Mercedes GLC Coupe 2023 price
|
Update: ‘Production’ section updated and ‘TopElectricSUV says’ section added. Show
The all-new 2023 Mercedes GLC celebrated its world premiere on June 1, 2022. In this story, we take a look at what we know about the crossover-SUV sibling of the new C-Class which will likely arrive in the U.S. in early 2023. 2023 Mercedes GLC design & featuresOn the design front, while the first-gen GLC is drastically different from the GLK, the second-gen GLC is more of an evolutionary departure. That said, all the body panels are new, and it has a longer wheelbase and lower stance for clear differentiation from the Mercedes GLB. We’ve talked more about dimensions in more detail in the next section.  The next-gen Mercedes GLC has sleek production headlamps that are more angular. They slant upwards like on the Mercedes EQS but aren’t as narrow at the outer ends. They connect to the radiator grille through a DRL strip at the upper edge, emphasizing the SUV’s width. The new radiator grille includes a chrome surround and a sporty louver in matt gray with chrome trim. When viewed from the sides, the 2023 Mercedes GLC looks barely any different from the previous generation. The rising beltline does lend it a slightly sportier styling. Plus, for the first time ever on a GLC, body-colored wheel arch liners are available with AMG Line for the first time (optionally along with staggered tires). Instead of the stem mirrors like the first-gen model, the second-gen model features beltline mirrors. This makes the SUV more aerodynamically efficient and reduces the wind noise inside the cabin. The shoulder area has more definition and the character line is clearly visible. Multiple new alloy wheel designs will be available, in diameters ranging from 18 to 20 inches. At the rear, the 2023 Mercedes GLC has a sleeker appearance with slimmer, two-part tail lamps reminiscent of the C-Class. The interior of the GLC has noticeably improved and looks much more upmarket. It features a new dashboard with a wing-like profile, new, flattened round AC vents inspired by the engine nacelles of an aircraft, and an elegantly floating center console. There is a greater sense of minimalism and opulence in the cabin. The optional panoramic sunroof is an improved one. The occupants can get an almost uninterrupted view of the sky because the lined cross-strut is slimmer than in the first-gen model. Digital Light & second-gen MBUXA main exterior feature of the 2023 GLC is Digital Light headlamps with projection functions. These headlamps should have three extremely powerful LEDs each. 1.3 million micro-mirrors refract and direct the light in each Digital Light headlamp, and thus, the total resolution is more than 2.6 million pixels. These headlamps are a premium option over standard LED headlamps. Customers specifying will get an additional option of projection functions that casts guidelines or warning symbols of the road ahead. The new GLC features the second-gen MBUX with a fingerprint scanner and a more interactive voice assistant activated by the command “Hey Mercedes.” MBUX Smart Home function is also included in the new-generation MBUX, allowing the driver to keep a check on and control smart home devices installed at the residence. A 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster and an 11.9-inch portrait display are standard in the 2023 Mercedes GLC. The portrait orientation of the central display makes operating the infotainment functions easier. The all-new MBUX includes a special Off-Road mode to make the required changes to the vehicle more quickly and in a simpler manner. Head-up displayA color head-up display is optional in the 2023 GLC. It projects information over an area measuring 9 x 3 inches 10 feet in front of the hood. The visual experience is similar to viewing on a 25-inch monitor. The HUD’s display module has a native resolution of 720 x 240 pixels. OTA updatesMBUX supports over-the-air (OTA) updates, which means customers can install the latest software in it without any hassle. The download and installation take place in the background, and then the user has to agree for activating the update. Customers can activate new features anytime even after they have taken the delivery. Transparent hoodWhen the driver activates the off-road mode, the central display provides a virtual view under the front of the vehicle. The driver can see the front wheels and their steering position on the touchscreen. Images from the 360-degree camera give the view under the vehicle at speeds up to 5 mph and then from 5-12 mph the view ahead. Air-Balance (TBC for the USA) Several improvements that take care of occupants’ well-being are also part of the interior changes in the 2023 GLC. This aspect includes the availability of features like Air-Balance Package that provides the preferred fragrance in the cabin for a refreshed feeling. Energizing Coach (TBC for the USA) Energizing Coach gives individual fitness recommendations based on an intelligent algorithm, and it can work in sync with wearables. It suggests a suitable fitness or wellness program based on the vehicle and trip data and the information about