Mercedes-Benz GLC Goes Electric in Singapore: 687km of Range, Rear-Axle Steering and a Grille with 942 LEDs

The all-new Mercedes-Benz GLC 400 4MATIC electric arrives in Singapore with 483hp, 687km range, 800V charging, AI and a radical new grille

Singapore – Mercedes-Benz has plugged its globally best-selling GLC into the future, with the all-new electric GLC 400 4MATIC making its Singapore debut.

At its launch at the Mercedes-Benz Studio Singapore at Gardens by the Bay, the automaker’s officials provided us with a flurry of numbers which I have no clue how they remembered this many.

There is 360kW, or 483hp, 800Nm of torque, up to 687km of WLTP range, 330kW DC charging, 800-volt tech, enabling up to 305km of range in ten minutes, and a 0-100km/h time of 4.3 seconds. Yes. Numbers, and they are not done yet.

Mercedes-Benz says the new GLC has been developed from the outset around a purpose-built MB.EA (Mercedes-Benz Electric Architecture), marking a significant step in its move towards electrification.

The GLC gets a new face

Mercedes-Benz took a look back into its past for inspiration for the GLC’s grille. The vehicle of choice was the 1967 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 – then one of the worlds fastest sedans. On a side note, the 300 SEL 6.3 formed the base of the legendary (then independent) AMG-tuned Rote Sau.

The new grille features 942 individually backlit polycarbonate dots, an illuminated Mercedes star and surrounding contour lighting. As a party trick, it animates during start-up.

Elsewhere, the GLC gets pronounced wheel arches, sculpted shoulders and wheels measuring up to 21-inches. At the rear, star-shaped two-part taillights echo the illuminated front, while the overall shape manages a claimed drag coefficient of 0.26.

Bigger inside, because apparently bigger is better

The electric GLC is also longer between its wheels, with the wheelbase stretched by 84mm compared with the combustion-engined GLC.

That translates into more room for humans, rather than just more room for batteries.

Front occupants gain 13mm of additional legroom and 46mm of headroom, while rear passengers get 47mm more legroom and 17mm more headroom. The boot offers 570 litres, expanding to 1,740 litres with the rear seats folded.

The frunk offers an additional 128 litres of cargo space – a whole litre more than the electric GLB.

483hp and 687km of range

The GLC 400 4MATIC electric packs a 94.4kWh NMC battery and produces 483hp (360kW) and 800Nm.

It will get you from 0-100km/h in 4.3 seconds, before topping out at 210km/h. Mercedes-Benz claims a WLTP range of up to 687km, with combined energy consumption rated at 20kWh/100km.

More importantly for anyone contemplating an electric road trip, the GLC’s 800-volt electrical architecture supports DC charging at up to 330kW. At a suitably powerful charging station, Mercedes-Benz says up to 305km of WLTP range can be added in 10 minutes, while a 10-80 per cent DC charge takes approximately 22 minutes.

For Singapore owners, it means more time on the road and less time waiting, on a trip up-north.

The electric drivetrain consists of a two-speed transmission on the rear axle, with a permanently excited synchronous motor delivering a claimed 93-percent battery-to-wheel efficiency over long distances. The front electric motor disengages when all-wheel drive is not required, helping to reduce energy consumption.

It can apparently see through its own bonnet

A dedicated TERRAIN driving mode is available for dirt and gravel, while the “transparent bonnet” function uses cameras to create a virtual view of the area underneath the front of the vehicle.

It combines images from the front and exterior-mounted cameras and displays them on the central screen, with a trajectory overlay showing where the vehicle is headed.

For Singapore’s rather sterile driving environment, we could see it useful if you are negotiating a particularly ambitious carpark kerb.

Packed with Agility and Comfort

The GLC 400 AMG Line Sport variant further benefits an from rear-wheel steering, which turns the rear wheels up to 4.5-degrees in the opposite direction of the front wheels at lower speeds, reducing the SUV’s turning circle by 90cm, to 11.2 metres.

