The upcoming Mercedes-Benz EQC is Stuttgart’s answer to the Jaguar I-PACE. It’s also part of Mercedes‘ new EQ sub-brand, which means that it features a fully electric and highly efficient powertrain.
Almost 200 prototypes have been built so far, with the German automaker busy testing them in different environments around the world, from Europe to the Middle East, China, the United States and even South Africa.
With this prototype in particular, Mercedes have decided to go with a little less camouflage, meaning all body cladding was removed, revealing the crossover’s overall design language.
It’s just as we expected
We had a strong feeling Mercedes wouldn’t simply take the Generation EQ Concept from two years ago and strap on a couple of production lights and mirrors, calling it a day. In reality, the final product seems to be a sort of mix between the concept and the GLC, albeit a little longer than the latter.
We can also see that the grille will be a lot more conventional than the one on the concept, although the fact that it’s nearly flush with the rest of the front fascia makes it unlike any other Mercedes grille presently available. Overall, it would seem that the production EQC will look a lot more like a beefy estate car, rather than a crossover – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Get your MBUX on
Our spy photographers have also managed to glance inside a RHD version of the EQC, and while we can’t see the entire dashboard, important details such as the dual display setup, center console design and steering wheel design are within view.
The bottom of the console looks like the one from the all-new A-Class, minus the support pad. Come to think of it, the displays and the steering wheel look like the ones from the A-Class too, which makes sense since this is clearly the way forward for most, if not all upcoming Mercedes models. We wouldn’t be at all surprised if the next-gen GLC had an identical interior.
How much range compared to the I-PACE?
According to Mercedes, the EQC should offer its passengers an all-electric driving range of about 500 km (310 miles), which are identical numbers to those of the Generation EQ Concept.
As for the Jaguar I-PACE, its 90kWh Lithium-ion battery (larger than the EQC’s 70kWh one) claims a maximum range of 475 km (298 miles).
Mercedes is expected to unveil the production-ready EQC crossover as soon as next month.