sleep quality and stress level from a paired wearable device like a smartwatch. The plug-in hybrid variants benefit from an additional “Power Nap” program, with falling asleep, sleeping, and waking phases that can help the driver recharge himself/herself when making a stop for service or battery recharge. Rear-axle steeringFor the first time, customers will be able to order the Mercedes GLC with rear-axle steering (with an angle of 4.5 degrees), an optional feature that reduces the turning circle by 80 cm to 11.0 meters. The driver needs fewer turns of the steering wheel for a full lock when performing a U-turn or parking. At 60 km/h (37 mph) or higher speeds, the rear-axle steering steers the wheels in the same direction as the front wheels, leading to improved handling stability and safety. Airmatic air suspension (TBC for the USA) The Airmatic air suspension is standard in the plug-in hybrid variants, which we expect to be loaded to the brim. However, these electrified variants could suffer from the typical drawback of lower cargo space because of the battery pack location. In the mild-hybrid variants, Mercedes-Benz offers the Airmatic air suspension as an optional feature. As standard, the 2023 GLC gets a new four-link suspension at the front and a multi-link independent suspension at the rear. Traffic Sign AssistTraffic Sign Assist detects conventionally signposted speed limits as well as signs on overhead gantries and in roadworks. Conditional instructions and warnings against driving through stop signs and red lights will also be part of Traffic Sign Assist. Improved Trailer Manoeuvring Assist (TBC for the USA) Improved trailer maneuvering assistant will be optional, one that can handle freely selectable cornering maneuvers up to 90 degrees. Integrated into MBUX, the new system automatically regulates the vehicle’s steering angle up to a speed of 5 km/h (3 mph) and an uphill grade of up to 15%. Convenience features include the Easy-Pack tailgate for the remote-operated open/close function of the tailgate with a button on the key fob or the switch in the driver’s door or the tailgate’s release handle. New Safety systemsA myriad of active and passive safety features will be available in the 2023 Mercedes GLC, with new, upgraded, and carried-over technologies to make it the safest C-Class-based SUV. One of the highlights is the Pre-Safe Impulse Side, which forms a sort of virtual crumple zone in the event of an accident. The driver or front passenger has moved away from danger before the crash when the system detects an imminent side collision. There are air chambers in the side bolsters of the front seat backrests, and they inflate within the blink of an eye when required. An updated Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC maintains a preset distance from vehicles in front at speeds up to 60 mph instead of 30 mph previously. Lane detection is a new feature of Active Steering Assist, and it works at speeds up to 130 mph. It recognizes an additional lane with the 360-degree camera and particularly provides advantages in the low-speed range. Increased lane-centering on highways is another advantage of Active Steering Assist. SpecificationsThe GLC hasn’t changed drastically from the previous model on the dimensions front. The 2023 Mercedes GLC is 2.4 in. longer than its predecessor. Also up are the track widths, 0.24 in. at the front and 0.91 in. at the rear. The overhangs are longer at both front (+ 0.59 in.) and rear (+1.3 in.). The redesigned model has a lower drag coefficient of 0.29 Cd (2022 GLC: 0.31 Cd). Customers can expect noticeable improvements on the inside. Mercedes-Benz has addressed a big shortcoming of the GLC, the space for rear-seat passengers and luggage. Increasing the wheelbase by 0.59 in. was the first step. Thanks to the larger rear overhang, the trunk capacity has increased by 2.5 cu. ft., which is a significant improvement.
Engine & TransmissionMercedes-Benz has started distancing itself from large engines in mid-size models to prepare for an all-electric future. Customers desiring performance will have to opt for hybrid powertrains during this transition. The company employs electrification with mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid technologies to achieve higher performance and meet new emission targets. Electrification is standard across the 2023 GLC range. In the U.S., customers will be able to select between GLC 300 (RWD) and GLC 300 4MATIC (AWD) mild-hybrid variants. The GLC 300 and GLC 300 4MATIC share the M254 2.0-liter gasoline engine that produces 255 hp at 5,800 rpm and 295 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,000-3,200 rpm. A 48-volt battery pack and an integrated starter-generator enable mild-hybrid technology functions such as gliding, boost, and recuperation. The ISG gives a boost with 23 hp of extra power and 148 lb.-ft. of additional torque. The 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic is standard equipment in the 2023 GLC. The electric motor and power electronics lie inside the transmission housing. The thermal management of these two components happens via the transmission cooling system.
