Mercedes reveals all-electric C-Class with 473-mile range, 4.0-second sprint

Mercedes-Benz used the debut of its electric C-Class to send a blunt message about where the premium EV market is headed: range matters, but performance and charging speed now matter just as much. The first all-new electric version of the C-Class arrived with a claimed WLTP range of up to 762 kilometers, or 473 miles, and an 800-volt architecture that Mercedes says can add up to 325 kilometers in 10 minutes. The car will reach U.S. dealerships in the first half of 2027.

The launch model, the C 400 4MATIC Electric, is built around a 94 kWh usable battery and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup that produces 360 kW, or 482 hp, and 800 Nm of torque. Mercedes says that is enough for a 0 to 100 km/h time of 4.0 seconds. In a segment where luxury buyers have long been able to choose between refinement and speed, Mercedes is trying to prove the electric C-Class can deliver both without the compromises that once slowed mainstream adoption.

The hardware underlines that shift. Mercedes says the front axle uses a motor with a disconnect unit to reduce losses when it is not needed, while the rear axle gets a permanently excited synchronous motor and a two-speed transmission. The drag coefficient starts at 0.22, a figure that supports the range claim and points to how much of the electric luxury fight now depends on engineering efficiency rather than simple eco-marketing. Optional chassis technology includes AIRMATIC air suspension, predictive damping and 4.5-degree rear-axle steering, which Mercedes says reduces the turning circle to 11.2 meters.

Inside, Mercedes is leaning just as hard on technology and space. The cabin can be fitted with a 39.1-inch MBUX Hyperscreen and the latest MBUX system with AI features. Mercedes says the interior was shaped by extensive customer feedback and is meant to deliver more space, more comfort and a “Welcome home” feel. The company has also made visual theater part of the pitch, with an optional illuminated grille that can feature 1,050 illuminated points.

That framing matters because Mercedes describes the C-Class as one of its best-selling and most popular model series globally. By making the electric version notably sporty, the company is betting that luxury buyers will be persuaded by acceleration, charging speed and platform design first, and by environmental messaging second. The C-Class has long been a core Mercedes nameplate; now it is being recast as a test case for whether the next phase of EV adoption is won on emotion and convenience as much as efficiency.