Mercedes says that it wants the new electric C-Class, which it has revealed today, to “redefine the segment” with a combination of long range and high tech.
Wow, that's a grille...
Isn't it, though? We already knew - from the new, mechanically related GLC EQ - that this new C-Class would have a dramatically large grille, something of a throwback to the upright Mercedes grilles of the 1950s and 1960s. We reckon it works better on the C-Class than on the GLC, although the deep sides of the car look a little ungainly from some angles (the new C-Class is 60mm taller overall than the old one). The rear, which makes the C-Class look almost like a fastback, even though it has a separate boot, has a distinct touch of the recent AMG GTXX concept car.
Will there be a C-Class electric estate?
Sadly, it seems doubtful, even though rival BMW has confirmed a Touring version of the electric i3, a direct rival to the new C-Class. Mercedes reckons that estates just aren't selling in big enough numbers anymore to justify it, so if you want more space, buy a GLC...
What's the interior like?
Unsurprisingly, as they're both based on the new MB.EA platform, the C-Class's cabin is much like that of the new GLC, albeit set down a touch lower. There's the same choice of 'Hyperscreen' or 'Superscreen' layouts for the dashboard, with the high-end option giving you a full metre of screen running, unbroken, across the width of the cabin, with separate sections built into it for the driver's instruments, the main infotainment and whatever the passenger wants to do.
There's only a small smattering of physical buttons, but you do get twin chilled wireless phone charging pads, and Mercedes has at least rethought its dedication to steering wheel haptic pads and has instead brought back proper buttons and roller switches. There's an optional Burmester '4D' surround sound stereo, which features speakers built into the seats, not only in the headrests for making phone calls and the likes, but also in the seatbacks so that you can truly feel the beat. If you want to let some light in, there's an optional electric-dimming glass roof, which can be studded with as many as 162 glowing Mercedes stars - creating a starry-night effect even when it's cloudy out.
There's a lot of other tech, right?
Oh yes, we're just scratching the surface here. There's an on-screen app store so that you can download extra content, including games (and you can wirelessly connect gaming controllers for fun while charging) and streaming services such as Disney Plus. There's also a clever heating and ventilation system, which Mercedes says heats the cabin up twice as fast as a conventional car on chilly days, and which uses a compact heat pump which uses only half the energy that a combustion car would need. There's 'Energising Comfort' settings for the climate control and seat massage, Google Maps navigation that can work out how much of an impact on range any steep hills on your route will have and an augmented-reality head-up display that should ensure you never get lost in a strange city again.
OK, enough tech. What about range and performance?
The new C-Class falls short of matching the new BMW i3 for range. While BMW quotes 900km on one charge, the Merc is all done at a 'mere' 762km. Then again, the Mercedes has a smaller battery - 94kWh compared to the BMW's 108kWh - and it's still fearsomely fast to charge, able to take in 330kW (still shy of the Beemer's 400kW) at a suitably powerful DC fast-charging station. Mercedes claims that you can add back 325km of extra range in just ten minutes at a sufficiently fast charger and the C-Class is offered with an optional DC-to-DC convertor so that it can use regular old 400-volt charging stations, as well as the more modern and powerful 800-volt setups.
Mercedes may be slightly behind on its Munich rival in the range race, but the boys from Stuttgart still reckon that the new C-Class can cover 1,000km with only one brief charging stop - that's enough to go from Berlin to Paris, or perhaps do the Cork-Dublin run four times in a row with only one stop. The 10-80-per-cent charging time is just 22 minutes. The first C-Class to be shown is the C400 4Matic, a four-wheel-drive model, which gets two electric motors (with the rear one having its own two-speed gearbox for enhanced acceleration and more efficient high-speed cruising). It has a combined 489hp and can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 4.0 seconds.
Energy consumption is as low as 14kWh/100km on the WLTP test. We assume that there will, in time, be more affordable single-motor models with potentially better range. There's optional Airmatic air suspension, which Mercedes claims gives the C-Class a ride that matches that of the big S-Class saloon, while you can also specify a rear-wheel-steering system that can turn the back axle through 4.5 degrees for tighter urban turns. The air springs can recognise what kind of road you're on and will drop the bodywork down to a low cruising height for maximum efficiency when possible while the front electric motor also declutches itself when cruising, and only cuts back in again when needed, further boosting efficiency.
What about the practical stuff?
The C-Class gets a massive wheelbase - nearly three metres - which is 97mm longer than that of the previous model, so space in the back seats should be better. There's also a decent boot - holding 470 litres - backed up by a 'frunk' of 101 litres. Should you need it, there's also a decent braked towing weight limit of 1,800kg.
Is electric my only choice now?
No. Although there won't be a hybrid version of this C-Class, as there is with the new Mercedes CLA, the existing C-Class, in hybrid, petrol and diesel forms, will be staying on sale for a while yet.
When can I buy the new electric C-Class?
Not too long now. It should be in Ireland in time for the 271 number plate in January.