2023 Mercedes GLC Plug-in HybridMercedes-Benz Group has stopped developing new plug-in hybrid systems, but it’s not going to stop selling PHEVs anytime soon. Markus Schafer told Handelsblatt at the 2021 Munich Motor Show (IAA 2021) that the company has “no further new developments planned” regarding plug-in hybrid tech and has made all the relevant investments it was going to make. So, the future GLC PHEV gets existing powertrains. Schafer is a BoM member of Mercedes-Benz Group, CTO responsible for R&D and Procurement.
The 2023 GLC Plug-in Hybrid has an 11 kW on-board charger (3-phased) charger as standard. Customers will be able to recharge its battery pack with an optional 60 kW DC charger quickly in around 30 minutes. 2023 Mercedes GLC release dateOfficially, the U.S. launch of the 2023 Mercedes GLC will take place in the first half of 2023. According to a dealer mbworld.org forum user kesslykaes spoke to, the 2023 GLC will start arriving at U.S. Mercedes-Benz dealers in April 2023. The local press release Mercedes-Benz issued on August 26, 2022, states that two mild-hybrid variants will be available at launch: GLC 300 and GLC 300 4MATIC. Premium, Exclusive, and Pinnacle will be the trim lines. With the current GLC costing USD 43,850 onwards, the 2023 GLC’s prices could start in the USD 45,000-50,000 range. Mercedes-Benz says it has significantly upgraded the standard equipment of the GLC. In addition to the large displays, wireless charging, heated front seats, Easy-Pack tailgate, will be standard. The 2023 Mercedes GLC is already available to order in Germany, with prices starting at EUR 57,631.70 (~USD 57,000). Initially, three mild-hybrid variants are on offer in the brand’s home market: GLC 200 4MATIC, GLC 300 4MATIC, and GLC 220d 4MATIC. The German launch of the plug-in hybrid variants will take place around December 2022. The redesigned model is available to configure and order online on the company’s local website. According to a report mbpassionblog published on July 13, 2022, deliveries will start in October 2022. ProductionThere are three production sites for the new generation Mercedes GLC worldwide: Bremen (Germany), Sindelfingen (Germany), and Beijing (China). The Mercedes-Benz factories in Germany have started rolling out the new mid-size luxury SUV, and the Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd (BBAC)’s plant in China will start production later in 2022. The U.S. will get its all-new GLCs from either of the German production sites. We expect the first batch to reach the U.S. in early 2023. A report JESMB released on November 29, 2021, suggested that the next-gen GLC would remain on sale for about seven years, until 2029. GLC sales performanceThe GLC is the best-selling Mercedes-Benz model in the United States. In the first half of 2022, the three-pointed star sold 36,059 units of the mid-size SUV in the country, which marked a 19.6% year-over-year growth (H1 2021: 30,149 units). Next-gen Mercedes GLC CoupeThe 2023 Mercedes GLC Coupe will debut as the sporty alternative to the mid-size luxury SUV in spring 2023, as per a report JESMB published on June 11, 2022. The aesthetic and technical relationship between the standard SUV and the SUV-coupe versions should be the same as that of the first generation. First spy shots of the 2023 Mercedes GLC Coupe surfaced online earlier this year, revealing key design changes on the outside. The new model has a more dynamic exterior, achieved with a sharper beltline. Additionally, the tail lamps are sleeker and feature different graphics than the current model. We have yet to see the inside of the cabin, but we can safely assume that the interior design would be similar, if not identical, to the SUV version. The report says that customer deliveries of the next-gen GLC Coupe will start nearly a year after the all-new GLC SUV starts arriving at dealers. Expect the 2023 GLC Coupe on sale in the first markets in late summer 2023. In the U.S., the next-gen GLC Coupe may arrive as an MY2024 model, as the current model is continuing for one more model year (MY2023). The next-gen Mercedes GLC line-up will include performance-oriented AMG variants. According to an Autocar report, the GLC 43 and GLC 63 arrive in 2023. Both the AMG variants of the next-gen GLC will use the same four-cylinder gasoline engines as the next-gen C 43 and C 63 cars, with the GLC 63’s engine producing more than 500 hp. DesignMotor1’s spy photographers have spotted the all-new Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 during testing. It sports the usual dose of AMG goodness like