation plug-in hybrid drive in three power levels up to 280 kW and an all-electric range of more than 100 km (WLTP). The battery has a total capacity of 31.2 kWh and can be recharged from zero to full in 30 minutes with the optional 60 kW DC charger. A standard-fit 11 kW charger (depending on the market) is available for three-phase charging at a Wallbox connected to the domestic AC mains.

Mercedes-Benz SA are yet to announce local availability.