The electrified model of the Mercedes-Benz flagship midsize sedan C-Class, the "The All-New Electric C-Class," made its first appearance on the 20th in Gangnam, Seoul. This is the first time an imported brand has unveiled a completely new model for the first time in the world in Korea.
At the World Premiere event that day, key executives attended, including Mercedes-Benz Group Chief Executive Officer Ola Källenius, Mercedes-Benz Chief Technology Officer Jörg Burzer, and Head of Sales & Customer Experience Mathias Geisen. CEO Källenius said, "Korea is Mercedes-Benz's No. 5 market in the world and a key market in Asia," adding, "We determined it was the optimal stage to effectively showcase the Electric C-Class."
The vehicle unveiled that day is a single trim of the Electric C-Class. In Korea, while the E-Class, which has long represented Mercedes-Benz, is a sedan emphasizing gravitas, Mercedes-Benz introduced the C-Class as a sporty vehicle. Instead of a honeycomb radiator grille flanking the three-pointed star emblem, 1,050 illuminated dots fill the area around the emblem. Coupe-like body lines and a rear design reminiscent of the AMG GT model were applied.
Mercedes-Benz defined the Electric C-Class in a word as "Welcome Home." The idea is that you can feel the comfort of being at home in the car as well. After getting in the vehicle, unlike the exterior that emphasizes sportiness, the Nappa leather seats and stitch design conveyed a sense of luxury. A 39.1-inch display fills the center fascia, minimizing physical buttons and maximizing the sense of space compared with the internal-combustion C-Class. In the rear seats, when a reporter 172 centimeters tall sat down, there was about a three-finger gap between the roof and the head, but thanks to the panoramic roof, it did not feel low.
In particular, the Electric C-Class has a wheelbase (distance between the front and rear axles) of 2,962 millimeters, up 92 millimeters from the internal-combustion model. Sitting in the second row, there was more than a two-fist distance to the front seat. The C-Class measures 4,883 millimeters long, 1,892 millimeters wide, and 1,503 millimeters high. Its size is similar to the higher internal-combustion E-Class. Cargo space is ample, too. The trunk offers 470 liters, and the frunk (front trunk) holds 110 liters. Mercedes-Benz said it increased the vehicle's size to accommodate batteries and other needs as it transitioned to an electrified model.
Performance has also improved. With 4.5-degree rear-wheel steering added, the turning radius was reduced to 5.6 meters (from 11.2 meters), and an air suspension with damping functionality is installed. Maximum output is 360 kW, and peak torque is 800 Nm. It takes 4 seconds to accelerate from a standstill to 100 kilometers per hour. Mercedes-Benz said the Electric C-Class has a WLTP range of 762 kilometers on a single charge. With a 10-minute charge, it can travel up to 325 kilometers, and with fast charging, it takes 22 minutes to go from 10% to 80%.
The official launch timing of the Electric C-Class has not yet been set. Recently, Mercedes-Benz has been steadily rolling out electrified versions of its flagship models, such as the Electric GLC and CLA. These models are equipped with Mercedes-Benz's proprietary operating system, MB.OS, which is also planned for the Electric C-Class. This is software that controls the entire vehicle. CEO Källenius said, "By introducing MB.OS, we achieved a wave of innovation," adding, "When traditional strengths and technology come together, 1 plus 1 becomes 3. We will continue to innovate."