It was only a matter of time, but Mercedes-Benz have finally whipped the covers off their highly anticipated ECQ crossover — the brand's first fully electric car.
Is the futuristic look appears familiar, that's because it's an evolution of the recent Mercedes EQ Concept, only with a more production-friendly face.
One of the most interesting design elements is the lack of roof rails. Mercedes say that this was a deliberate ploy to reduce drag and subsequently improve aerodynamics and economy — so owners might need to get creative when taking their canoes, eight-piece luggage set, and kitchen sink out to the wops.
In terms of power, the EQC features an electric motor for each axle (all-wheel drive, with a heavy front-wheel drive bias).
These motors are linked to an 80kWh battery pack. Together, they create 300kW of power and 765Nm of torque. It will hit 100km/h in 5.1-seconds, on its way to a top speed of 180km/h.
Perhaps more important for likely SUV buyers is range, and the EQC delivers a claimed 450km range. That's more than a Tesla Model X 75D, but less than the 75D's P100D big brother, as well as Jaguar's I-Pace.
Charging takes place via a water-cooled onboard 7.4kW-capacity charger. Mercedes haven't gone into deep detail on charging times, but have said in their release that a wall-charger unit will be able to take charge from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in an impressive 40 minutes.
As you might be able to tell from the imagery, two versions of the EQC have been revealed here; the standard variant and the AMG variant. The latter adds in traditional multi-spoke AMG wheels, a single-bar grill, and unique bumpers and side skirts.
It also means change inside, where the cabin gains a flat-bottom steering wheel, and I-can't-believe-its-not-leather leather and suede seats (actual leather seats are on the options list, of course).
The rest of the interior by and large looks like something that wouldn't be out of place in the current Merc line-up. There are two large 10.25-inch displays, wrapped in a sea of piano black plastic and aluminium. Wood trim is on the options list, as is a Burmester sound system.
In terms of release dates and times, Mercedes-Benz have remained tight-lipped. Don't expect to see these make an appearance at your local dealerships this year, as 2019 debut seems more likely.
Pricing (foreign and domestic) is also still to be confirmed, but we'll keep you posted when it eventually hits the airwaves.
