Mercedes-Benz’s Future Electric GLC is Already Being Tested in Sweden

• An electric 800 volts system will be integrated.

• The SUV will be a 2027 model year.

The first generation of the Silver Star’s compact electric crossover, the so-called EQC, should have spearheaded the automaker’s electric offensive in North America. But early issues and other factors did not help the model’s reputation. Fortunately, Mercedes-Benz is now working on a second generation. The electric GLC 2.0 is already undergoing extreme testing in Arjeplog, in Northen Sweden.

With temperatures as low as -25°C and wintry road conditions, Mercedes-Benz engineers are looking to enhance the reliability and durability of the components of the brand’s most popular crossover… at least as far as its combustion-powered versions are concerned.

Unsurprisingly, the prototype submitted for winter testing benefits from a pair of electric motors, ensuring all-wheel drive. The 4MATIC system distributes torque according to wheel traction data in real time. And since this is an electric SUV, the vehicle is equipped with a disconnect unit to engage or disengage the front axle when road conditions allow it. By limiting itself to rear-wheel drive only, the electric GLC is saving energy.

In this respect, the drive unit on this rear axle, conceived entirely in-house, is equipped with high-performance silicon carbide inverters, a solution to improve energy management. Note also the presence of a new, more compact brake assembly that should optimize energy recovery.

And with an 800-volt electrical system, recharging times should, in principle, be shorter. The manufacturer is even announcing the possibility of reaching 320 kW when recharging. The electric SUV will also be more efficient in its thermal energy management, thanks to a heat pump that recycles waste heat from the electric motor, battery and ambient air.

Naturally, the GLC Electric prototype will undergo further testing in Arizona and South Africa, where temperatures can reach 50°C.

The EQC’s replacement isn’t about to land on our roads any time soon. The compact electric SUV is expected to arrive here as a 2027 model. It remains to be seen whether it will be a little more expressive than the sedans/crossovers of the EQE and EQS ranges, which haven’t really captured consumers’ attention with their aerodynamic silhouettes. Thankfully, the brand is already working to fix this.