Mercedes just dropped a big hint at its upcoming T-Class people mover in the form of the Concept EQT. And even if small vans aren’t your bag, those EQ letters in the name might be enough to get your attention. It means this petite people mover is battery-powered, and reminds us that Merc’s EQ-badged EV technology isn’t the preserve of luxury sedans and SUVs. The upcoming T-Class is the passenger version of the baby Mercedes van that replaces the current Citan in markets like Europe – although slightly confusingly Benz is retaining the Citan name for commercial versions of the T-Class.
As before it’s based on the Renault
Kangoo, which is on its third incarnation, having been renewed last November.
But the Mercedes design team has ramped up the luxury quotient to make sure no
one will ever mistake you for a French farmer. The bikini bottoms-shaped grille
familiar from the flagship EQS makes an appearance, complete with a bank of
illuminated stars and a very cool set of slim LED headlamps that bleed
backwards into each fender. Moving to the rear, past the flush door handles,
you reach a pair of equally striking LED taillights joined by an illuminated
strip below the rear window.
The 4945mm van has sliding
doors on both sides that open wide enough to let passengers easily reach the
third row of seats, and reveal the concept’s white nappa leather seats and
multifunction steering wheel. Ignore the shiny blue finish around the circular
air vents and console and the interior looks pretty ordinary in the wake of the
EQS and new C-Class. But this is still a commercial vehicle at heart, and it
certainly looks like a nicer place to spend time than the equivalent Renault,
particularly since it runs Merc’s MBUX infotainment software and features a
panoramic sunroof.
Tech details regarding the EV hardware and
cargo capacity are so thin they’re practically invisible, but Mercedes confirms
the T-class will definitely get an EV option alongside traditional gasoline and
diesel options.
And if it gets the same EV tech as the
Kangoo E-TECH revealed last month we can expect a 44 kWh battery giving a WLTP
driving range of 165 miles in the Citan commercial, but it is possible Mercedes
will provide a bigger battery for the family-focused T-class. And if you’re
still happy smoking fossil fuels, there’ll likely be a choice of 1.3-liter
gasoline and 1.5-liter diesels, both made by Renault.
Neither will get pulse racing, but
Mercedes has thought of that. Though it didn’t supply any pictures, the Concept
apparently comes with an electric longboard stashed beneath a plexiglass lid
under the load floor.
