Mercedes-Benz has debuted its all-new electric crossover in Sweden.
It’s been over 130 years since Karl Benz created the first gasoline-powered car. Now, after all that time, Mercedes-Benz is taking the wraps off its first mainstream all-electric vehicle: the 2020 EQC crossover. The crossover – and the EQ sub-brand it represents – is just the first example of what will, eventually, become a full range of vehicles. Building an electric vehicle also pitches one of the world’s oldest car companies against one of the newest: Tesla.
The Mercedes-Benz EQC‘s family line is tough to miss thanks to the large three-pointed star on the front. However, the rest of the car is a major styling departure from the current SUV lineup we know. Interestingly, despite being an all-electric car, it still has a grille. Mercedes-Benz elected to ditch the smooth front end from the concept vehicle.
More than 400 horsepower and 200 miles of range
What about the performance? Mercedes-Benz is building the 2020 EQC with two electric motors. The front motor, per Mercedes, “is optimized for best possible efficiency in the low to medium load range.” The rear motor, on the other hand, is tuned more toward performance. Together, the 2020 EQC manages 402 horsepower and 564 lb-ft of torque. All that torque, of course, comes on the instant the driver presses the throttle. It is speed-limited to 112 mph, but it will get there in an estimated 4.9 seconds.
Mercedes fitted the 2020 EQC with an 80 kWh lithium-ion battery pack – enough to sustain the car for up to 200 miles. When it does run out, owners can charge up their EQCs at fast chargers up to 110 kW. On a fast charger, the battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent capacity in about 40 minutes. The Mercedes “me” app also provides access to climate control features, navigation and other services for drivers.
MBUX built in
The 2020 EQC doesn’t offer up the same range as the Tesla Model X (295 miles) or the Jaguar I-Pace (240 miles), but it does pack the sort of tech features you’d expect from a Mercedes. The car’s interior layout mirrors that of the S-Class down through the A-Class. Two digital displays dominate the dashboard and it will feature the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system. The system uses predictive functions to work out what a user wants to do next.
There’s still some time before we’ll see the Mercedes-Benz EQC on our shores. However, Mercedes has mentioned that it will come to the U.S. market in 2020. In the meantime, we should also see a major rival in the Audi e-Tron – set to debut September 17th. Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for more updates!
