Mercedes-Benz decided to pull a major design coup at Munich’s IAA Mobility Motor show with its electrified GLC. While the GLC going electric is great news for lovers of the luxe SUV, the carmaker presented one of the most significant cosmetic changes in its recent history - the grille. Now, given that the brand’s front grilles are already so iconic, firmly ensconced in every car lover’s consciousness, the move is decidedly bold. We’re talking about a grille of 942 LED lights within a chrome frame that seems to have driven the Internet crazy. The effect is rather nifty, with an imposing presence, complemented by the clean lines and reductive silhouette of the rest of the car. This move follows a slow of iconic grilles from the 1963 600 Pullman, the 1968 Strich 8, and the S-Class models dating back to 1965.
As standard, the electric GLC comes with a smoked-glass effect grille, but an extra bespoke indulgence includes a backlit version, which can be added on. Even beyond that, there is the option to have a pixel animation on the front grille. The “new, iconic grille is not just a front for the GLC, it redefines the face of the brand for the future,” says Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer at Mercedes-Benz Group. In recent years, the carmaker has been bullish about its new design direction, Sensual Purity, and this week’s grille move is a case in point towards a more futuristic, albeit minimalistic approach.
To dive into the details of this best-selling mid-size SUV, the GLC 400 4MATIC with EQ Technology all-wheel drive clocks 360 kW of power, does a 0-100 kmph sprint in 4.3 seconds, and claims to attain a top speed of 210 kmph. According to the car’s specification sheet, the promised range of this car is 571 to 713 km on a single charge.
RR Verdict: Did Mercedes-Benz really need to make such a drastic change to its already iconic front grille? It might get a polarising response. However, change is inevitable, we insist. And so is design evolution. This transformation is, for us, a beautiful move to the future, while retaining the tasteful elegance and ‘wow’ factor evoked when standing face-to-face with a Mercedes-Benz. And we’re glad to have had the first look at this big move up close and personal.
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