Mercedes electric C-Class sedan will offer range of 800km

C-Class EQ will use GLC EQ underpinnings, and offer i3-rivalling range. Both of these premium sedans will offer around 500miles of range per charge. Expect no estate variant of C-Class EQ, however.

Just as BMW is set to release its electric 3 Series range, so too Mercedes-Benz with its compact sedan offering. It is preparing a like-sized electric-powered C-Class EQ.

The new model uses GLC EQ mechanicals and will sell alongside an updated version of the existing combustion-engined C-Class.

Both the BMW and the Mercedes sedans will arrive on the scene at a similar time with comparable specifications.

The new C-Class teaser image shows the same huge ‘Iconic Grille’ design that demarcates the ICE and EV models. No longer will the electric offerings have a unique body shape compared with ICE powered alternatives. Instead, the illuminating grille will be the identifier.  Mercedes previewed the C-Class’s design at the Munich motor show.

The C-Class EQ is the second model based on the MB.EA platform, after the GLC. The 800V electrical architecture will also be used by the E-Class EQ, which is due out in two years’ time.

It is thought that the new electric C-Class will be longer than the current 4751mm combustion-engined car and wider too. With a longer wheelbase and broader tracks expect a more spacious interior. Evidently the C-Class EQ will be offered only as a saloon.

One of the issues with the first-generation EQ variants was limited leg and headroom. Both will improve vastly with the new C-Class EQ, according to Mercedes staff. Boot capacity also improves somewhat, while a frunk offers extra storage capability.

Expect the same gear under the hood as the GLC, so a single 250kW motor driving the rear wheels to kick things off. A dual-motor 4Matic with up to 360kW is also a likely starter. It’s sprint time is said to be around 4.0sec flat. Powering the motors is a 95kWh NMC battery pack.

A range of 800km is expected, and the C-Class EQ will accept charging speeds up to 400kW.

An AMG model with axial flux motors is due out in 2027. Its output from three or possibly four motors is likely to far exceed the 507kW of the current C63 S E Performance, with its PHEV powertrain. The talk is 600kW plus.

C-Class EQ cabin will mimic that of the GLC EQ with optional Hyperscreen covering the entire dashboard. Chief designer, Gordon Wagener, said that the GLC and C-Class interiors are almost like an S-Class in terms of technology. 

An arrival date of early 2027 is likely for the electric C-Class sedan.