Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e Coupé Nightfall Edition launched in Malaysia, RM442,888 for the blacked-out plug-in hybrid

KUALA LUMPUR: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has given the GLC Coupé the Nightfall treatment. The Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e 4MATIC Coupé Nightfall Edition was announced on 3 September, it is assembled at the Pekan plant in Pahang like the rest of the local GLC range, and it is on sale in Malaysia now at RM442,888 on the road without insurance for Peninsular Malaysia.

That is RM17,000 more than the regular GLC 350e Coupé AMG Line, which stays in the line-up at RM425,888. The extra money buys the Night Package and nothing else.

Same engine, same battery, same cabin, same kit. If you were hoping for a bit more power or a longer equipment list to go with the black trim, this isn't that.

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What the Night Package changes

The Nightfall Edition is the AMG Line car with the Night Package fitted at the factory. Everything that would normally be chrome or silver on the outside goes high-gloss black: the Mercedes-Benz pattern grille, the radiator shell louvre, the beltline trim strip, the window frames, the mirror housings, and the rear apron and diffuser. The door handles are finished in dark chrome, and the 20-inch AMG multi-spoke alloys are painted black.

The rest of the exterior is carried over. You still get the panoramic sliding sunroof, aluminium-look running boards with rubber studs, and DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps with Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus, which reshape the beam around other traffic and turn the intensity down when they pick up a highly reflective road sign.

This isn't a new idea for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia. The GLA 200 and GLA 250 got Nightfall Editions earlier, and the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupé Nightfall Edition arrived in May at RM518,888. The GLC 350e Coupé is simply the next one in line.

Kevin Barbian, Chief Operating Officer of Mercedes-Benz Cars Malaysia, on the thinking behind it:

"We are introducing the new Nightfall Edition to offer customers a more distinctive expression of one of our most popular SUV coupés. The Night Package enhances the new GLC Coupé Nightfall Edition with high-gloss black accents, dark chrome details, and black-painted 20-inch AMG multi-spoke light-alloy wheels, while retaining the comfort, technology, and versatility our customers value. This distinctive combination makes the Nightfall Edition a compelling choice for customers seeking a stronger sense of individuality in their driving experience."

Under the bonnet is the GLC 350e powertrain we already know. A 1,999cc turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, rated at 204 PS and 320 Nm on its own, works with a 100 kW and 440 Nm electric motor. Combined output is 230 kW (313 hp) and 550 Nm, sent to all four wheels through the 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic and 4MATIC. Mercedes quotes 0-100 km/h in 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 220 km/h.

Mercedes claims over 100 km of pure electric range on the WLTP cycle, and the car will stay in EV mode at up to 140 km/h, so a typical KL commute can be done without the engine ever starting. Charging is through an 11 kW three-phase AC onboard charger, and a Mode 2 cable is included. The press release lists no DC fast charging, so plan around a home wallbox or an AC charger at the office.

Kerb weight is 2,330 kg, with a 500 kg payload. That is a lot of car for a two-litre four-cylinder to move around once the battery is depleted and you are running mostly on petrol, which is the trade-off with every plug-in hybrid and worth keeping in mind if you don't have somewhere to charge.

The cabin is the AMG Line interior from the standard GLC 350e Coupé, unchanged. Seats are in ARTICO man-made leather, and the instrument panel and beltlines get ARTICO in a nappa look. The only real hide in the car is on the multifunction sports steering wheel, which is wrapped in nappa leather. Trim is the metal-structure finish.

Screens are the 12.3-inch driver display and the 11.9-inch portrait central screen running MBUX, with MBUX Navigation Premium and MBUX Augmented Reality Navigation. Audio is the Burmester 3D surround sound system with 15 speakers and a DSP amplifier.

On the safety side, the Driving Assistance Plus package brings Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Active Lane Keeping Assist and PRE-SAFE Impulse Side. The Parking Package includes a 360-degree camera, active parking assist with PARKTRONIC, and the "transparent bonnet" view for seeing what is directly under the nose when you park.

Price, rivals and Agility+

At RM442,888, the Nightfall Edition sits in a part of the Malaysian market where it doesn't have much direct company. There is no other plug-in hybrid SUV coupé at this price right now.

BMW's current X3 range is mild hybrid only, topping out with the X3 30 xDrive M Sport at RM358,800, and the brand's electric iX3 50 xDrive M Sport Pro starts at RM378,800, both before BMW's optional service and warranty package.

The Porsche Macan Electric used to start at RM430,000 but went up to RM575,000 in July. So for Malaysian buyers who specifically want a plug-in hybrid with a sloping roofline and a three-pointed star, the decision is really between this and the regular GLC 350e Coupé, RM17,000 apart.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is also offering the car through Agility+, from RM4,788 a month. The plan includes a guaranteed future value at the end of the term, flexible end-of-term options, a fifth-year Star Gold extended warranty, four Compact Service Packages, and MobilityPlus, which gives you a temporary replacement Mercedes if your car is in the workshop for 48 hours or more. 

 

The Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e 4MATIC Coupé Nightfall Edition is available now through the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Autohaus network. Full details are at mercedes-benz.com.my/glc-coupe.

Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e 4MATIC Coupé Nightfall Edition specifications

 

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