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German EV Wave: Audi e-tron vs. Mercedes EQC vs. BMW iNEXT
6 H BY VANJA KLJAIC 52
The Germans are coming.
In recent years, many have already written the epitaph for the German car industry on several; occasions. They are slow to move. They will lag behind. Tesla is killing them. The Chinese are coming. We will see (input any German car maker here) go the way of Nokia after Apple released the iPhone. However, nothing of that kind has happened. Yet. And the German automakers seem fully aware of the problems ahead.
More from the big German Three
Even Volkswagen, hit hard by the dieselgate scandal and the fines imposed by the U.S federal government, is now at work in bringing over a dozen fully electrified models in the coming years. However, the most game-ready models that are slated to hit the market in the following year or two come from Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW. While the latter actually produces a fully battery-powered vehicle – the BMW i3 – it’s gearing up towards several fully electric models in the city car, sedan and crossover ranges.
While many will not agree and call this excuse making for the German automotive industry, there’s a reason these guys are taking it slow. Unlike Tesla, which entered the market with a clean-slate design, targeting buyers that were early adopters in tech that was both appealing & scary at the same time, for the Germans, the business model is quite different.
With so many models, markets and production facilities geared up towards ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) production, the transition to new and cleaner technologies takes time. But, judging by how fast the ball is starting to roll, we envision Tesla coming face-to-face with some rather stiff & aggressive competition in the following years.
The German Trio
For these German automakers, there are three distinct models, seemingly in the same SUV/Crossover model range that the companies are set to use when entering the EV market. For Audi, it’s the e-tron. For Mercedes-Benz, the EQC. For BMW, however, a conceptual iNEXT Crossover that fits right in the middle of their (current) model range. Even though the iNEXT looks radical and many of its design aspects won’t see the light of day production-wise, the size, some design cues, tech and price range, all fit well into the same category as the other two.
BMW iNEXT
The BMW Vision iNEXT Concept represents just one of the building blocks to BMW’s EV future. It’s a vehicle that caters to the whole “Ultimate Driving Machine” world, where the Bavarian company doesn’t just build cars, they build machines that are meant for driving. But, in recent years, what it means to drive has changed quite a lot. The advent of autonomous driving, perspective on mobility and the way we use our vehicles is changing. Fast. Hence, the iNEXT represents a vision for the future by the German car maker.
For BMW, the entire idea behind the BMW Vision iNEXT is to produce a vehicle that sports highly advanced autonomous driving systems, but can also be driven by the driver if needed. With a crossover body style, the vehicle comes with an interesting look and a fetching “trailblazer” vibe. BMW is set to reveal a series-production car in 2021, slated to be heavily based on the themes and designs seen in the Vision Concept vehicles. Hopefully, something that looks good, drives better and affords a range of at least 300 miles (482 kilometers) could be expected.
While the BMW presented a conceptual electric vehicle, for Mercedes-Benz and Audi, progress is further along. Both companies revealed production vehicles, with Audi slated to provide the full technical specifications on their Audi e-tron production vehicle later today.
Mercedes-Benz EQC
The Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4MATIC was revealed in August. The vehicle comes equipped with the latest generation of a lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery serving as the energy source for both electric motors. According to the carmaker, the EQC should attain a 450-km NEDC figure (approximately 279 miles). The official U.S. range will be communicated closer to market launch. For the powertrain, Mercedes-Benz decided to go with two asynchronous motors – one for the front axle and one for the rear axle. System output of the all-wheel-drive EQC stands at 300 kW and 564 lb-ft (765 Nm). Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph (almost 100 km/h) will be possible in 4.9 seconds.
Add the rather impressive looks, and the EQC makes for a highly powerful argument for a brand new all-electric vehicle. For a vehicle to kick-off the German automaker’s plans to invest more than $12 billion into fully-electric vehicles, the EQC doesn’t sound too shabby at all.
Audi e-Tron
For Audi, the e-tron marks their entry into the mainstream EV world. Featuring the same two-motor layout as the Mercedes-Benz EQC, the vehicle features a 95 kWh battery, a WLTP range of 249 miles (473 kilometers) and can sprint from 0-60 (0-97km/h) in 5.9 seconds.
For the Audi e-tron and the Mercedes-Benz EQC, the similar looks to the comparable already-in-production ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) models are what many envision as the car’s biggest selling point. After all, both companies have a drastically different customer base than that of Tesla.
Compared – With Tesla Model X tossed into the mix
Closing
With both slated to arrive on the world’s roads in mere months, we’re a short time away from seeing how the Germans fare up against the new kids on the block. With more than 40+ all-electric models slated to be revealed by the Big German Three in the forthcoming years, we’re definitely witnessing some rather interesting times for the car industry.
And as Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk has often hinted at in the past, competition in the EV space is welcomed and it serves the purpose of driving the entire electric segment to new heights. So, bring it on.
BMW iNext
12 photos
Mercedes EQC
7 photos
Audi e-Tron
9 photos
Categories: Audi, BMW, Comparison, Mercedes
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52 Comments on "German EV Wave: Audi e-tron vs. Mercedes EQC vs. BMW iNEXT"
E-tron pricing is taken with German VAT, so to make this chart comparable you should use correct pricing as well same standard for range. My X90D is rather far in real life(225 miles) what the X75D has here. Head to head range race we expect to give some adequate picture. Yes, I know that X is bigger, heavier and has better charging network. This play with range and it’s standards is one big obstacle for EV adoption.
