Mercedes-Benz EQC to be revealed today

The Mercedes-Benz EQC has been shown from the front in new preview videos released by the brand, ahead of an official reveal today. The first public outing of the all-electric SUV is expected to take place at the upcoming Paris motor show, given the timing of the preview, although Stockholm is where the car will be initially unveiled later this evening.

The Mercedes-Benz EQC has now been revealed. Click here to read our full story

In a series of videos released by the brand, the car's front and rear light bars are shown - the latter being a trend sweeping across the industry on many major SUVs, from the Kia Sportage to the Porsche Cayenne. The front light bar, including lighting above the Mercedes grille, is a less common feature. Also shown in a new clip is the car's dashboard, with its MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system carried over from the new A-Class.

Mercedes-Benz has followed in Audi's footsteps by using development cars for its upcoming EQC as rolling billboards for its electric programme, the progress of which is being highlighted with striking new camouflage and a social media hashtag: #switchtoEQ.

Mercedes' first stand-alone electric car will arrive after its archrivals, including Tesla's Model X, Jaguar's I-Pace and Audi's soon-to-arrive E-tron — the latter of employing a similar strategy of test car-based promotion. 

The new SUV, which is due for reveal next year before arriving on roads in 2020, is slightly larger than the current GLC and was previewed by the EQ concept at the 2016 Paris motor show.

That car used a twin-motor powertrain that delivered more than 400bhp, suggesting the EQC could be more potent than even the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43, which has 362bhp.

Built on a newly developed Electric Vehicle Architecture platform constructed from a combination of hot-formed high-strength steel and aluminium, the EQC uses a new wiring loom that enables its driveline to send up to 100% of torque to the front or rear wheels.

The loom essentially takes the place of a propeller shaft between the two motors, which are located on each axle, but negates the need of a shaft tunnel in the floor, thereby improving interior space.

The flat floor that holds the EQC’s lithium ion batteries can clearly be seen on the development car, which has smooth lower sections to the side sills. The weight of the batteries is likely to ensure the EQC tips the scales at around 2000kg, but the torque of the electric motors should mean straight-line performance will be comparable to lighter models.

A 0-62mph time of less than five seconds is predicted, meaning the EQC will almost certainly be as quick as the GLC 43. Conversely, when driven in a less sporting manner, the car is expected to have a range of more than 310 miles on a single charge — this would align the model with the Audi E-Tron and Jaguar I-Pace. Tesla claims the Model X can eke out up to 351 miles on one charge.

The Mercedes-Benz EQC has now been revealed. Click here to read our full story

Although heavily camouflaged, the development EQC’s design links with the GLC are obvious. Mercedes designers have chosen not to give the brand’s first purpose-built EV a new look that flaunts its zero-emission credentials, but rather to match its design closely to the rest of Mercedes' SUV line-up.