Mercedes-Benz has announced that the landmark Vision EQXX concept car will be shown to the public on January 3, setting the technical tone for the marque's next-generation production EVs. The brand describes it as "a symbol of our ambition to create the most efficient car”. The EQXX has been previewed as a futuristic and heavily streamlined design study that could offer heavy clues as to what to expect from future production cars.
- Mercedes is targeting a real-world range of over 1,000km with the EQXX
- Cell density in battery pack of EQXX is 20 percent higher than on the EQS
- Previews technology and features for future Mercedes-Benz models
Mercedes-Benz EQXX: what is it?
Mercedes has confirmed that it is targeting a real-world range of over 1,000km and a consumption rating of over 9.6km per kWh. Previously, it suggested the 'compact-class' EQXX would have the "longest electric range" and "highest efficiency" of any EV yet produced.
The headline claim made of the prototype at a strategy conference last year was that it will be capable of travelling from Beijing to Shanghai – over 1,200km – on a single charge. Mercedes-Benz emphasises that the range has not been achieved simply by using a larger battery pack, and that the unit used in the EQXX will appear in a future compact model.
The EQXX development team includes experts from Mercedes-Benz’s F1 High Performance Powertrain division (HPP), hinting at the concept's top-rung performance potential.
"Today, we at Mercedes-Benz – as well as the entire automotive industry – must completely reimagine the car in the context of electromobility,” said Mercedes-Benz COO Markus Schäfer. “The automobile as we have come to know it till now has been the product of 130 years of continuous development. What we have achieved so far has been amazing, but progress with electric cars must move faster – much faster."
He added that it is "more than a show car", hinting at the production applications of the technology and features it will showcase. The cell density of its battery pack, for example, has increased by 20 percent over that of the Mercedes EQS and is set to improve upon the latter’s once record-breaking drag coefficient of 0.20Cd.
Mercedes-Benz: electrification strategy going forward
Mercedes-Benz recently made a number of headline announcements regarding its accelerated transition to electrification. Next year onwards, it will offer a fully electric model in every segment, and from 2025 every model sold will be offered with a pure-electric model. The same year, Mercedes-Benz will also launch three bespoke new EV architectures for use across its entire product portfolio: MB.EA for midsized and large passenger cars, AMG.EA for performance models and Van.EA for commercial vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz also committed to building eight new battery factories worldwide – of which four will be in Europe – and that investment in combustion engines will fall by 80 percent by 2026, compared to 2019 levels.
Mercedes-Benz in India
Mercedes-Benz recently launched the AMG A45 S hot hatchback, making it the most expensive and most powerful hatchback to ever go on sale here. The hatchback also holds the distinction of being powered by the world’s most powerful 2.0-litre petrol engine. But petrol-power aside, Mercedes-Benz has ambitious electrification plans for its India line-up as well. The carmaker already has the EQC on sale and it is now looking to bring the EQS and EQE sedans to India sometime next year as fully built imports.
What do you think about Mercedes’ EQXX Concept? Do you think it will set a new benchmark for EVs across the world? Let us know in the comments below.
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