► New illuminated grille
► Debuts on GLC EV
► GLC to be shown at the IAA Munich show
The next-generation of Mercedes EVs will see the brand go back to its roots – and away from the non-descript blobfish-esque looks of the EQ series. Debuting on the forthcoming electric GLC, the new face of Mercedes is inspired by the past but remixed for the future.
‘Our new iconic grille is not just a new front for the GLC, it redefines the face of our brand,’ said Benz’s chief designer Gorden Wagener. ‘It is the perfect fusion of lasting design codes reinterpreted for the future, making our cars instantly recognizable.’
An upright, stately grille has been a hallmark of all Mercedes cars for the last century, with notable entries being the 600 Pullman (W100, 1963-1981 and the S-Class model series W108 (1965-1972). There are of course many others.
The grille you see here takes all of those into consideration but adds its own spin. Benz experts will notice it also riffs heavily on the Mercedes Simplex’s honeycomb structure too, but where the Simplex had gaps for cooling – the GLC has lights.
Some 942 dots are visible on the GLC’s grille, powered by an array of LED lights and arranged into three tiers. In the middle you get a three-pointed star, which will be lit up to varying degrees depending on the market you’re in. The result is something that wouldn’t look out of place in a Shoreditch cocktail bar. It’s a huge improvement on the EQs rather bland looks, though.
We’ll see the GLC in full at the Munich motor show, but it’s already clear from the image supplied that it’ll draw a line under the EQ series and set the trend for the future of Mercedes cars. It’s the Benz-version of the Neue Klasse.
By Curtis Moldrich
CAR's Digital Editor, F1 and sim-racing enthusiast. Partial to clever tech and sports bikes
