Tag Archives: electric
Mercedes-Benz EQC Electric Crossover Unveiled in Stockholm
The Mercedes-Benz EQC is out as its maker just unveiled the electric crossover in its EQC400 4MATIC guise. The launch of the first fully-electric vehicle from the Mercedes EQ sub-brand happened on September 4, 2018, in Stockholm, Germany.
According to Daimler, the Mercedes-Benz EQC400 4MATIC will go on sale in the US in 2020. So what makes it very special? Here’s a rundown of the key features of the EQC EV:
Powertrain
The Mercedes-Benz EQC400 4MATIC is powered by two asynchronous electric motors. The units have a combined output of 402 hp and 564 lb-ft of torque going to all four wheels. The top speed of the EV is electronically limited to 112 mph, and it can accelerate from a standstill to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds.
The EQC400 4MATIC has an electric range of 200 miles at full charge. That’s 100 miles less than the promised range of its concept.
The lithium-ion battery of the EV can store up to 80 kWh. Using a DC fast charger, Mercedes claimed that it only takes 40 minutes to juice up the power of the battery pack from 10 to 80 percent.
Styling
The Mercedes-Benz EQC is classified as a crossover SUV. Shades of the Mercedes-Benz GLC and GLC Coupe can be seen in its design. However, the new EV adopts the new “Progressive Luxury” design language of its maker, which has cleaner and smoother surfaces with well-sculpted panels that are free of the sharp body lines present in the current Mercedes SUVs.
The electric crossover gets rid of the typical roof rails found in modern SUVs in order to maintain its clean look. Meanwhile, going around the vehicle reveals a coupe-like ridge on its roofing that certainly adds to its appeal.
Moreover, the EQC introduces an LED band on top of its radiator grille that also bridges the DRLs and the LED headlamps. A red LED strip running across the liftgate and connecting the taillights can be found on its rear too.
Further adding to its beauty is the set of wheels with blue spokes and rims. The wheels are available in sizes ranging from 19 to 21 inches.
Interior and Tech
The interior of the Mercedes-Benz EQC mirrors the same level of luxury and tech found in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan. Rose gold accents adorn the cabin of the auto while its comfort elements are boosted by its heated leather seats.
The main attraction in the EQC is its twin digital displays. Each screen measures 10.25 inches and joined by a single glass cover. The infotainment system of the EV uses the Mercedes-Benz User Experience or MBUX interface.
In a nutshell, MBUX functions like Siri or Alexa. It carries an artificial intelligence that can recognize and process voice commands. It takes note of the preferences of its user too.
Mercedes-Benz EQC Photos
Feast your eyes on the official photos of the Mercedes-Benz EQC in the gallery below:
Mercedes-Benz EQC Electric Car To Be Revealed on September 4 at 6PM UK Time
Mercedes-Benz is set to unveil its highly-anticipated Mercedes-Benz EQC all-electric car in a grand event in Stockholm at 6PM UK time on Tuesday. Though it won’t go on sale until next year, the German automaker is hoping to wow the industry with its foray into the all-electric realm.
The EQC is a battery electric operated vehicle that signals the first model from EQ, Daimler-owned Mercedes’ new product and technology brand. The company has not released full images of the production version of the vehicle ahead of the launch. There are a number of concepts released in the past and several teaser images that led us to believe this is a medium-sized SUV with coupe-like styling.
Mercedes first unveiled the EQC all-electric car as a concept in a technology forum at the Paris motor show almost two years ago. Back then, the German brand said that the EQC will feature a 70kWh lithium-ion battery pack that provides a range in excess of 300 miles.
As with electric cars, the competition begins from the range capacity. The EQC with its 300-mile-plus range would put it in the competition of Elon Musk’s Tesla.
In a teaser trailer, the EQC was shown to have a rear light signature that looks like a folded staple with the front one looking like a slightly open staple. The EQC seems to have borrowed elements from the GLC at the rear.
The side profile, on the other hand, looks like a large bulky SUV with a conventional shape that could make it a rival for cars like the Tesla Model X.
The car’s large proportions and the fact that the battery will be mounted on the floor will give it plenty of room in the cabin for at least five passengers. Based on the trailer, the interior will include the new MBUX display and infotainment system.
2020 Mercedes-Benz EQ C Electric Crossover Is Nearly Production-Ready
Mercedes-Benz has been very open about its plans to produce an electric vehicle and we might be seeing that in the upcoming EQ C electric crossover SUV. Spy photos showed that the electric crossover SUV has a glitzy concept, thanks in part to the interesting front fascia.
Until now, we haven’t seen a clear picture of the vehicle, but the latest spy shots showed the crossover SUV with less camouflage and body-hugging vinyl wrap.
The most interesting part about the vehicle is the front fascia, which is very different from the current styling that Mercedes-Benz does on its SUVs. The grille is upswept, unlike the frown-like shape of other recent Mercedes cars. The grille also extends all the way to the headlights, eliminating the need for a body-color section between them.
Speaking of the headlights, they are now reshaped and starts thin at the edges and sweeps downward toward the inside. It looks like the body panel will wrap around the bottom of the grille and will match the unique shape of the headlights. They will come with a contrasting color, possibly black, to put a rather unique spin to the car.