an exclusive (Panamerica) grille, lowered ride height, beefier brakes, sportier wheels, and more aerodynamic bumpers. Our exclusive rendering (pictured above) shows the next-gen GLC 63 with the new design. We’ve given it the AMG Panamericana radiator grille with a gloss black surround, an A-shaped lower grille, and large outer air inlets similar to the prototypes in spy shots. On the sides, the multi-spoke alloy wheels with red calipers, and black mirrors communicate the high-performance SUV’s character. SpecificationsAccording to the JESMB report dated November 2, 2021, the next-gen GLC 43 AMG will be a mild-hybrid model. It could get the same M139I 2.0-liter engine that debuted in the 2023 SL 43 AMG and now powers the 2023 C 43 AMG. The modified version of the M139 engine is the world’s first mass-produced engine with an electric exhaust gas turbocharger, a technology Mercedes-AMG derived from the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. Mercedes-AMG says it has integrated an electric motor on the turbocharger shaft between the turbine wheel and the compressor wheel on the intake side. This motor kicks into action before the exhaust gas flow is ready to take over. However, it continues to operate at speeds of up to 175,000 rpm, enabling a very high air flow rate. It improves the engine response directly from idle speed and throughout the rev range. The electric motor of the exhaust gas turbocharger gets energy from the 48-volt on-board electrical system, which also feeds the car’s belt-driven starter-generator (RSG). In the U.S.-spec 2023 C 43 AMG, the M139l engine produces 402 hp at 6,750 rpm and 369 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,000 rpm. The RSG assists with an additional 13 hp. The AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9G 9-speed automatic transmission and the AMG Performance 4MATIC AWD system with a rear-biased, 31:69 torque split work together to send drive to the wheels. The next-gen GLC 63 AMG will get the M139 2.0-liter engine with plug-in hybrid tech, as per the Autocar report. There would be three different electrical assistance systems for the engine: an electrified turbocharger, an ISG, and a traction motor. The hottest version of the GLC could arrive in the first markets in the summer of 2023. In the U.S., Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that the AMG GLC will be unavailable for the 2023 model year. The next-gen AMG GLC will likely go on sale across the Atlantic as an MY2024 SUV in late 2023 or early 2024. TopElectricSUV saysThe Mercedes GLC, the company’s best-selling model in the U.S. (as of June 2022), has just gotten even more appealing, featuring a more digital and upscale-looking interior, more efficient engines with standard mild-hybrid tech, and improved comfort and safety. Plus, by introducing new advanced technologies like rear-axle steering and transparent hood, Mercedes-Benz has made the GLC easier and more exciting to drive, both on and off the road. We’ll leave the final judgments until reviews of US-spec units and the prices come out, but from what we know so far, the 2023 Mercedes GLC looks promising if you’re in the market for a new mid-size luxury SUV. 2023 Mercedes GLC FAQsWhat is the 2023 Mercedes GLC release date?The new GLC will start reaching U.S. dealers in H1 2023 in two mild-hybrid variants. What will be the 2023 Mercedes GLC alternatives?What will be the base 2023 Mercedes GLC price?The 2023 Mercedes GLC should start at around $45,000 in the U.S. market. Featured Image Source: Mercedes-Benz Group With a Master’s Degree in Business Management & Administration, I’ve been working as an International Automotive News Editor since 2014, and have gained a wealth of knowledge and insight into hybrid and electric vehicles. Will there be a 2023 GLC Coupe?The redesigned 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class will likely hit roads in April 2023.
How much is a GLC Coupe in South Africa?Price List - MERCEDES-BENZ GLC Series. Is there a new GLC Coupe?Second-generation Mercedes GLC Coupe is due in 2023 with Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 version to top the range. This year saw the introduction of the second-generation Mercedes GLC and like the first model, there will be a Coupe variant with AMG power.
When can I buy GLC 2022?Mercedes says the new GLC will go on sale in Europe in September 2022, with the US and Chinese market openings coming later on. Prices aren't confirmed, but expect a small increase over comparative previous generation models, and a much-expanded equipment list.
|
