SPIED: MERCEDES FACELIFTING THE C-CLASS
Mercedes-Benz has updated the C-Class. Meaning, this C-Class is not only different from the existing one but also different from the ones spied on by photographers just months ago. The new C-Class EV went through a major redesign in the middle of product testing, and it's not entirely clear why.
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The Mercedes design team focuses on revising the nose and tail of these SUVs.
Mercedes Facelifted The Facelift
One theory for the sudden change is simply that the automaker's EQ design ethos simply wasn't resonating with customers. We can back this one up with sales figures, as Mercedes EVs aren't exactly flying off the shelves. Aesthetics can certainly play a role here. The EQB, EQE, and EQS all suffered from slow sales in 2024. As of October last year, sales were down by 50-percent for the EQS, 20-percent for the EQE, and 15-percent for the EQB. Evidently, something needs to change here, and perhaps Mercedes believes the introduction of a more entry-level model will help faltering EV sales. Going back to the board for a fresh design isn't out of the question.
Mercedes is still using a central grille flanked by headlights, though it's worth pointing out these lights are not the ones we've seen on more recent EVs like the EQE, which feature a three-pointed star motif. Perhaps given the car's entry-level leanings, Mercedes will offer a lower-tier lighting arrangement to bring prices down.
Making EVs Blend In
Regardless, the large face will likely feature something more in line with the rest of the lineup, rather than the smoother, rounder shapes the brand has deployed for its EQ-branded EVs. The most stark example of this is the EQS, which has long suffered from an extremely polarizing design. The large, round egg shape has been ditched entirely in this lower-tier Benz. Instead, this is a much more traditional shape. The face, aside, Mercedes has kept the short overhangs, though camo conceals much of the side profile. It appears flush door handles will be in use here, and the rear lights have potentially been disguised to hide the three-pointed light motif discussed above.
TopSpeed's Take
The C-Class EV has probably benefitted from its redesign. The EQE may not be a sales success just yet, but the design has certainly brought it more in line with the rest of the Benz lineup. Should Mercedes bring a more conventional appearance to a more reasonably-priced entry point to electric car ownership, the C-Class EV might be able to turn around the automaker's paltry EV sales figures.
2025-02-11T07:44:28Z