Mercedes-Benz showcased its sporty electric SUV coupe at the 2016 Paris Motor Show and the Stuttgart-based firm has announced that the first production Generation EQ-based SUV coupe will be built at its Bremen plant and will be introduced in 2019. Mercedes-Benz plans also plans to introduce at least 10 new electric cars within the next decade.
The Generation EQ previews the next generation of Mercedes-Benz vehicles powered by battery electric drives. Merc is claiming a maximum output of up to 300 kW and 700 Nm thanks to scalable battery components, permanent all-wheel drive and a range of up to 500 kilometres.
"Generation EQ" is the forerunner of Mercedes-Benz's new product brand for electric mobility, EQ. The name EQ stands for "Electric Intelligence" and is derived from the Mercedes-Benz brand values of "Emotion and Intelligence". Future Mercedes-Benz vehicles will feature the latest generation of charging tech. It can be charged at home by induction or wallbox for fast charging.
While we're mildly disappointed that this concept car does not preview a particular product, but rather a future range of vehicles, there's no denying how cool the future looks.
"The mobility of the future at Mercedes-Benz will stand on four pillars: Connected, Autonomous, Shared and Electric. 'Generation EQ' is the logical fusion of all four pillars," says Dr Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes?Benz Cars. "The emission-free automobile is the future. And our new EQ brand goes far beyond electric vehicles. EQ stands for a comprehensive electric ecosystem of services, technologies and innovations."
"Generation EQ is hot and cool," says Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Daimler AG. "Its fascination lies in a reinterpretation of our design philosophy of sensual purity, the aim being to create an avant-garde, contemporary and distinctive electro-look. At the same time, the design of the visionary show car, which has been reduced to the essentials, reveals an alluring progressivity."
The interior of "Generation EQ" features an all-new user interface, which combines emotive appeal with intelligence and user-friendliness. No more traditional knobs and switches here, as the vehicle features touch controls, which are integrated into OLED displays (OLED = organic light emitting diode). The 24-inch TFT high-definition widescreen display presents info such as speed, range, driving data or navigation and map details.
First EQ model coming in 2019
The new EQ product brand will be guided by a corporate strategy for future mobility referred to as CASE, representing 4 strategic pillars including Connected, Autonomous, Shared & Services and Electric Drive. The first electric Generation EQ-based SUV coupe will be produced in Bremen, where the C-Class, E-Class, GLS, SLC and SL are currently produced. A further 9 EQ products will follow to meet the target of introducing 10 new EQ electric vehicles before 2025.
“Emission-free automobiles are the future. I am pleased that for the series production of our first electric EQ model, we can count on one of our most important partners in the global production network: our colleagues from Bremen. The Bremen plant delivers a maximum of flexibility and high speed as well as Mercedes quality from the beginning, also for our electric models,” says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.
Watch a video clip of the Mercedes-Benz Generation EQ below:
Other concept cars at the Paris Show:
Renault Shows Off Wild Trezor Grand Tourer Concept at Paris Motor Show
BMW previews X2 compact crossover in Paris [with Video]
Mitsubishi GT-PHEV Concept to Debut in Paris (Updated)
Hyundai RN30 Concept Revealed
Volkswagen I.D Concept Shows Electric Future
