After a series of teaser games, Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the wraps off its first ever fully electric car EQC. The EQC will be a product of the sub-brand of Mercedes, ‘EQ’- which is created for the development and production of electric vehicles.
Mercedes hasn’t tried to make an extraordinary effort to come up with a revolutionary new design for the car. Instead, they have continued with what is working already. The EQC has a silhouette like the other Merc SUVs with a character of its own. The front of the car has fiber optic lights which effectively connect the LED headlights.
The big three-pointed star is hosted at the middle of the grille surrounded by chrome linings. The DRLs have an all-new shape that makes the crossover stand-out. The space between the grille and the bumper is filled with a glossy black finish and flows from end to end connecting both the headlamps. The vents in the front fenders give the EQC a rugged front look.
If you look from the side, it would be tough to distinguish the electric crossover from its liquid-powered brother GLC as the roofline floats to the rear. Mercedes has eliminated roof-rails from the car claiming that it will increase the aerodynamics of the crossover. The EQC sits on lightweight and aerodynamically optimized alloys available in a size range from 19 to 21 inches.
The rear has been kept simple with very little detailing. It gets a tailgate-mounted spoiler and sleek LED taillights which are connected with each other through a full-width LED strip. At the bottom, EQC gets a black bumper with chrome lining trying to fake the exhaust tips.
The similarity to Mercedes family continues inside the cabin too with a three-spoke steering wheel and two 10.25-inch displays covering the dash. One of the differential design elements is the rosé-gold colors louvers in the air vents. Another unique feature is the metallic ribs which are reminiscent of those found on “high-quality music amplifiers.” The ribbed pattern wraps around the entire dashboard and continues onto the doors.
Like all the other Mercedes models, the EQC will also be available in an AMG avatar. The AMG Line Exterior features a single bar grille, a sportier front bumper, and specially designed 20- or 21-inch AMG wheels. It will also get a unique rear end with an integrated diffuser.
The AMG touch will be seen inside the cabin also as it includes a flat-bottom steering wheel and brushed stainless steel pedals. The package will also add faux-leather / microfiber seats and AMG floor mats. However, customers will have the option of ordering real leather seats and faux carbon fiber trim as well. Additionally, there’s an Electric Art package which adds rosé-gold accents to the interior.
Coming to the powertrain, EQC has electric motors that power each axle, producing a combined output of 402 hp and 765 Nm of torque. This helps the crossover to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds before hitting a limited top speed of 180 km/h. Though it has an all-wheel-drive system, EQC drives as a front-wheel drive at low and medium demand conditions to improve efficiency.
Under the hood, the EQC packs an 80 kWh lithium-ion battery pack which gives the crossover the power to travel more than 450 km in a single charge. The EQC by default comes with a water-cooled onboard charger that has a capacity of 7.4 kW. Owners looking for a quick charge can use the Mercedes-Benz Wallbox which is three times faster than a regular power socket. Mercedes claims that the battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in approximately 40 minutes.
With the new EQC, Mercedes-Benz has fully jumped into the electric vehicle era. But, before they finish the celebration, there is already a competition arriving pretty soon. Audi is all set to launch its electric SUV E-Tron later this month. In fact, the company has already started its production.
Photos and video courtesy: Mercedes-Benz
