New electric Mercedes EQC SUV revealed with 280-mile range
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The 402bhp Mercedes EQC SUV will make its public debut at Paris, and will head a new pure electric range when it arrives in late 2019
This is the all-new Mercedes EQC, the German manufacturer’s first purely electric model and a rival for the Tesla Model X and Jaguar I-Pace, as well as the forthcoming Audi e-tron.
Revealed ahead of a public debut at next month’s Paris Motor Show, the EQC is a 4.7-metre-long, five-seat SUV. It’s slightly lengthier than the I-Pace, but its wheelbase is around 11cm shorter than the Jag’s, at 2,873mm. As with most of its rivals, the EQC is based on a bespoke pure-electric, scalable platform that will ultimately support a family of models.
The looks of the EQC are arguably more conventional than those of the Model X and I-Pace, although there are still more than enough design touches to highlight its alternative powertrain.
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A grille has been kept at the front end, but it has a solid black section that runs between the headlight units, along the lower edge of the bumper. This panel also has a line of optical fibre at the top, which is designed to emit light, that joins the daytime running lights.
The EQC’s side profile is similar to that of the firm’s current small family SUV, the GLC, especially around the C-pillar, and the slab-bladed alloy wheels are another hint at the car’s eco-focus. The rear end mixes some cues from recent conventional models, such as the A-Class, with a tail-light design that runs across the hatchback panel.
The model in the initial images is badged EQC 400 – a hint that there are likely to be variants within the line-up, offering different power outputs and ranges. Inside, the standout feature is MBUX, the dashboard layout that was introduced on the recent A-Class. It combines a fully-digital instrument cluster with an ultra-wide infotainment display in what looks like a single, slim panel running across the top of the facia.
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This system incorporates eco-optimised navigation, which calculates the fastest route including charging time, as well as specific voice control commands that are unique to the EQ.
Smartphone connectivity will be offered via the ‘Mercedes me’ app, allowing the owner to check charge levels and pre-set the vehicle’s climate control so it is cooled or heated prior to use.
There’s also a charging app which the marque claims will give access to stations from a variety of providers, including those in other countries, and offer an integrated payment function. Mercedes has not issued details on the scope of the service, however.