The first installment of Mercedes' all-electric EQ range has been spotted undergoing cold weather testing in disguise. The EQC, an electric SUV with a range of around 250 miles, is expected to debut in 2019.
The first concept car for the German carmaker's EV and hybrid sub-brand, the EQ Concept, was shown at the Paris Motor Show back in 2016. The SUV is the first of ten pure electric Mercedes models slated to arrive before 2025, with the company registering various EQ-prefixed model names over the last few years.
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As the camouflaged prototype suggests, the production EQC's styling has been toned down a little for market release. But it still retains the unusually low stance for an SUV, necessary to keep a smooth aerodynamic profile to boost range. The imposing front-end, intricate headlights and sloping roofline remain intact, too.
As Merc's R&D head told Auto Express last year, the range target for the EQC is around 300 miles from its lithium-ion battery pack. Two electric motors, one mounted on each axle, will produce a total output of 300kW (402bhp), while the 0-62mph time is estimated at around five seconds. It sits on a bespoke electrified platform, sharing very little with similarly-sized SUVs such as the GLE and GLC.
If the concept we drove last year is anything to go by, we can expect an interior that borrows technology and features from the E-Class and S-Class models. A more futuristic design will be used, however, while colour-changing ambient lighting could help illustrate powertrain modes and charge status. We've no doubt that the EQC will also feature Merc's latest autonomous driving functionality when it arrives in showrooms before the decade is out.
What are your first impressions of the Mercedes EQC as it undergoes testing? Let us know what you think below...
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