The Mercedes-Benz GLC 2023 debuts in the United States with two versions available, both powered by a 48-volt 2.0-liter mild hybrid engine with 258 horsepower (192 kilowatts) and 295 pound-feet (400 Newton-meters) of torque. Work on the AMG-branded version continues and after spying on the flagship GLC 63, we’ve also captured a prototype of the smaller and more affordable GLC 43 model.
The vehicle you see in the attached gallery below was recently shot in Germany in full body camouflage. Once it goes into production, it will be positioned under the GLC 300 / GLC 300 4Matic currently available in the US and the upcoming GLC 63 later this year or early 2023.
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As you can see, the test vehicle doesn’t look as aggressive as the brand’s 63 prototypes we’ve seen, although the larger tires and more prominent front fascia should set it apart from the standard model. Big brake discs behind the wheels with red front brake calipers are also a treat we’re dealing with with the hotter GLC. A large part of the rear bumper is covered in black band which doesn’t allow us to see the diffuser settings.
Mercedes fans and aficionados may not be happy to know this hotter SUV will lose its six-cylinder engine for the new generation. Instead, the company’s 2.0-liter M139l engine version is likely under the hood, receiving some sort of electrification. On the recently launched Mercedes-AMG C43 it makes 402 hp (296 kW) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque and we expect the same numbers for the crossover.
If you want a six-cylinder factory in the new GLC, Mercedes will reportedly add a six-cylinder diesel unit later during the model’s lifecycle. The upcoming GLC 400d will be the only SUV variant with a six-cylinder under the hood. Even the flagship GLC 63 will lose half of its cylinders in favor of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder electric powertrain.
