Mercedes-Benz’s first ever electric SUV coming mid-2019
This is the EQC – the first pure-electric car from Mercedes-Benz to go into series production.
It’s also the first of up to ten new all-electric models promised by Merc before 2025 and it’ll face some fierce rivals, such as the Tesla Model X and Jaguar I-Pace, when it goes on sale halfway through 2019.
The five-seat EQC SUV is based around a heavily modified version of the GLC platform and takes more than its fair share of styling cues from the early Generation EQ concept, seen in 2016.
It adopts the same general shape of that concept and stretches for 4,761mm by 1,884mm wide and stands at 1,324mm tall. Compared to the GLC, this makes the EQC 105mm longer and 315mm lower, whilst retaining the 2,873mm wheelbase.
Forming the powertrain are two asynchronous motors providing all-wheel drive and a power output of 300kW – the equivalent to 402bhp. This is enough to get the 2,425kg car up to 62mph from a standstill in 5.1 seconds, with a capped top speed of 111mph.
All this makes it more powerful, but heavier, than Jaguar’s I-Pace (395bhp, 2,130kg).
The EQC’s 80kWh lithium-ion battery is able to provide enough electric juice for more than 279 miles, Mercedes says.
Inside, Merc has essentially updated the GLC’s interior with a newly-designed dashboard, digital instrument and infotainment panel, reworking the ventilation units and adding a new multi-function steering wheel with touch pads within the horizontal spokes.
Dieter Zetsche, chief executive of Mercedes-Benz Cars, revealed that the marque is investing more than ten billion euros into expanding its EQ model range.
“With the EQC, we are flipping the switch. Electric drive is a major component in the mobility of the future,” he commented.
What do you think of Merc’s first pure-electric effort? Let us know down in the comments.
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