Mercedes-Benz Generation EQ concept revealed

Mercedes-Benz has provided the first clues to the look, zero-emission drivetrain technology, heady performance targets and naming of its first dedicated electric vehicle with the unveiling of a new 300kW four-wheel drive electric powered SUV concept at the Paris motor show.

Called the Generation EQ, the high riding four seater is planned to go into production in 2019 as an electric powered rival to the likes of the Audi e-tron quattro, Jaguar E-Pace and Tesla Model X, boasting a lithium ion battery that is claimed to provide it with a range of up to 500km between recharging.

As well as previewing Mercedes-Benz's first uniquely styled series production electric vehicle, the new Mercedes-Benz concept also provides an insight into new electric vehicle platform structure, autonomous driving technology, connectivity solutions and safety features developed for a range of electric vehicles that will be sold under the EQ name – a play on the term IQ and standing for Electrical Intelligence. As with AMG, Smart and Maybach, EQ is set to become a sub-brand within the Mercedes-Benz Car Group.

"The mobility of the future at Mercedes-Benz is supported by four pillars: Connected, Autonomous, Shared and Electric. The Generation EQ brings all of these together on a brand new vehicle architecture for battery powered vehicles," says Mercedes-Benz boss, Dieter Zetsche.

"We'll see this car out on the road within three years from now - at the price range of a reasonably equipped Mercedes-Benz GLC," he added.

"We already have the required production facilities. We will build our electric cars in our production network around the globe. That will enable us to quickly achieve the necessary volumes, global market reach and quality."

The new SUV adopts traditional proportions with a pronounced bonnet line and tall glasshouse that runs back to an angled one-piece tailgate. There are certain similarities to the GLC Coupe in the overall silhouette and dimensions. However, unique exterior detailing, including an illuminated panel incorporating the headlamps and Mercedes-Benz's three-pointed star emblem within the front fascia and a similar treatment housing the tail lamps at the rear, ensures the Generation EQ instantly stands out from Mercedes-Benz's more conventional combustion engine offerings.

A further departure is the surfacing of the new concept. It eschews the tautly drawn treatment evident on existing Mercedes-Benz models for a fuller form without any hint of feature lines within the whole of the body. The clean new look, which Mercedes-Benz design boss, Gorden Wagener, describes as a new electro-aesthetic, is set to become a defining stylistic element of the company's new electric vehicles.

To help boost the aerodynamic efficiency of the new SUV, Mercedes-Benz designers have resorted to a number of familiar air cheating measures, including the concealment of the wipers underneath the trailing edge of the bonnet, the employment of digital cameras in place of conventional exterior wing mirrors, the deletion of traditional door handles in a favour of a remote opening function and the fitment of 21-inch wheels featuring a aerodynamic optimised spoke design.  

The basis for the Generation EQ concept is a newly developed platform structure that Zetsche says Mercedes-Benz will use to develop a complete range of zero emission vehicles over the next decade.

"We're ready for the start of an electric vehicle offensive with models that will cover every segment – from the compact class to the luxury class," he says.

Constructed from a combination of hot-formed high-strength steel, aluminium and carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, it has been engineered to suit a number of different vehicle types, including SUVs, saloons, coupes, cabriolets and, what is described, as further models.

"By 2025 we'll have more than 10 fully electric vehicles on the market. We are developing a entirely new vehicle architecture. Our goal is to have electric vehicles make up between 15 and 25 per cent of our global sales by 2025," Zetsche said.

"We are investing 1 billion Euros in our global battery production - this includes 500 million Euros in our second battery plant in Germany"

As with the German car maker's existing structures, the new electric vehicle platform is scalable, allowing it support what Mercedes-Benz describes as "a wide variety of wheelbase and track measurements as well as electric motors and battery combinations". Taking advantage of the inherent packaging advantages offered by contemporary electric drivelines, the Generation EQ's lithium-ion battery is mounted low down wholly within the floor of the new structure, providing it with an ultra-low centre of gravity by contemporary road car standards.

Power for the new SUV comes from two brushless electric motors – one mounted within the front axle and another housed within the rear axle. The layout is said to provide a clear preview of that planned for the upcoming production version of the Generation EQ, which will also receive four-wheel drive system boasting fully variable apportioning of power, both between the two axles and each of the individual rear wheels, through a further developed version of the torque vectoring function first seen on the SLS Electric Drive.

Mercedes-Benz is not being specific about the exact power and torque ratings of the Generation EQ. However, Zetsche confirms the electric motors previewed by the new concept have been developed to deliver a combined maximum of up to 300kW and peak torque of 700Nm – figures he says would allow the new SUV to deliver a 0-to-100km time of under 5.0sec.

The battery, developed by Mercedes-Benz's sister company Deutsche Accumotive, uses a modular cell structure that allows it to be scaled to suit the model in which it is used. In the Generation EQ, it receives a capacity described as being "over 70kWh". This is sufficient to provide the new concept with a claimed range of up to 595km. To put this into perspective, the battery used by the similarly sized Tesla Model X P90D boasts a capacity of 90kWh for a claimed range of 470km.

The battery of the new electric vehicle concept has been developed to support a range of different charging methods, including standard household, wallbox and inductive. No claims have been made about the charging times for each, although Zetsche is backing moves for a so-called Combined Charging System that will allow charging at 300kW in the mid-to-long term, suggesting five minutes of re-charging would provide enough energy for 100km of range.

Inside, the Generation EQ receives an all new interior design developed expressly for Mercedes-Benz's upcoming electric vehicle line-up. Encapsulating the same reduced electro-aesthetic optic used for the exterior, it features a low set dashboard featuring a 24-inch (53 x 11 cm) high-definition monitor with unique graphics in combination with a multi- function steering wheel with touch pads within the spokes and OLED displays as well as a centre console featuring touch based controls for ancillary features such as the air conditioning. Without traditional exterior rear view mirrors, Mercedes-Benz has also provided the concept with displays within the door lining that are used to project images towards the rear in real time.

A band of LEDs run from the head of the dashboard down the sides and also feature within the air vents, adding a contemporary air to the interior, which goes without a traditional centre tunnel in a move that frees up space for added storage space between the seats. The concept car boasts accommodation for up to four on individual seats front and rear, although Mercedes-Benz officials indicate the production version of the Generation EQ is planned to come with a three-across rear bench with space for five.      

As well as previewing Mercedes-Benz's latest electric vehicle design lineage, platform architecture and driveline developments, the Generation EQ also showcases a number of new driver assistant functions being considered for adoption on the company's upcoming zero emission models. Included is prototype navigation system supplied by HERE – the former Nokia owned digital mapping company jointly purchased by Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz in 2015. It is able to precisely calculate the position and radii of corners and roundabouts, allowing the new concept car to automatically adapt its speed and chassis settings accordingly in what is billed a further step towards autonomous driving. Also on board is the newest in Car-to-X technology that is able to communicate with the infrastructure and other road users to provide the basis for a range of different safety features.

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