Beyond this, expect the interior design elements, colours and materials to be shared between the two, including top-level assisted parking capabilities, Level 2+ autonomous driving (which includes the ability to take your hands off the wheel at a cruise on the motorway) and lots of ambient lighting.
Cabin space will be improved over the ICE-powered C-Class thanks to a longer wheelbase and flat floor, but those hoping to see a C-Class Electric estate will be disappointed, leaving the BMW i3 Touring without a direct rival. Still, luggage space should be improved, although access might be limited due to the short bootlid, and there will be a secondary bootspace under the bonnet, too.
Competitive but not class-leading under the skin
As with the cabin, there’s a lot we can derive from the GLC in terms of powertrain and chassis technology. The C400 Electric will sit at the high end of the range, sharing its 94.5kWh battery pack and dual-motor layout with its SUV twin. The lower and lighter body should mean an improvement on the GLC’s range figure, so expect somewhere in the region of 450-470 miles from a charge.
Other powertrain layouts, including smaller battery sizes and more efficient single-motor layouts, will be available in time. The new C-Class will also charge quickly, as it should bring across the GLC’s 800V electrical architecture and up to 330kW charging. Expect a top-up from 10-80 per cent in around 22 minutes.
If you’re wondering how this stacks up compared with the new i3, BMW has already confirmed that a similarly powerful high-spec dual-motor ‘50’ variant will be able to cover 564 miles from a charge. It’ll also reach up to 400kW DC fast charging, and it too will diversify into less powerful, but more efficient options in future.
Where Mercedes might be able to forge a lead, though, is in terms of chassis technology. The C-Class will be compatible with lots of high-end options that the BMW curiously lacks. These include air-suspension, rear-wheel steering and high-definition Digital headlights.
Mercedes will also offer high-performance AMG models, one of which has already been spied testing with 21-inch wheels and a set of carbon-ceramic brakes – complete with gold calipers and uprated tyres.
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