Mercedes is gearing up for the debut of their first
fully electric SUV in September, the 2019 EQ C. The electric SUV will rival the
also upcoming Audi E-Tron.
The Mercedes EQ C will be the first model under the
EQ brand, which will serve as the EV division of Daimler. The German
manufacturer has invested heavily in EV technologies and plans to launch four
electric models in the near future: the EQ C, the EQ E, the EQ S and the compact
EQ A.
In addition, Smart will stop offering its models
with internal combustion engines and brand its electric offerings as Smart EQ.
Michael Kelz, the chief engineer of the 2019 Mercedes EQ C, took Jonny Smith of
Fully Charged for a ride in a late prototype, revealing along the way their
approach to the EV revolution.
Daimler’s main goal was to make their first electric
SUV as quiet as possible for maximum comfort and hone its chassis with a fun to
drive character that’s usually reserved for models like the CLS.
In terms of size, the EQ C is close to the GLC but
rides on a longer wheelbase that’s comparable to that of an E-Class. Mercedes
expects a total driving range of around 50 0km, with the EQ C to
feature a battery pack with a capacity of “around 70kWh” and a 0-100 km/h in around 5 seconds.
