Mercedes-Benz’s Glitzy New Grille Design Will Debut on the GLC EV
By reaching back into its history, Mercedes moves forward from its poorly received ‘EQ’ design era.
By Drew DorianPublished: Aug 4, 2025
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new illuminated grille of the 2027 mercedes benz glc class ev
Mercedes-Benz
When the Mercedes-Benz GLC-class EV debuts, it will feature the brand’s glitzy new grille.
The grille has a grid-matrix design that’s inspired by historical Mercedes models such as the 1902 Simplex.
Along with an illuminated version of the grille that features animations, Mercedes will also offer an unlit alternative.
Mercedes-Benz is on the cusp of dawning a new era in its electric vehicle strategy with the upcoming GLC-class EV. To celebrate, the company is walking away from the smooth and rounded design language that it had been using on its EQ models and is digging deep into its history to concoct a new front-end look.
The upcoming electric GLC-class SUV will be the first to wear a new grille design that mimics the grid-matrix motif of older Mercedes models dating back to the 1902 Simplex. That car featured a large, upright radiator at the front with so many tiny square inlets to direct air into the cooling system. That square-centric design evolved over the years but remained a part of Mercedes’s grille designs into the 1980s and 1990s.
1902 mercedes benz simplex grille
Mercedes-Benz
1902 Mercedes Simplex Grille
For better or worse, the new version features a modern twist. On electric models, the previously functional square inlets have now been replaced by a grid of LED lights. The GLC EV’s grille has 942 individual backlit square dots, which can be optioned with an animation feature that greets the driver with a synchronized light show upon hitting the unlock button.
The big Mercedes-Benz star logo also lights up, and the whole thing is framed by a separate light-up strip. Too flashy for you? Don’t worry, the illuminated version is optional. The unlit version is more subdued, featuring a chrome frame with inset squares rendered in a smoky white glass-like plastic. Furthermore, the metallic grille is available in two shades: Silver Shadow (shown in the image above) and Dark Chrome Optic.
1995 mercedes benz e320 w124 sedan
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1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Although the new grille design will debut on the GLC EV, which will be unveiled at the Munich IAA auto show in September, expect to see this new motif pop up on future Mercedes models. That should include future gas- and hybrid-powered Benzes too, not just the EVs.
We think the new look makes the car more recognizable as a Mercedes-Benz than the jellybean-nosed EQE or EQS models. Here’s hoping that resonates with American buyers, who have not taken to the company’s previous EV efforts with the same enthusiasm as drivers in other parts of the world.
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Drew Dorian
Managing Editor, Buyer’s Guide
Drew Dorian is a lifelong car enthusiast who has also held a wide variety of consumer-focused positions throughout his career, ranging from financial counselor to auto salesperson. He has dreamed of becoming a Car and Driver editor since he was 11 years old—a dream that was realized when he joined the staff in April 2016. He’s a born-and-raised Michigander and learned to drive on a 1988 Pontiac Grand Am. His automotive interests run the gamut from convertibles and camper vans to sports cars and luxury SUVs.