At higher speeds, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front, by up to 2.5-degrees, for smoother lane changes.

Packaged in with the rear-wheel steering, the GLC 400 AMG Line Sport’s AIRMATIC Suspension creates an added dimension of driving dynamics and ride comfort. Using data from Google Maps, the AIRMATIC Suspension also lowers the GLC’s ride height to improve on aerodynamics were possible.

Inside is where Mercedes-Benz really starts throwing technology at you

On the GLC 400 AMG Line Sport variant, the MBUX HYPERSCREEN stretches 99.3cm, or 39.1 inches, across the dashboard, making it the largest display Mercedes-Benz has offered to date.

As for the GLC 400 AMG Line, it features the now-familiar MBUX SUPERSCREEN, whcih combines a 10.3-inch instrument display with a 14-inch central screen and a 14-inch front passenger display.

Running underneath it all is Mercedes-Benz’s new MB.OS operating system, with the fourth-generation MBUX integrating artificial intelligence from both Microsoft and Google.

The MBUX Virtual Assistant uses generative AI and can hold multi-turn conversations, meaning you can ask a question, follow it up with another and continue the conversation without having to start from scratch.

So you can ask where to go for dinner, whether it is suitable for children, and how long it will take to get there without having to converse with the car like a malfunctioning vending machine.

Mercedes-Benz says the system draws on ChatGPT-4o and Microsoft Bing Search for general knowledge, while Google’s Gemini-powered Automotive AI Agent handles navigation-related requests.

Ein Augenblick unter den Sternen

A more open interior awaits you with the SKY CONTROL panoramic roof. It features nine independently adjustable sections, allowing you more precise control of how much light enters the cabin.

At night, 162 illuminated stars can appear within the glass, with up to 64 colours available.

To cap the experience, the GLC is equipped with a Dolby Atmos, optional Burmester 4D surround sound, and active ambient lighting that can respond to music.

The Burmester system even incorporates exciters into the front seats, allowing low-frequency sounds to be felt as vibrations.

The Vegan Society gives its nod

An optional Vegan Package is independently certified by The Vegan Society, covering the seats, headliner, pillar trims, door panels and carpeting without animal-derived products.

There is also greater use of recycled materials, including seat foam containing approximately 30 per cent recycled content, recycled PET-based textiles and Econyl yarn made from 100 per cent recycled content for the floor covering.

Comfort has also been given serious attention, with fully electric seat adjustment, heating and memory functions fitted as standard. All available seat variants carry the German AGR seal for back-friendly design.

Mercedes-Benz’s electric future in Singapore

The new GLC has been launched alongside Mercedes-Benz Studio Singapore at Gardens by the Bay.

The Studio is Mercedes-Benz’s first in Southeast Asia and one of only a select few globally, with the company positioning it as more than a conventional showroom. It is intended as a platform for design, culture, collaborations and community experiences.

For electric GLC owners, Mercedes-Benz is also rolling out MB.CHARGE Public, giving access to more than 7,000 charging stations across Singapore through a single charging contract. The network includes operators such as SP Group, CHARGE+, Keppel Volt and CDG.

The Mercedes-Benz app handles station location, authentication, billing and charging-cost information, while the car’s navigation system can automatically factor charging stops into longer journeys.

“The all-new GLC represents the Mercedes-Benz we are building for an electric future. It carries everything people love about the brand into a new era, with a driving experience shaped around the way our customers live today. Launching it as we open our new Studio in Singapore feels right to us. Both are about welcoming people into what comes next for Mercedes-Benz,” said Marcel Luis Mustelier Perez, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Singapore.

Marcel Luis Mustelier Perez, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Singapore

The all-new Mercedes-Benz GLC 400 4MATIC electric is already available in Singapore in two variants.

The GLC 400 4MATIC electric AMG Line starts at S$378,888, while the GLC 400 4MATIC electric AMG Line Sport is priced from S$412,888.

Both include a three-year service package covering scheduled servicing and vehicle health checks, together with S$1,000 worth of Mercedes-Benz charging credits.