Mercedes-Benz has introduced the Concept EQA, a compact coupe-style crossover that features two electric motors, a variable drivetrain, permanent all-wheel drive, and a Sensual Purity design motif. This all-electric concept has a range of up to 400 km (249 miles) per charge. Those headlights, though ...
The Mercedes-Benz Concept EQA might have an innovative electric powertrain and some cool AWD control for varied driving conditions, but it's the headlamps that really grab the attention. The LED headlights on the Concept EQA have a spiral shape that mesmerizes. They dominate the front end of the EQA without being the largest or most pronounced design element.
Surrounding those headlamps are more typical Mercedes design elements, including diamond-shaped grille edges, the large Mercedes-Benz three-point emblem, and a lower bumper-defining swoosh on the fascia. With the Concept EQA, however, these elements are purely aesthetic and are made up of both body shaping and lighting.
Just about everything on the Mercedes-Benz Concept EQA lights up, actually. The front grille surround, Mercedes emblem, daytime running light edges, lower fascia accent, the side body panel edge to define the running board, rear fascia surround, and the rear tail lamps that run the width of the vehicle are all lit up. Most of these non-essential lights change color to match the driving dynamic of the driver-selected mode. All are laser-activated LED lights.
Underpinning all of this lighting is an innovative electric powertrain. It is based on the new EQ platform debuted with the Generation EQ in Paris last year. The Mercedes-Benz Concept EQA has an electric motor on each axle with a total system output of up to more than 200 kW (268 horsepower) and over 368 pound-feet (499 Nm) of torque. Batteries in the EQA are scalable and the drivetrain operates in permanent all-wheel drive.
The lithium-ion batteries powering the Concept EQA are made by Deutsche ACCUMOTIVE, a subsidiary of Daimler. They are modular in design, allowing the EQA to have over 60 kWh of capacity on board. Charging is via induction or wallbox and plug, and the EQA is rapid-charge ready.
Mercedes says that the Concept EQA can leap from zero to 60 mph (92 km/h) in about five seconds. Total range for the car is about 400 km (249 miles) and with rapid charging, the car can be charged to a range of about 100 km (62 miles) in less than 10 minutes.
The Mercedes-Benz Concept EQA is designed for sporty performance. Low-slung batteries keep the center of gravity low, and axle-variable torque distribution in AWD give a strong driving performance dynamic. Two driver-selectable drive options, Sport and Sport Plus, offer different front to rear torque distribution for varied performance characteristics.
The Mercedes-Benz Concept EQA is on display in Frankfurt, Germany for the International Motor Show (IAA).
Source: Mercedes-Benz
