Mercedes-Benz EQC revealed

Mercedes-Benz unveils the first product from its all-electric EQ sub-brand.

The first product from Mercedes-Benz’s all-electric division is out. Dubbed the EQC, the new SUV is Mercedes’s first purely electric vehicle, and it’s going to take the fight against the Tesla Model X, Jaguar I-Pace and Audi’s upcoming e-tron. The eco-friendly battle between these heavyweights, however, will only commence next year, as the EQC will make its market debut in 2019.

Unlike its conventional internal-combustion-engine-powered siblings, the EQC is based on an all-new scalable platform that’s specifically developed for Mercedes’s all-electric EQ range of vehicles. Having said that, the platform also shares some elements from Mercedes’s MRA platform, and as a result, the EQC shares a few similarities with the GLC. For instance, its silhouette reminds you of the GLC, and wheelbases of both cars are nearly identical. The overall dimensions are also more or less similar.

Apart from the side-profile though, the EQC’s design takes a clean departure from the GLC. The front fascia dons a thick black grille – or a large black panel, as it’s not functional here – that runs between the LED headlamps. There’s also an optical fibre on top that works as daytime running lights. At the back, the tail-lamps look familiar to current Mercedes-Benz SUVs, albeit a strip connects both units. Apart from this, the EQC will be offered with 19-, 20- or 21-inch alloy wheels at the time of the launch.

Inside, the interior follows a minimalistic approach with limited buttons and knobs. The dashboard is dominated by a large all-digital display – made of two 10.25-inch screens that work as instrument cluster and infotainment system. There’s a touchpad in the centre, and it comes with rose-gold accents along with blue backlighting.

The EQC is an all-wheel-drive electric SUV – it features two asynchronous motors, one on each axle. Mercedes claims the total output of the system is 402bhp along with a peak torque of 765Nm. Performance is electrifying as result – 0-100km/h is done in 5.1 seconds, despite the fact that it weighs 2,425kg! Speaking of weight, it’s partly down to its 80kWh battery pack that alone weighs 650kg. However, the upside is that it offers a range of around 450km.

Production of the EQC will begin in 2019 at the company’s plant in Bremen, Germany. The EQC will go on sale in European markets first, around mid-2019.