The new Mercedes-Benz EQC is a techfest for automotive geeks



No I’m serious. If you actually sat through all of the press release(s), you’d be popping Panadols for days. For every aspect of the car, there was an article with long flowery descriptions but I bit the bullet and read through them and here’s what I filtered out.

Series production of the new Mercedes EQC will start in 2019 at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen where it will be integrated into ongoing series production as a fully electric vehicle. Here’s the gist of what you’d be keen to know about this “Mercedes-Benz” of electric cars, as the boys from Germany put it.

  • The new EQC packs 408 hp and 765 Nm of torque from two electric motors on each axle – one in the front and another in the back – effectively giving the EQC all-wheel drive capabilities. The front electric motor is optimised for efficiency in the low to medium “rev range” while the rear unit is responsible for dynamism.
  • It will go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.1 seconds with a limited top speed of 180 km/h. Driving range is estimated to be more than 450 km. The EQC features five driving programs; COMFORT, ECO, MAX RANGE, SPORT and an individually adaptable program.

  • The driver is also able to influence the recuperation level using so-called paddles behind the steering wheel. The paddle on the left increases the level of recuperation, the paddle on the right reduces it. The following stages are available:

D Auto for recuperation via ECO Assist to suit the situation
D for coasting
D for low recuperation
D for medium recuperation
D for high recuperation where it makes one-pedal driving possible, because in most situations the recuperative deceleration is enough not to require operation of the brake pedal.

  • The lithium-ion batteries consists of 384 cells and is located in the vehicle floor with boot space not affected at 500-litres. It has a 80 kWh capacity to supply the vehicle with power. Under low to medium load conditions, only the front electric motor is operated for efficiency reasons. Maximum recuperative deceleration is achieved by using both electric motors as alternators.

  • As standard the EQC is equipped with a water-cooled onboard charger (OBC) with a capacity of 7.4 kW, making it suitable for AC charging at home or at public charging stations.
  • The EQC is fitted with 19 to 21-inch, aerodynamically enhanced, bicolour light-alloy wheels, which are flush with the wheel arches. Two wheel variants have blue touches on the rim flange or spokes.

  • The Mercedes-Benz EQC is also available in the sporty equipment line AMG Line, with the options of AMG Line Interior and AMG Line Exterior.The EQC with AMG Line Exterior features e.g. an AMG-specific radiator grille and mirror housings in the vehicle colour. It also looks considerably more sporty thanks to a distinctive front apron. A wide rear apron in an AMG design further reinforces this impression. Several new AMG wheel designs in sizes between 20 and 21 inches are available for the EQC.The interior also becomes more sporty with the AMG Line Interior. In addition to a three-spoke AMG multifunction sport steering wheel with flattened lower section, the package includes an AMG sports pedal cluster of brushed stainless steel. The seats are in black ARTICO man-made leather/microfibre, with leather seats and carbon-fibre look trim available as an option. AMG floor mats round off the AMG Line Interior.

  • The instrument panel is designed as a driver-oriented cockpit with its upper section reduced to what is essential. This is where one of the visual highlights of the cockpit is located – a high-tech, high gloss cassette housing flat air vents with key-shaped, rosé-gold coloured louvres. It’s a feature of the new EQ design idiom and is exclusive to this new model.
  • The instrument panel has a metal surrounds that looks like the cooling ribs on a high-quality music amplifier. This design feature is a wrap-around extending into the doors. The simulated, metallic-look ribbed rim continues into the door panels as a design highlight, and has integral mid-range speakers.

  • Dual 10.2-inch displays function as the instrument cluster and infotainment system; where they are housed behind a continuous glass surface to form a large, free-standing screen. There is a touchpad in the centre console to get around the thousands of functions in the car.

  • Mechanical protection of the battery: the high-safety design begins with the installation position of the high-voltage battery beneath the vehicle floor. The energy storage unit is surrounded by a stable frame that can absorb energy. Deformation elements are installed between the frame and the battery, and these are able to absorb additional forces in the event of a severe side impact. A battery guard in the front area of the battery is able to prevent the energy storage unit from being pierced by foreign objects.
    Electrical protection of the high-voltage system: the extensive experience of Mercedes-Benz with high-voltage drive systems has led to a multi-stage safety concept that deploys in the event of an accident. The high-voltage system automatically shuts down, reversibly or irreversibly, according to the severity of the accident. There are also shutdown points where emergency teams can deactivate the high-voltage system manually.

  • With the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX), there are three different options of interior ambience:

Modern Classic is a further development of the classic display style in an elegant and light material mix while Sport has a high-tech turbine look with decidedly sporty black/yellow contrasts.

Electric Art presents its digital look in reduced form, and emotively displays the current state of the e-drive system. The visible colour changes explain and thrill in equal measure. The glass dials change from rosé-gold in Drive mode to white, and to “Electric Blue” during recuperation. The media display clearly presents functional aspects of the energy situation, e.g. the energy flow or the power consumption history.

  • The Pre-entry climate control feature ensures that the cabin is already at the desired preset temperature on departure. It can be programmed directly via MBUX or via the Mercedes me App.

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