EQC is the first of ten all-electric vehicles from Mercedes-Benz before 2025.
With every automaker switching to the greener side, it’s Mercedes-Benz which revealed its first all-electric SUV called EQC. The EQC is heavily based on the GLC which is a five-seater SUV. The design is drawn from the EQ Concept first shown in 2016. When launched it will go against the Tesla Model X, Jaguar I-Pace and Audi E-Tron Quattro.
The EQC retains the silhouette of the concept version but gets some changes in the front section. EQC is longer by 105 mm and sits 315 mm lower to the standard GLC. The EQC also get a 500 litres of luggage space which is 79 litres more than the GLC. The cabin includes a refreshing design along with a digital instrument and infotainment panel. The steering wheel now houses touch pads and multifunction keys.
The EQC gets an all-new drivetrain which is developed for the future of all EQ range of vehicles from the house of Mercedes-Benz. The EQC gets two motors which are differently configured for both front and rear wheels. The motor for the front wheels is efficiently tuned for low to mid load range whereas the rear is biased towards performance, giving emphasis on mid to high load range. The combined motors deliver an output of 407 HP and 765 Nm of torque. Even after a kerb weight of 2425 kgs, the EQC does 0-100 km/hr in just 5.1 seconds. However, the top speed is limited to 180 km/hr.
The energy to power the motors will be generated by a 80 kWh lithium-ion battery weighing 650 kgs. The claimed range of 450 kms on the NEDC test cycle and 400 kms on WLTP cycle translates a real world range of around 320 kms. The 7.4 kW charger onboard allows AC charging from regular mains and public charging station. But DC charging on EQC takes 40 minutes for charge up to 110 kW. The production of EQC will be done at Mercedes’ Bremen plant in Germany along with a joint-venture factory in Beijing, China. The price is expected to be around Rs. 62 lakhs without any taxes and duties. The right-hand drive market will get their deliveries at the beginning of the third quarter of 2019 but there is no word on India launch yet.
Mercedes-Benz EQC
– First all-electric SUV from Mercedes-Benz
– Production will be done in Germany and China
– Not to be launched in India anytime in the near future
