Automotive

Mercedes reveals its play for mainstream EV success in Paris

Mercedes reveals its play for mainstream EV success in Paris
The Generation EQ's design will carry over to future Mercedes vehicles
The Generation EQ's design will carry over to future Mercedes vehicles
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The Generation EQ launched at the Paris Motor Show
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The Generation EQ launched at the Paris Motor Show
The EQ has a 500 km range
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The EQ has a 500 km range 
The wheels on the Generation EQ are pure concept car theater, but preview the future of three-pointed star electric cars
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The wheels on the Generation EQ are pure concept car theater, but preview the future of three-pointed star electric cars
The light signature on the Generation EQ will inform the design of Mercedes' future EVs
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The light signature on the Generation EQ will inform the design of Mercedes' future EVs
Mercedes used the Paris Motor Show to unveil the first step into its electric future
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Mercedes used the Paris Motor Show to unveil the first step into its electric future
It was almost impossible to get a good look at the Generation EQ
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It was almost impossible to get  a good look at the Generation EQ
The Generation EQ's design will carry over to future Mercedes vehicles
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The Generation EQ's design will carry over to future Mercedes vehicles
The blue mood lighting on the Generation EQ can be tweaked
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The blue mood lighting on the Generation EQ can be tweaked 
The Generation EQ will hit 100 km/h in less than five seconds
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The Generation EQ will hit 100 km/h in less than five seconds
The Generation EQ uses a 70 kWh battery to manage a 500 km range
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The Generation EQ uses a 70 kWh battery to manage a 500 km range
The car is definitely a Mercedes, but it's also different to the current range of cars
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The car is definitely a Mercedes, but it's also different to the current range of cars
Induction charging will feature on the new Generation EQ
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Induction charging will feature on the new Generation EQ
The wheels on the Generation EQ are copper, one of the touches that usually features on the Mercedes concept cars
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The wheels on the Generation EQ are copper, one of the touches that usually features on the Mercedes concept cars
Plugged in, the car will hopefully charge around 20 percent in around 5 minutes
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Plugged in, the car will hopefully charge around 20 percent in around 5 minutes
Just in case you weren't sure what each pedal does
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Just in case you weren't sure what each pedal does
The cabin is light and airy
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The cabin is light and airy
Once again, the colors of the lighting can be tweaked
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Once again, the colors of the lighting can be tweaked
The 24-inch display handles speed and infotainment
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The 24-inch display handles speed and infotainment 
The car's cabin previews Mercedes' EV cabins of the future
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The car's cabin previews Mercedes' EV cabins of the future
Touch control features on the steering wheel
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Touch control features on the steering wheel
The devil is in the detail with these concept cars
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The devil is in the detail with these concept cars
Touch controls abound in the Generation EQ
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Touch controls abound in the Generation EQ
The thin-spoked wheel also uses touch controls
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The thin-spoked wheel also uses touch controls
The Generation EQ has a traditional silhouette, but a totally new face for Mercedes
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The Generation EQ has a traditional silhouette, but a totally new face for Mercedes
The black hood and glass roof are both concept touches that might make it to production
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The black hood and glass roof are both concept touches that might make it to production
Just in case you're not sure, blue=efficiency in all these concept cars...
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Just in case you're not sure, blue=efficiency in all these concept cars...
The slim lights will become a staple of Mercedes design
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The slim lights will become a staple of Mercedes design
View gallery - 27 images

This year's Paris Motor Show is all about electric mobility, with a real focus on bringing battery-powered cars to the masses. Along with Volkswagen, Mercedes used the 2016 Mondial l'Automobile to uncover its big production electric vehicle. Even though it has a fairly regular SUV silhouette, the Generation EQ debuts a new platform for the three-pointed star, and will be on the market in 2020.

As well as forming the base for a new SUV, the smart, modular platform underpinning the Generation EQ allows the wheelbase and track to be adapted to suit a full family of battery electric vehicles. That family will share the EQ name with the car launched in Paris, along with its new face and design language.

Let's forget about the building blocks for a minute, though, because the finished product looks pretty good to us. With 300 kW (402 hp) of power and a whopping 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque from its electric motor, Mercedes says it'll hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than five seconds. Thanks to a 70-kWh lithium-battery developed along with a Daimler subsidiary company, range is pegged at 500 km (311 mi). That's Tesla P100D territory, but the lighter Mercedes needs far less battery capacity to achieve the same result.

It was almost impossible to get a good look at the Generation EQ
It was almost impossible to get  a good look at the Generation EQ

When the battery does go flat, owners will be able to top up using an induction charger, a wall box or a fast charger. At the moment, there's no word on how long it will take to fully charge, but Mercedes is hoping fast charging technology will advance to the point where 300-kW chargers allow drivers to add 100 km (62 mi) to the car's range in just 5 minutes.

As well as forming a base for Mercedes' electric future, the Generation EQ will be loaded with a full range of active safety features. Along with current features like auto-emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, you can expect to see it push the limits when it comes to autonomous driving.

There are no details about exactly how it will do that, beyond a promise it will use "the intelligent combination of data from different sensors," but always "under the premise of safety and in compliance with the statutory regulations." You can also be sure Mercedes will do everything it can to make sure the Generation EQ is up to speed with its competitors in the automated driving stakes.

The car's cabin previews Mercedes' EV cabins of the future
The car's cabin previews Mercedes' EV cabins of the future

Although details about its autonomous driving systems are thin on the ground, the Generation EQ's styling is a clear indication of what future electric Mercedes offerings will look like. Although it runs with a fairly traditional silhouette, the grille-free front end and slim lighting give the car a look that while definitely related to the rest of the Mercedes range, is also unique. Judging by the massive crowd clamoring to get a look, the new design is a winner.

Opening the door reveals a cabin that, although showy, isn't necessarily too far from being production ready. The driver is faced with a 24-inch display responsible for speed and infotainment, and the steering wheel and center console uses touch controls, technology which currently features on the E-Class.

The concept's light bars and instrument panel both change color based on the driver's mood, a feature that has featured on countless concept cars but never ends up making it to production in a meaningful, useful way.

Mercedes says the Generation EQ will be on the market in 2020 when we'll learn just how much carries over from the concept car's design.

Take a closer look at the Generation EQ in the video below:

Concept EQ: Mobility Revisited | Trailer

Source: Daimler

View gallery - 27 images
2 comments
2 comments
mhpr262
What looks worse than a fake grille on an EV? A fake LUMINESCENT grille ...
GlassHalfEmpty
"That's Tesla P100D territory, but the lighter Mercedes needs far less battery capacity to achieve the same result."
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Lets see is Merc can actually achieve it.