Mercedes Still Charged by EVs, Rolls Out All-New Electric C-Class

The entry point for the brand — and one of its best sellers — the C-Class gives Mercedes a chance to show buyers what an electric midsize luxury sedan can be. Perhaps more importantly it comes in a package many are familiar with, albeit with an interest new wrapper.

"The all-new electric C‑Class is redefining the mid-size segment for electric vehicles. Customers will get exactly what they expect from this new version of the beloved model: the perfect blend of performance, comfort, dynamics, and intelligence,” said Ola Källenius, chairman of the Board of Management, Mercedes‑Benz Group AG, in a statement. 

“On top of that, it is the most powerful and sportiest C‑Class we've ever built, offering pure driving pleasure and outstanding real-world range – all while being the perfect sanctuary for our customer."

While range and performance are often the first things EV buyers are interested in, Mercedes buyers are going to really want to see just what this new model looks like because the German automaker’s given it a substantial update.

That change is most noticeable with the grille, which is now more squarish and larger than on previous C-Class models. It also features four thick crossbars. The new look is impossible to miss. The change to the grille allows for larger air vents on the bottom corners of the front fascia for improved cooling. 

The new look carries over to the back of the vehicle with the rear tail lights forming a bar across the trunk, although the middle of that “bar” doesn’t illuminate, but it’s all done in black to give the back end some definition. It’s clear that this new all-electric C-Class design takes some of its styling from the now-defunct EQ lineup, but it is also clearly a C-Class.

The new electric C-Class claims a range of 762 km or 473 miles using Europe’s WLTP standard, which is known to be a bit generous. In real world driving, the number is likely to hover closer to 400 miles, which is still impressive for a compact sedan. An EPA-reported range hasn’t been determined yet.

Charging the new 800-volt technology and the new 94-kW battery enable up to 325 kilometers, or about 200 miles, of range to be charged in as little as 10 minutes. DC fast charging up to 330 kW is possible at 800-volt charging stations. A DC converter is fitted standard to also enable charging at 400-volt charging stations. The powertrain puts out 482 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque.

If you’re sitting at a light — or preferably in a track setting under controlled conditions — racing from zero to 60 mph takes just 3.9 seconds and the top speed is an electronically limited 130 mph, officials noted.

Mercedes’ Hyperscreen lives on in the new C-Class electric. The 39.1-inch touchscreen is the largest ever offered in a C-Class and likely in any midsize sedan. For those who don’t want nothing but glass in their sedans, the Superscreen is also available, which breaks up the panoramic feel into three smaller sections. 

Unsurprisingly, AI enjoys a role in the new model as it combines with the car’s MBUX infotainment system to provide a leading edge system. It combines ChatGPT4o, Microsoft Bing, and Google Gemini, using the best parts of each depending upon the situation or use case. The MBUX Virtual Assistant can handle complex commands, multi-turn conversations, and even has short-term memory. Of course, “Hey Mercedes” starts up your new in-car best friend.

The technological excellence is matched by the materials used in the cabin. The C-Class EV offers an optional “twisted diamond” design for its Nappa leather surfaces to “emphasize its handcrafted character.” This design is available exclusively with optional sports seats in new Tartufo Brown Nappa leather. 

The AMG Line leather seats feature moccasin stitching on the side bolsters. With the AMG Line Sport Seat Package, the door beltlines and area beneath the windshield are finished in an elegant Nappa leather-look MB-Tex with fine decorative stitching. Mercedes also offers a Vegan Package, which includes all soft-touch surface materials in the vehicle’s cabin. 

Mercedes-Benz offers quite a bit, but pricing for the model wasn’t revealed, and it will come closer to the vehicle’s arrival in the first half of next year.

[Images: Mercedes-Benz]

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