2020 GLC 350e EQ Power
The world premiere of the plug-in hybrid Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e 4MATIC EQ Power impresses with its third-generation plug-in hybrid technology from Mercedes-Benz. Thanks to a battery with a capacity of 13.5 kWh, GLC 350e 4MATIC EQ Power will benefit from increased all-electric range (NEDC electric range approx. 28-30 miles; EPA electric range TBA). The redesigned Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e will celebrate its World Premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, and will go on sale in the U.S. in the first half of 2020.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC is in its element on any terrain. This mid-size SUV is an intelligent combination of functionality and agility with a modern design and offers outstanding comfort and functionality with its spacious interior. By virtue of these qualities, the GLC is attractive to customers who wish to drive a highly versatile premium SUV. The recent redesign sees the GLC boasting an even more striking design, the intuitive MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system and state-of-the-art driver assistance systems. With the redesigned GLC 350e 4MATIC EQ Power, customers benefit from these enhancements in addition to the versatility and efficiency of a plug-in hybrid.
The exterior design is characterized by sporty features. A distinctive off-road look is accentuated by muscular surface contours and striking details such as the chrome trim that now continues from the front end to the rear, and by the heavily contoured radiator grille. The standard LED High Performance headlamps and taillamps have been redesigned. Their contours have been significantly changed, and they are now smaller and flatter, making the torch-like outline of the daytime driving lights even more prominent, and the typical Mercedes-Benz light signature even more recognizable.
From the very start, the GLC was designed for space-saving integration of a battery. This is assisted by the lowered rear axle and a body shell designed for battery integration. The result is a large, level luggage compartment which is only just below that of other GLCs.
The data at a glance
| GLC 350e 4MATIC EQ Power |
|
| Type/Number of cylinders/Arrangement | Petrol/4 in-line |
| Displacement (cc) | 1,991 |
| Rated output of combustion engine (hp at rpm) | 208 at 5,500 |
| Rated torque of combustion engine (lb-ft at rpm) | 258 at 1,200-4,000 |
| Electric motor rated output (hp) | 121 |
| Electric motor rated torque (lb-ft) | 325 |
| System output (hp) | 315 |
| System torque (lb-ft) | 516 |
| Acceleration 0-60 mph (s) | 5.6 est. |
| Top speed (mph) | TBA |
| Top speed, electric (mph) | TBA |
| NEDC electric range (km | 46-49 |
| WLTP electric range (km)1 | 39-43 |
| EPA electric range (mi) | TBA |
| Battery Charging time (Level I at 1.2 kW) | Approx. 7.75 hours (10-100%) |
| Battery Charging time (Level II at 3.8 kW) | Approx. 2.25 hours (10-80%) |
The third plug-in generation from Mercedes-Benz
More power, more range, more fun. The current electric engine has been redesigned for the 9G-TRONIC plug-in hybrid drives and is designed according to the principle of a permanently excited synchronous motor as an internal rotor. The new, significantly enhanced power electronics have also allowed considerable increases in power and torque density.
One of the greatest innovations compared with the previous version is the use of a torque converter with integrated lockup clutch as a starting device, and an additional clutch between the combustion engine and electric motor for all-electric driving. The stator of the electric motor is permanently integrated into the traction head housing, while the rotor is between the power flow of the separating clutch and transmission input. On-demand stator and rotor cooling allows use of the electric motor's peak and continuous output without any problems.
The high-voltage on-board electrical system supplies not only the drive components and the vacuum pump of the regenerative braking system, but also the electric refrigerant compressor and the high-voltage heater booster. Both allow pre-entry climate control of the interior not only in summer but also in winter, because they can also operate without the combustion engine.
The Mercedes-Benz plug-in strategy
By the end of 2019, Mercedes-Benz will have more than ten plug-in hybrids available globally – an attractive portfolio from the compact car to the flagship Mercedes- Benz S-Class. The aim is to be able to offer customers well over 20 model variants in 2020.
Plug-in hybrids offer customers the best of both worlds: in town they can run in all- electric mode, while on long journeys they benefit from the range of the combustion engine. The vehicle is more efficient overall, because they can recover energy during braking and allow the combustion engine to run in favorable operating ranges. When equipped with the Multimedia Package, the intelligent, route-based operating strategy activates the electric driving mode where this is most appropriate for the route. For example, it takes into account navigation data, topography, speed limits and the traffic conditions for the entire planned route.
Plug-in hybrids are also an important milestone on the way to emission-free driving. Mercedes Benz Cars is systematically developing its plug-in hybrids further under the EQ Power label. EQ Power is also a guarantee of exceptional dynamism. EQ Power+ is the name of the performance hybrid technology that Mercedes-AMG will use on the road in future, and is already used successfully in Formula 1 today.
Mercedes me Charge helps with charging en route
The new on-board charger more than doubles the charging capacity from 3.6 kW to 7.4 kW and strikes an ideal compromise between size, weight and charging capacity. As well as using the domestic power supply, convenient and uncomplicated charging is possible during the journey, too. That's because the MBUX infotainment system (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) assists the driver in finding charging stations. The MBUX system understands natural speech, allowing the driver to start a search simply by saying "Hey Mercedes, find charging stations nearby."
