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The Mercedes-Benz Concept EQ Showcase + Test Drive!

Mercedes-Benz showed off their Concept EQ SUV crossover at an exclusive media event. They even took it out for a short test drive, and let us have a close-up look. Here is our extensive coverage of this fully-electric concept vehicle!

 

The Mercedes-Benz Concept EQ Showcase

Mercedes-Benz will market future battery-electric vehicles under the brand name EQ, which stands for “Electric Intelligence” and is derived from the Mercedes-Benz brand values of “Emotion and Intelligence”.

The close-to-production concept vehicle Concept EQ marks the launch of an architecture for battery-electric vehicles across all models. Who better to explain its key features than Mark Raine of Mercedes-Benz?

New Electro Look

The Mercedes-Benz Concept EQ combines elements of an SUV with the character of a coupé, with a new electro-look – a gleaming black bonnet with a dark-tinted panoramic roof, that contrast strikingly against the alubeam silver paintwork.

The concealed windscreen wipers, cameras instead of exterior mirrors and an absence of conventional door handles, emphasise its stretched silhouette. The “Black Panel” front grille features illuminated LED optical fibres in electric blue, with matching rear lamps.

Driver-Oriented Cockpit

The driver-oriented cockpit is based on simple, touch-based controls with a new electro-look. The asymmetrical design of the instrument panel with its large, floating wide-screen display gives us a peek into the future of driver interface at Mercedes-Benz.

As the Concept EQ is devoid of conventional exterior mirrors, cameras are used to project an image of the traffic behind onto integrated displays in the doors. Both the door openers and the electric window lifters are also touch-controlled.

Avant-Garde Interior

Concept EQ comes with four individual seats, with a tailored sound experience is provided by speakers integrated into the head restraints. The side bolsters are covered in light-white leather, and rose gold pixel rain perforations. TFT monitors are integrated into the front backrests for rear-seat entertainment.

Concept EQ Power + Range

The Concept EQ is powered by two electric motors on the front and rear axles, and a lithium-ion battery embedded in the floor. With a total output of up to 300 kW in the most powerful variant, and a maximum torque of up to 700 Newton metres, Concept EQ accelerates to 100 km/h in under five seconds.

Unfortunately, Mercedes-Benz did not demonstrate the power of the electric drive in their test drive. In this video, you can see the Mercedes team took the Concept EQ for a spin at a sedate pace.

All that performance is useless without a powerful battery. The Concept EQ comes with a 70 kWh battery that gives it a range of up to 500 kilometres, as well as the latest-generation charging technologies.

It is ready for charging at home by induction or a plug point, as well as fast charging using the Combined Charging System (CCS). This European charging standard allows for fast charging with a far greater capacity than at present.

Currently, charging capacities from 50 up to sometimes 150 kW are possible. In the medium to long term, a charging capacity of even up to 300 kW is planned. This would enable sufficient power for 100 locally emission-free kilometres to be recharged within five minutes.

Driver Assistance Systems

The Concept EQ also features the latest driver assistance systems from Mercedes-Benz.

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Using highly accurate maps from HERE, it is aware of the precise curve radii as well as the position and size of a roundabout. This allows the Concept EQ to automatically adjust the speed and driving dynamics to give the driver even greater comfort and relaxation.

The Concept EQ is equipped with Car-to-X technology and can exchange information with the infrastructure and other vehicles, thus taking a further step in the direction of accident prevention. It is also helpful for the driver to be informed about nearby recharging opportunities.

As soon as Concept EQ realises that the destination cannot be reached on the available battery charge, it advises the driver of appropriate options on the navigation map.

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