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Mercedes-Benz launches the new GLC luxury SUV with advanced telematics

Martin Schwenk, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, launched the latest generation of the GLC today. The luxury SUV combines outstanding on and off-road driving characteristics with spaciousness, practicality and comfort.

With a new operating concept, driving assistance system and a new range of BS 6 engines, it is the first Mercedes-Benz in India with NTG 6 telematics and the first ever locally made SUV to get Active Braking Assist.

The design language of the GLC is about sensual purity and illustrates the carefully considered interplay of aesthetics, agility and intelligence. The overall appearance is sportier and the chrome elements now run from the front to the rear end as standard. The distinctive lines, sculpted surfaces and details ensure a strong off-road character. The standard-fit LED High-Performance headlamps are smaller and more raked, and have significantly modified contours. The athletic character continues in the rear view with the completely revised bumper and exhaust tips. The redesigned full LED tail lamps also ensure an unmistakable light signature – with the hallmark blocks of the Mercedes-Benz SUVs in backlit edge-light specification.

Inside, there is ambience lighting with 64 colours levels for the desired lighting mood, a new steering wheel with touch control buttons, walnut open pore wood trim, wireless charging front and a midline sound system.

GLC is one of Mercedes-Benz India’s highest selling SUVs, having sold over 7000 units since its debut. The new GLC is the most tech savvy ‘Made in India’ SUV and the latest generation gets the new intuitive infotainment system – MBUX for the first time. It improves the driver’s interaction with various on-board systems through gestures, touch or voice.

The GLC is equipped with the next generation of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. The crucial feature of the M 264 two-litre four-cylinder engine is the increased output at significantly lower fuel consumption. In the GLC 200, the M 264 four-cylinder engine replaces the M 274 predecessor engine; the OM 654 four-cylinder diesel engine replaces the OM 651 predecessor engine.

The GLC 200 has a power output of 197 hp and peak torque of 320 Nm, and can do a 0 to 100 km/h sprint in 7.8 sec, while the GLC 220d 4MATIC has corresponding figures of 194 hp and 400 Nm and races to three figures in just 7.9 secs.

The most important advancement in the new GLC is the MBUX telematics system, which is a combination of touchscreen multimedia displays, navigation with augmented reality, and intelligent voice control via the talk button or the ‘Hey Mercedes’ prompt. Mercedes-Benz has also built what3words location technology into its MBUX navigation system, allowing drivers to reach their destination seamlessly, every single time. Since traditional street addresses use thousands of non-dictionary words and are not built for voice input, what3words offers a more precise and incredibly simple way to talk about any location and allows for accurate and error-free location input by voice.

The revised voice control system makes operation even more convenient and natural. By voice command, the driver can have the system read out text messages, operate the audio systems or access vehicle functions such as the climate control system, for example. The system requires no memorised commands – the user has the freedom, for example, to phrase the desired destination address or the question about the weather report off-the-cuff. Passengers activate the voice control with the “Hey Mercedes“ prompt. The talk button on the steering wheel is additionally available for this purpose.

The GLC 200 will be priced at INR 52.75 lacs, and the GLC 220 d 4MATIC at INR 57.75 lacs (ex-showroom India).

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