Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e 4MATIC: New third-generation plug-in hybrid

The World Premiere of the plug-in hybrid Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e 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 will benefit from increased all-electric range (NEDC electric range approx. 39-43 km). 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 Canada in early 2020.

The Mercedes-Benz GLC is in its element on any terrain. This mid-size SUV is an intelligent combination of functionality, agility, and a modern design, and offers outstanding comfort 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.

Technical Date at a glance

The third plug-in generation from Mercedes-Benz

More power, more range and 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 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 A/C 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. BY 2020, the aim is to have well over 20 plug-in hybrid model variants. 

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. 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 a proven technlogy already successfully used 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. In addition to utilizing 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."

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About Mercedes-Benz Canada

Mercedes-Benz Canada is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of the Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG passenger vehicles, Mercedes-Benz Vans and smart. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. employs approximately 1,200 people in 14 locations across Canada. Through a nationwide network of seven Mercedes-Benz own retail operations and 52 authorized dealerships, Mercedes-Benz Canada sold 49,758 vehicles in 2018. This positioned Mercedes-Benz as the top luxury manufacturer in Canada for the fifth consecutive year.

For more information, please contact:

Lucas Dias                   416-847-7449             lucas.e.dias@mercedes-benz.ca

Further information from Mercedes-Benz is available at media.mercedes-benz.ca.

^{1. Electronically governed}

^{2. European Cycle. All-electric range: All-electric range with fully charged battery until the combustion engine starts for the first time.}