Interestingly, these are the same details shown during the unveiling of the car’s concept in 2016.
The rest of the EQ C electric crossover looks conventional and traditional. It has a profile that speaks of an internal-combustion, rear-drive car with a long nose and plenty of space between the front axle and the A-pillar. The lines on the car are smooth and curvy while the windows and the taillights would not be out of place on any other Mercedes vehicles.
The back end is quite rounded, though, almost looking like a bulbous Land Rover Velar tail. Capping the exterior design is the wheels, the design of which is based on the 2016 concept (but this one is simpler).
Inside, you’ll find the cabin wrapped in premium materials with elegance written all over it. The interior has giant dual screens for instruments and infotainment.
The Mercedes-Benz EQ C is scheduled to be on sale in 2020. Details about the powertrains remain vague for now, but it looks like it would have dual motors that produce 402 horsepower from all four wheels.
2020 Mini Electric Spy Shots Reveal Exterior and Interior of the Car
The 2020 Mini Electric spy shots revealed that the signature hardtop model will not have exhaust pipes and even a traditional grille. In some of the shots, you would notice that an accent light runs along the width of the grille. There’s also a new wheel pattern that Mini previewed during a teaser shot of the car released earlier this month.
The concept for this car was first previewed at the 2017 Frankfurt auto show and is only one of the 12 electric cars that the BMW Group plans to produce by 2025. For Mini, the first batch would include their signature hardtop model though visually, there are not many features that separate the electric version from the gasoline-powered models.
In terms of powertrains, Mini remains mum on specific features because the technology is rapidly evolving and there might be new ones available by next year. That being said, experts still expect to see a single electric motor at the front axle and batteries located beneath the rear seat. The range should be somewhere in the 200-mile figure or higher, depending on the EPA rating.
The engines will be manufactured from the same factories in Germany that produces the hardware for the BMW i3. The car, however, will be assembled at the Mini plants in the United Kingdom and China. For the production in China, Mini will tie up with local automaker Great Wall.
This is Mini’s turn to launch a production and volume EV. Thought the company was a pioneer of electric vehicles (it leased a hardtop-based Mini E electric car on a trial basis late last decade), its efforts have been overshadowed by the likes of Tesla Model 3.
After the launch of the electric hardtop version next year, the BMW Group should also unveil an iX3 SUV in 2020 and the iNext in 2021.
Check out the new spy shots of the Mini Electric from Motor Authority in the gallery below:
Lexus F Models May Get A Bespoke F Hybrid GT
Over the years, Lexus has introduced a number of electrified vehicles— the NX, RX, ES, GS, LS, and LC. The company’s F models surprisingly did not introduce an electric version, though will change sooner rather than later.
In a report from Auto Express, Lexus’ Yoshihiro Sawa admitted that there is a strong possibility that a hybrid variant will be made available for the F model. There might even be a standalone GT model. He said in the report that “one solution” to address the lack of EV variants in the F lineup is a “pure GT car.” It could be a hybrid with an electric motor and a strong engine that will give “a different drive feel.”
The F models are fitted with twin-turbocharged engines, which is either a V8 or a V10, but Sawa said they could not stick with the same engines for the hybrid model if they want it to stand out. The F sub-brand, he added, needs to use a variety of powertrain options in the future.
He believes that the auto industry is merely in a “transitional period,” where EVs are trendy. “… but three years later, who knows? People like the sound, the dynamics [of combustion engines]. I think we cannot stick to the one solution when it comes to providing emotion.”
The Lexus UX small crossover is the model that’s a natural fit for a pure EV, Sawa said. The model will arrive later this year and the company already confirmed there will be a hybrid version that offers more power than the gas powertrain. Pretty neat, right?
The F models are not only being built to be trendy in the inside. Lexus wants it to attract new customers as well with its new take on the exterior such as the controversial spindle grille. As much as there are polarizing opinions about the grille, it has created quite an interest among potential buyers.
2019 Peugeot 208 GTi Hot Hatch To Come In Pure EV Form
We’ve been pretty excited with the 2019 Peugeot 208 GTi hot hatch when it was introduced, but it looks like there’s another reason to party. According to the French automaker, it is lining up a pure electric form of the 208 GTi hot hatch. The electric vehicle (EV) variant will sit alongside the petrol version when both are introduced at next spring’s Geneva Motor Show.
The arrival of an EV form will mean Peugeot will switch to a new architecture, preferably the Common Modular Platform or CMP, which offers much-improved efficiency, cheaper build costs and, crucially, the scope for pure-electric variants.
This is not really a surprise since we’re expecting that an EV form will come. Earlier, Peugeot announced that the next 208 will arrive in two versions: the CMP (also known as the EMP1) and the e-CMP. However, what’s surprising to us is the fact that the electric 208 will also be offered as a GTi.
Peugeot head Jean-Pierre Imparato spoke to Auto Express and said that full details of the cars will be revealed in March, just in time for the show in Switzerland. He added that each time the brand comes up with a new model, it will be offered in an electrified form, so it will still be up to the buyers to choose the powertrain they want.
