Electric Mercedes GLC (2026): Dashboard becomes a mega-screen
The world premiere of the new Mercedes GLC with EQ technology (i.e., the electric GLC) will take place on September 7, ahead of the IAA in Munich. So we'll have to wait a little while longer. But of course, Daimler is teasing us a little bit and showing us today what the BMW iX3 competitor looks like inside. One thing is clear: there's hardly anything more display-capable.
BMW, for its arguably most important car of the last 20 years ( see and learn everything about the new iX3 here ), already relies on a large 17.9-inch central display and an additional screen strip that stretches—albeit very thinly—from A-pillar to A-pillar. Now the Stuttgart-based company is taking screen technology a step further with its electric mid-size SUV.
At its heart is the new MBUX Hyperscreen, which "elevates the interior experience to an unprecedented level." This "majestically floating" screen achieves this primarily because of its incredibly large size. With a screen size of 99.3 centimeters (39.1 inches), it is indeed the largest screen ever installed in a Mercedes.
The Swabian company's matrix backlight technology, with over 1,000 individual LEDs, is said to ensure exceptional clarity. The monumental nature of the display is also demonstrated by its zone dimming. This allows the brightness to be adjusted simultaneously in two display areas using a slider, presumably intended to minimize driver distraction. Mercedes has filed a patent for this technology.
Mercedes GLC EQ (2026) interior
Image by: Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes GLC EQ (2026) interior
Image by: Mercedes-Benz
The area beneath the Hyperscreen is also described very confidently, not as a dashboard or center console, but as a "large decorative sculpture" that "merges the center console and the instrument panel into a sculptural surface."
In the center console itself, the E-GLC driver will find up to two charging cradles for inductive smartphone charging, depending on the equipment. Behind these, there's a bar with a few real buttons. Two cupholders are located behind this.
What looks very aesthetically pleasing and high-quality in the pictures are the galvanized air vents. When the climate control system adjusts the temperature, the lighting within them (and the rest of the ambient lighting) briefly changes color—for clear feedback, says Mercedes .
Brand new are the extremely hip-sounding Ambient Styles, thanks to which the new super screen creates a "unique digital impression," resulting in "a completely new, immersive interior experience." Aha! Essentially, these are nothing more than various background motifs, which are then color-coordinated with the instruments, controls, and ambient lighting.
We'll soon find out how high-quality the electric GLC's cockpit really is when we take a first test drive. The pictures already show that it looks pretty good, with its many, hopefully genuine, metal parts and the stylishly stitched leather.
Although we've developed the impression, based on our own experience and feedback from our readers, that most drivers prefer fewer displays and more real control buttons, it seems that screen overkill is finally taking hold. Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Porsche—all German premium manufacturers are moving away from the classically beautiful dashboard toward more and more screens.
It should be noted that the GLC with EQ technology shown here will only offer the monstrous Hyperscreen at an additional cost. Lower trim levels will therefore feature a smaller screen and a more conventional dashboard.
Even more news from the Mercedes universe
motor1
