In June 2023, Mercedes-Benz and Microsoft ran a three-month ChatGPT beta on the automaker's MBUX Voice Assistant.Before that, the assistant could only recognize a fixed set of pre-programmed commands or phrases drivers had to memorize and repeat back, almost word for word, to get a scripted answer.Instead, ChatGPT let the MBUX assistant understand natural, open-ended questions, meaning drivers could hold a back-and-forth conversation with their Mercedes rather than matching what they said against a list of set commands.
Mercedes-Benz framed it as a new level of in-car voice control at the time.Three years later, the automaker is taking a bigger swing.The new C-Class, arriving at U.S.
dealerships in the first half of 2027, replaces that single AI with three of them running at once.Three AI models, one assistant The system decides which AI to ask Close Mercedes-Benz calls the setup a multi-agent approach.Instead of picking one AI company and building around its model, the new MBUX Virtual Assistant draws on ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing, and Google Gemini at the same time.
From there, it picks the source that best fits the question.According to Mercedes-Benz, you can ask about everything from the weather and ski slope conditions to stock prices, and the MBUX system sources the answer accordingly.In terms of the navigation system, Mercedes-Benz paired with Google Cloud to add its Automotive AI Agent, a tool built specifically for questions about places along a route.
Ask about a coffee shop or gas station near an upcoming exit, or how busy a restaurant tends to get at lunch.The agent pulls its answers from Google Maps, which covers 250 million places worldwide with more than 100 million updates a day.The navigation system and the voice assistant work side by side inside the 2027 C-Class, each handling the type of question it's best suited for, rather than one model trying to do everything.
ChatGPT, Bing, and Gemini all run on servers outside the car, so every question the MBUX Virtual Assistant answers gets sent out and back over the C-Class's built-in cellular connection.To use the MBUX Virtual Assistant, drivers first need to pair the car with a Mercedes me ID account, the same login linked to the automaker's app and its Digital Extras store, so the system knows which vehicle and driver it's working with.Without an active data plan, or in an area with no coverage, the C-Class falls back to a more limited, offline set of voice commands.
Related Mercedes is bringing faster, more private voice control to US cars Liquid AI will save you from talking to the cloud.Posts 1 By Jon Fingas The powertrain behind the AI systems Updated engine and a quieter ride Close An AI assistant is only as good as the car it's riding in, and Mercedes-Benz gave the 2027 C-Class plenty of hardware to back it up.The engine is an updated version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder already in the current C-Class, code-named M 254 EVO, now paired with a second-generation mild-hybrid system that adds up to 23 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque at lower speeds.
It runs on a 48-volt electrical setup that also handles coasting and energy recovery, while a new electric auxiliary compressor spools up in milliseconds to eliminate turbo lag.Altogether, the engine makes 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, with an overboost function that adds another 27 horsepower for about 20 seconds at a time.Mercedes engineers also revised the suspension of the 2027 C-Class for sharper handling, using a four-link setup at the front axle and a five-link layout at the rear for more precise wheel control.
Keeping the cabin quiet took its own round of engineering.The new C-Class has a drag coefficient as low as 0.24, aided by redesigned side mirrors with bases shaped specifically to cut wind noise.The trailing edge of the trunk lid, including its built-in spoiler contour, and the separation edges built into the taillights are designed to reduce turbulence, while an extra seal around the windshield further cuts wind noise.
Meanwhile, the exhaust system now hangs from a cage-style mount instead of a standard one, reducing vibrations that reach the cabin.Combined with upgraded insulation and other acoustic work, Mercedes-Benz says the cabin stays quiet even at highway speeds.Ambient lighting and over-the-air updates While inside the 2027 C-Class, drivers can access a 12.3-inch instrument display paired with an 11.9-inch touchscreen, a combination that shows all current vehicle info and functions.
The optional Burmester 3D Surround Sound system comprises 15 speakers, a 710-watt amplifier, and Dolby Atmos, adjustable across 10 levels of spatial depth.An updated ambient lighting suite includes over 60 colors across 10 themes, with four separate dimming zones and five brightness levels.Mercedes-Benz also added two new exterior colors for the 2027 C-Class, Miami Silver Metallic and Moody Sky Grey Metallic.
Beech Brown and Cherry Red are among the interior upholstery options, with a new AMG Line Plus trim available for those who want a sportier look without stepping up to a full AMG model.The new C-Class arrives at U.S.dealerships in the first half of 2027.
Mercedes-Benz hasn't announced pricing yet, but the outgoing 2026 C-Class starts at $49,650 for the C 300 sedan, before options.The automaker said the 2027 C-Class will also support over-the-air updates to keep the car feeling fresh for owners.
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