A pure EV form is being offered in the GTi version because Imparato does not want “to generate [a] difference between EV and combustion-engined models.” Aside from this tidbit, Peugeot is also working on manufacturing and developing high-performance vehicles with electrified powertrains.
Just last year, it has been revealed that the French company is developing a 300-bhp hybrid version of the 3008. There are also other concepts, though the most notable is the 308 R Hybrid.
Photos via Auto Express
The Mercedes-Benz EQC is Nearly Ready for Production
The Mercedes-Benz EQC is not having a time-off anytime soon. After enduring a harsh winter testing in Sweden, the standalone, all-electric sport utility vehicle is now being tested in the Iberian Peninsula. The test is to ensure that Mercedes is on schedule for the planned production of the unit.
According to the Global Media Site of Daimler, the EQC withstood its earlier winter testing under minus 35 degrees Celsius. This time, it is being evaluated in the very hot temperatures of the Iberian region that can go up to 50 degrees Celsius.
The rigorous summer testing aims to see the effects of extreme heat to the key components of the electric vehicle, particularly to its battery, air conditioning unit and control units. Those are in addition to the assessment of the effects of hot climate to the driving dynamics and interior comfort of the SUV.
Key Challenges Faced by the Mercedes-Benz EQC
One key challenge that Mercedes wishes to address is the cooling system of the EQC’s battery pack. Under a very cold climate, the battery only loses some of its power. However, in extreme heat, the unit risks sustaining damage.
Aside from the cooling system, the luxury car maker also wants to know how the charging system of the auto will react to the scorching weather. The process will involve completely emptying the charge of the battery too in order to further assess the effects.
Next, the test will reveal if the indicated time for pre-climatization of the EQC’s cabin is sufficient. The Mercedes engineers will pay special attention as well to the result of the punishing heat to the vehicle’s air conditioning compressor.
Lastly, the summer trials will show where fine dust tends to build-up within the components of the EV.
Mercedes-Benz EQC Official Photos
The official photos of the Mercedes-Benz EQC show the EV wrapped in heavy camouflage, which hides its key styling features. Based on the photos, the production version of the SUV does not look so different from its concept version though.
Tesla Model Y To Be Revealed On March 15
There are some pretty outrageous things that have been said on Elon Musk’s Twitter account, and another crazy claim from the Tesla CEO is that the Model Y will be revealed on March 15. Yes, as in 10 months from this date.
When Musk said that the reveal date is on March 15, Twitter handle @DMC_Ryan remarked that the date was “oddly specific” and that he cannot tell if the Tesla CEO is serious or not. Musk answered, “I just made that up, because the Ides of March sounded good” but followed it up with “But consider it real.” He added that Tesla could unveil the Model Y anytime from late 2018 to middle of next year, so March 15 sounds about right.
That’s a pretty big window for a schedule, considering that there is still a lot of drama surrounding the Model 3’s production. Tesla can’t even settle the production issues of the Model 3 and then, there’s the Tesla Semi. Throwing in the Model Y into the fray is a bit crazy, but nothing is crazier than Tesla, Musk, and their production and delivery dates all thrown together.
If the Model Y will debut on March 15, it will begin its production by mid-2020, barring other issues. Of course, we’re all assuming that the Model Y’s production will befall the same fates as the Model S, the Model X, and the Model 3, all of which suffered from delays in production and delivery.
There is no hate here. We’re just pointing out the obvious that Tesla has made some erroneous promises in the past and have not kept them. With Tesla’s past representative of what could happen, it certainly means we will encounter some trouble along the way. But since we’re pretty excited about this small electric SUV, we’re hoping Musk will finally make true his overzealous timeframe.
Take A Look At The Tesla Model 3 EV’s Debut In Beijing
Tesla is giving Beijing a taste of its Model 3 as the latest EV vehicle from Elon Musk’s company made its debut at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show. This came ahead of the official launch of the Tesla Model 3 in China and also before the company receives full authority to produce the vehicle in the market.
This is not the first Tesla Model 3 in the country, of course. Rich private citizens have already started importing the vehicle from the US, which is not recommended given the many different specifications in terms of wattage and outputs in the vehicle. We do know that US and China do not share the same power capacities and even format.
Still, the vehicle debuting at the Beijing Auto Show is the first one that Tesla itself brought to the Asian giant. But while Tesla is already introducing the vehicle to the Chinese market, it won’t be seen in dealerships until next year, when it will have its official launch.
Reportedly, Tesla Model 3 will be available as an import from the US first much like the Model S and Model X. Tesla is working on domestically manufacturing the vehicles to save on cost and reduce the final price of the vehicle. Practically, this is a good move both for Tesla and the Chinese market. Logistic costs and import fees could double the cost of a vehicle that is essential in helping Chinese commuters reduce their carbon footprint.
Currently, Tesla’s import duties is at 25%. This effectively limits the company’s demand in the world’s largest automotive market, though reports pointed out that Tesla’s presence has grown significantly. To keep growing (it has the lead in foreign electric car sales in China), Tesla has to somehow convince the Chinese government to allow it to produce the vehicle domestically.
