It went through several months, sometimes years, of rigorous testing before a new car went on the market. Sweden often hosts a large portion of this journey, with its cold northern expansion providing a perfect combination of cold temperatures and frozen surfaces.
I personally have to do some testing on Mercedes-Benz’s new upcoming electric car. This is EQ Technology’s GLC, an all-electric version of one of the company’s most popular SUVs. With new batteries, new motors and high voltage charging systems, it marks a significant deviation and upgrade of the company’s current electric vehicle products like The.
But is driving better? That’s the problem that brought me to Sweden. I usually feel comfortable driving on the snow and ice. I certainly did it long enough that I have lived in the Northeast for the past 20 years and ice racing. But putting me behind the steering wheel of a priceless, handmade prototype, usually I would take a few more minutes to really start pushing things.
This is not the case when I stand behind the steering wheel of an electric GLC SUV. In 30 seconds, I placed my feet flat on the floor, and I flew along an ice-covered trail with a wide-eyed development engineer, splitting the birch shelf in two.
This is a good way to have the traction and stability control system for the new GLC. Most cars cut all their power in such slippery conditions, especially with practical awareness like typical crossover SUVs, and GLC donations are much bigger. When the grip is lower than the various parts of dark glass ice, the system lowers the power application and prevents me from making large and expensive dents on the snowy shore.
But when the grip is there, the GLC quickly rises to its maximum acceleration, relying on the power of its dual motor and the power of the all-wheel drive allows us to track smoothly and cleanly between the trees. These motors and the intelligence that controls them are all part of the new Mercedes-Benz platform MB.EA. These are permanent magnet type motors with physical disconnects on the front to reduce unwanted drag.
The car also has a new heat pump that can absorb heat from ambient air as well as the car’s various internal systems. Mercedes engineers say using half of the energy of current electric vehicles will double the cabin’s warming speed. Indeed, despite the temperatures well below freezing, the GLC’s interior is still comfortable.
Unfortunately, under these conditions, I cannot comment on the range of the vehicle. After all, this is just a pre-production prototype. Still, I expect a great improvement in the 307 miles of the EQE SUV that can be charged. Batteries in GLC rely on revised chemical reactions, which can reduce dependence on energy density. This means more miles per pound of battery.
Another thing that helps expand the scope is the revised regenerative braking system. The GLC will have a number of different regeneration rates, including a single-type mode that will stop the SUV completely. However, when you go to the brake pedal, you may notice that it is a little weird.
That’s because stepping on the pedal doesn’t really do anything. Similar to a, resistance is simulated here. You don’t feel the hydraulic system squeeze the piston, but just the spring compression.
It’s a different feeling, but not a bad feeling. The idea is that no matter what you are doing or driving, the car will keep you a stable, consistent feel. The car itself will determine the speed reduction you need may come from the regeneration capability of the electric motor. It seamlessly calls for reinforcement in the physical brakes when it takes more time than they can provide.
In fact, it works great. The car stops smoothly and cleanly, and you occasionally encounter braking when you step on the parking pedal in an electric car. The lack of pedal feedback is a bit disappointing when ABS interacts, but then I heard that the pulse causes some people to lift the brake pedal, so maybe it’s the best.
The GLC accelerates strongly when you step on another pedal again. It’s fast enough to keep the performance entertained by the driver. Still, given the low grip of the roads and trails I cover, I can’t say the manager’s ability.
I can say that the optional air suspension does the sublime work in truly horrible road conditions. Ruts, laundry boards, frost heaps, you can name it, this car happily soaks it and even raises the suspension by an inch when some deeper snow and ice requires more ground clearance. On smoother roads, the GLC is the quiet luxury sedan for the luxury electric car you want. There is some road noise from the actively trampled snow tires, but this thing should be a pleasant cruiser on normal tires.
The only question? We must be patient. The GLC will officially debut in Germany in September, meaning it won’t be in production until 2026. Mercedes-Benz also did not set prices for electric GLC. Given the current world situation, anyone speculates what the incentive/tariff situation will be like for foreign electric vehicles, even like Mercedes-Benz’s current one.
But if it’s at the right price and once those protrusions of camouflage stickers and tape are removed, it doesn’t look too bad, that should be the winner. I can’t wait to move forward in another direction and have another chance to be more comfortable.
