W520 Mercedes-Benz C-Class electric unveiled – 800V, up to 800km WLTP range
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class electric (W520). The debut variant showcased is the Mercedes-Benz C400 4Matic, a dual-motor electric compact sedan that produces 489 PS and 800 Nm of torque, allowing for 0 – 100 km/h in four seconds and a top speed of 210 km/h. The rear drive motor incorporates a two-speed transmission, while the front drive motor uses a single gear ratio.
An NCM lithium-ion 94 kWh battery pack produced by Samsung SDI has a WLTP range of up to 762 km, with a 10-80% recharge attained in 22 minutes. For AC charging, 11 kW is standard, or up to an optional 22 kW.
Built on the MB.EA platform following the Mercedes-Benz GLC electric, the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class electric features an 800-volt electrical architecture, allowing DC charging of up to 330 kW at selected charging stations. An optional DC converter enables the use of 400-volt charging stations. Mercedes-Benz claims the electric compact sedan can regain up to 325 km of range in just 10 minutes. According to Mercedes-Benz, dual-motor AWD models use front drive motors that disengage when demand is low, cutting energy losses by as much as 90%.
Dimension-wise, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class electric measures 4,883 mm long, 1,892 mm wide, and 1,503 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,962 mm. Notably, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class electric uses its own dedicated EV platform, which allows more room in the cabin. Front-seat occupants benefit from an additional 12 mm of legroom, while headroom has been improved by 22 mm and 11 mm in the front and rear, respectively.
Looking at the front, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class electric takes after its sibling, the Mercedes-Benz GLC electric, with a similarly designed front grille featuring a thick chrome surround and optional illumination. Digital Light LED headlamps are also available as an option; LED headlamps are standard. Moving to the rear, the traditional three-box sedan outline has been replaced with a sportier, sloping fastback roofline. The sporty design elements continue with a quartet of star-design taillamps arranged in circular arcs, again derived from the Mercedes-Benz GLC electric.
Inside, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class electric borrows heavily from the Mercedes-Benz GLC electric, including the 39.1-inch seamless MBUX Hyperscreen that spans almost the entire width of the dashboard, between circular air-conditioning vents on each side. The MBUX Hyperscreen utilizes matrix backlighting technology with over 1,000 individual LEDs for individually adjustable brightness zones. Additionally, it features Unity Game Engine high-performance chips and real-time graphics. The front passenger screen includes a camera-based blocking function to reduce driver distraction, while still retaining full passenger functionality. It runs on the fourth-generation MBUX system, which integrates AI from ChatGPT-4o, Microsoft Bing, and Google Gemini. The upgraded MBUX Virtual Assistant can handle complex, multi-step conversations and features short-term memory.
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class electric offers premium front seats with ventilation, massage, and immersive 4D sound delivered through seat-back transducers and speakers positioned close to the occupants’ ears. It comes with various upholstery options, including standard Softtorino leather, a Twisted Diamond design with Nappa leather sports seats, and AMG Line seats with distinctive stitching. It also features a fully vegan interior option, covering all soft-touch surfaces, making it the second Mercedes model certified by The Vegan Society.
Technical improvements include rear-axle steering that enables up to 4.5 degrees of steering in the opposite direction at low speeds to increase agility. At higher speeds, stability is improved as the rear wheels steer up to 2.5 degrees in the same direction as the front wheels at speeds of 70 km/h and above. A new Airmatic air suspension with intelligent suspension control keeps the vehicle as low as possible for efficiency and comfort, using Google Maps data to predict road undulations.
The One-Box braking system featured in the Mercedes-Benz GLC electric also appears in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class electric, allowing energy recuperation of up to 300 kW. Nearly all braking is handled through energy recuperation, even when ABS is engaged or when driving on icy surfaces.
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class electric is equipped with up to 27 cameras and sensors for safety and driver assistance, along with a high-performance water-cooled control unit designed with enough capacity to support future upgrades.
Its assistance system lineup includes MB.Drive, which supports steering, lane keeping, distance regulation, braking, acceleration, parking, and manoeuvring. MB.Drive Assist builds on this by adding a lane-change feature, while MB.Drive Assist Pro offers a more advanced level of assisted driving.
A new feature introduced in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class electric is the Pre-Safe Curve function, which tightens the seat belt if the car is approaching a curve too fast, but only when navigation is active. In terms of passive safety, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class electric comes with up to 11 airbags, including a front centre airbag that is now standard globally, as well as a newly added knee airbag for the front passenger.
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