While other manufacturers are extensively working on pure electric products, Mercedes still believes that fuel cell-powered cars will also be vital for the future. To highlight that, the German manufacturer unveiled a pre-production GLC F-Cell at the IAA 2017 in Frankfurt today.
Falling under Daimler's EQ Power brand, the GLC F-Cell can store 4.4 kg of hydrogen fuel in two carbon-fibre-encased tanks, which translates to 437 km of zero-emission range. The fuel cell will act as power station, generating current to power the 197 hp electric motor driving the front wheels. It also has a 13.8-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that can offer 49 km of pure electric range (NEDC test).
Like a regular GLC, the GLC F-Cell has driving modes like ECO, COMFORT and SPORT, which switches between Hybrid, Battery and Charge modes for fuel efficient or dynamic driving experience.
Exclusive to the GLC F-Cell is a full driver's display with 12.3-inch diagonal, a COMAND system presented on the 10.25-inch central display, multifunction touchpad with handwriting recognition, new three spoke steering wheel with touchpads and 20-inch alloy wheels. It will be built in Bremen (Germany) alongside the regular lineup of GLC, and expected to go on sale in late 2019.
