- Design and Technology: EV From the Ground Up
- Dual Powertrain Choices: From Road to Sand
- Off-Road and Dune Capability
- Everyday Comfort: Luxury for the Digital Age
- How It Stacks Up: GLC EV vs Leading Rivals
- Highlights
- “The Silent Dune Surfer”
Desert sand and electric power are rarely found together, but Mercedes-Benz has flipped the script with its next-generation GLC EV. In the heart of the Dumont Dunes, the luxury brand’s latest electric crossover powered through soft sand with a silent fury, leaving seasoned off-roaders and thrill-seeking journalists alike grinning. This isn’t just a glimpse into the future of the GLC—it’s a practical showcase for how far electric SUVs have come, merging real-world luxury with new off-road credibility.
Design and Technology: EV From the Ground Up
Built from scratch on Mercedes' dedicated MB.EA electric architecture for SUVs—distinct from any combustion-model GLC.
Longer and more spacious than the gasoline GLC (over 190 inches in length, extended wheelbase).
Optional animated grille lit by 942 LEDs; streamlined bodywork with enhanced aerodynamics for maximum range.
Showstopper cabin with a 39.1-inch Hyperscreen extending from pillar to pillar. Alternatively, buyers can choose a trio of more classic digital displays.
Roof glass can shift from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button, with thermal film for desert heat.
Dual Powertrain Choices: From Road to Sand
Launches in two trims:
GLC400 4Matic (dual-motor AWD, 483 hp, 596 lb-ft, 0–60 mph in 4.4 seconds).
GLC300+ (single-motor RWD, 369 hp, 372 lb-ft, 0–60 mph in 5.9 seconds).
94 kWh battery and 800-volt architecture for super-fast charging—10–80% in 24 minutes.
WLTP range up to 376 miles (estimate); potential real-world range for Middle East buyers should be around 500–600 km, even with spirited desert play.
Off-Road and Dune Capability
Multiple drive modes: the advanced Terrain mode leverages real-time torque split, ABS calibration for loose surfaces, and a transparent ‘see-through’ off-road camera to detect hidden obstacles.
Air suspension can raise ride height to over 8 inches; 4Matic AWD adapts within milliseconds for maximum traction and safety, even on normal road tires.
Advanced traction control and the twin-motor AWD system make it easy to initiate and control drifts, gliding the EV SUV across towering dunes in near-silence.
Regenerative brakes now offer full one-pedal driving, further enhancing off-road control and energy recovery.
Everyday Comfort: Luxury for the Digital Age
Whisper-quiet ride, advanced AC, massage seats, and panoramic roof insulation keep cabin cool and comfortable—critical during hot desert fun or city traffic.
Huge Hyperscreen supports navigation, music, EV system info, gaming, streaming, even integrated Microsoft Teams for remote work.
Voice assistant, advanced ambient lighting, and Burmester audio round out a cutting-edge luxury experience.
Loads of cargo space, adjustable rear seats, and improved rear legroom thanks to bespoke EV underpinnings.
How It Stacks Up: GLC EV vs Leading Rivals
Highlights
Purpose-built EV platform—no combustion-engine compromises.
39-inch Hyperscreen, voice controls, and full-house luxury creature comforts.
Up to 376 miles of “real” electric range and true rapid-charging.
Backed by BMW- and Audi-beating power, torque, and acceleration, without sacrificing comfort or quiet.
Terrain/off-road modes make dune surfing fun, confidence-inspiring, and easy for novice drivers.
“The Silent Dune Surfer”
Under the desert sun, a doubting off-road enthusiast watched an electric GLC carve, slide, and float up the tallest dunes—no engine noise, just a quiet whir and streaming sand. Smiles all around, the future felt suddenly close. His verdict: “If an EV can do this under such extremes, imagine what it’ll do for my daily drive.”
