At last year’s Frankfurt Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz presented its first take at the electric hatch back segment of the market with the presentation of the EQA concept. Not a year has passed, and the electric Merc is shown cruising on the tarmac.
On Monday, Mercedes-Benz released a video showing the EQA while trying the roads in Sicily. And it also shows a possible production version that comes with cameras instead of mirrors, blue LED lighting all around and a dark panel instead of the radiator grille.
The car seen in the video is of course still a prototype. Some changes are to be expected for the production version, although we kinda hope they would not be very extensive.
Powering the concept EQA are two electric motors that have a combined output of 200 kW (272 hp) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of maximum torque. Acceleration time from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) is expected to be of just five seconds.
The range of the EQA matches that of all other EVs out there. The batteries are expected to keep the car running for about 400 km (249 miles).
The EQA is expected to join the soon-to-be-born EQ brand of Mercedes cars sometimes in 2020. The EQA will follow the EQC electric crossover that will be based on the Generation EQ Concept and is expected to be launched in 2019.
For the manufacturing of the electric vehicles, Mercedes-Benz kicked off earlier this year the third largest construction project in Germany. To be called Factory 56, the new plant would be the point of origin for electric vehicles from the EQ brand.
The rise of this new brand would be supported by an additional facility, that in Hambach, France, where the current smart models are being built.
By 2022, ten electric cars are expected to be launched by the Germans, ranging in size from the tiny smart to large SUVs.
In total, including plug-in hybrids and the introduction of 48-volt systems, the carmaker will have around 130 electrified vehicles in its portfolio.
Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies. Full profile
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