Mercedes Developed a Feature That Memorizes Every Turn You Make and Can Reverse Them.

      Joel Feder

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      In an era where technology features often overwhelm consumers, it takes something special for a feature to be regarded as genuinely "useful." Mercedes has achieved precisely that.

      Just outside Faro, Portugal, Mercedes-Benz allowed me to experience a Euro-spec pre-production 2027 GLC electric ahead of its U.S. market debut later this year. Overall, the new electric SUV is impressively capable, but its standout feature is what Mercedes refers to as the Reverse Maneuvering Function. In summary, this innovative system employs existing hardware in the vehicle and enhances it with new software to assist drivers in tricky situations where there's no space for a U-turn.

      When the Reverse Maneuvering Function becomes available through a free over-the-air software update for the 2027 GLC electric, it will enable the car to memorize the last 328 to 492 feet (100 to 150 meters) traveled, depending on the complexity of the route. If you find yourself at the end of a long, winding driveway, narrow alley, or tight road without room to turn around, the system can reverse the GLC electric along the same path it came.

      The vehicle automatically records and retains the driven path, meaning the driver doesn't have to activate anything. It's purely short-term memory stored locally within the vehicle, not in the cloud. To utilize the system, the driver simply needs to shift the GLC electric into reverse and press the "start reversing" button on the touchscreen to engage the feature.

      The car maneuvers in reverse using the electric power steering system while the driver manages the throttle and brakes. Notably, the vehicle is limited in speed, only allowing it to reverse a few mph, regardless of how far the accelerator is pressed.

      During the reverse sequence, a translucent green line is displayed on the touchscreen, illustrating the path the GLC electric is retracing.

      Mercedes indicated that this function uses the cameras, sonar, and radar sensors already installed in the GLC electric. Essentially, the automaker has built upon the existing safety hardware to introduce this new capability.

      BMW offers a comparable function that can normally remember up to about 164 feet of driven distance (50 meters), and with the Parking Assistant Professional option, this can extend to roughly 656 feet (200 meters). Similarly, Porsche has implemented a function on the Macan Electric that can retrace up to about 160 feet (50 meters) of driving.

      This is a convenient feature, likely beneficial for many, especially in long, winding, narrow driveways during nighttime. As tested in Portugal, the system operated nearly flawlessly, making only one error, although it is still in final testing, and Mercedes has not provided a timeline for when the feature will officially launch.

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