The BMW iX3 (crossover) will arrive well before the iNext.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/bmw-ix3-first-preview-pictures-upcoming-electric-suv
Will arrive in 2020.
I’m pretty sure the iX3 won’t be on market until 2021, at least that’s what BMW communicate. The article you link to is a bit old 🙂
The mini is 2019, the i3x 2020 and the iNext 2021.
The ix3 will be smaller than the iNext (said to be around X5 sized) – the iNext will be closer in size to the Audi Etron and MB EQC so a more fair/better apples to apples comparison?
…It doesn’t look like either of the three are going to offer third row seating like the X though…. to be fair, the X is 11″ longer than the MB and 6″ longer than the Etron….wouldn’t really classify either in the exact same class as the X…..
Tesla is one size larger. I guess they will offer larger EVs later, but not necessary one with 3 rows.
Do they offer ICE models with 3 rows now?
The iX3 is based on the X3 not X5 to my understanding.
In the ICE range the X3 is the BMW competitor to the GLC and Q5 so presumably the iX3 will be the competitor to the EQC and the E-Tron.
The X5 is an altogether bigger vehicle akin to the Q7 and GLE (and Landrover Discovery/ Jeep Grand Cherokee).
The Model X is more akin to that latter group (both the Q7 and Discovery offer seven seats). The Model Y will (presumably) be the direct competitor to the iX3, EQC and E-Tron, but it’s currently vapourwear as it’s not been officially announced or even spotted in the wild – that’s probably coming in 2021/22, after all these three have entered the market.
Personally I like the Audi. At the moment I have an Mercedes E-Class T Model because I need the big trunk for my familie’s luggage. But the Audi looks better than the BMW or the Mercedes (for what I know so far seeing the teasers) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwkfUTeX8B8 There is also a video about the Audi e-motors being built https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zttC2x9nMEw Seems to me they have the technology to make a cool and reliable product.
A Jag would be more stylish!
Good article – thx!
Tesla will face competition for every market segment they enter from now on. The Model 3 is the last high volume market segment vehicle that Telsa can enter without immediate competition, and in some cases, they’ll be playing catchup. Tesla may still have the best offering, but they won’t have the free ride that the Model 3 has.
It will be very interesting to see who gains traction in each segment over the next couple years and whether Tesla can dominate each segment they participate in.
The race to cost/range parity with ICE is most certainly going to result some casualties. Fun space to watch.
The way BMW translates the 3 Series and 5 Series into the EV world will probably make or break the company. But I feel like the BMW i4 is going to address that the right way in a few years. Just … in a few years doesn’t sound that thrilling, does it?
Not with the planned production numbers.
Tesla will own the market for the next 5-6 years.
Also, did you look at that pricing?
A good $20,000 over Tesla and their ICE production.
I mean some will pick this option, but competition for Tesla?
$20000 below the S&X. Wait until tonight and the pricing of the etron quattro will be official.
The S and X are not the competitors for that car.
Obviously not. They are a lot cheaper than those. Tesla doesn’t have a mid sized CUV in its lineup so those cars are not competing with Tesla at all.
Neither is Model 3.
It will be cheaper even if it is an Audi. Only Tesla can charge what they want because the fanboys will obey.
That is what gets me, to beat Tesla you need to steal away a large percentage of their customers. But so far the production numbers add up to a small fraction of the demand we see out there.
They don’t have to steel customers, they have to offer an OK car for their customer group. Tesla and other EV manufacturers will (at least to begin with) benefits from growing EV demand.
No one manufacturer is going to eat Tesla’s lunch, but 10 manufacturers each selling a comparatively small quantity can collectively make it difficult for Tesla to rack up big numbers. That could make the Model Y sales a different story from that of the 3.
Difficult for Tesla to rack up big numbers? Tesla could sell a million cars a year right now if they had the production capacity. They will get there, eventually, and then beyond. They are not competing against EVs, they are competing against ICE. As long as there is any ICE offering out there, Tesla will grow rapidly. And if ICE are all gone at some point, in order to get sales from Tesla, one has to offer a better product. So far I don’t see anyone that can do that.
I think one of them is revealed tonight in the USA but am not sure. If I remember well I read this in a site specialized in gardening tools a few days ago. I will try to find this info again.
ElecDreck or something. But yes, the etron unvail is today. In a couple of hours people will have to accept that the etron quattro has a starting price of well below $80000.
Yes that’s the one. I remember now.
Bring On This Fugly Expensive Fictional Vapo’ German Ware…Variety is the “Spice Of Life” ……. These are the Result of Forcing Some one to do , What they “Loath Doing”
They Loath Building Proper & Genuine Electric Cars with a Proper Charging Infrastucture, These are a “Forced to Build” for Compliance Reasons ONLY !.
A range of 370 miles WLTP was communicated for the iNext (i6?) by BMW. That is certainly acceptable. I think the iX3 is more in line with the MB and Audi. The iNext seems to become a much more innovative (and expensive) car.
Actually it is supposed to be a cheaper car in line with combustion car prices. That is why they called it iNext, it is supposed to contain their next generation drive train which comes without a cost penalty for being electric.
Well, I’m looking forward to this car, but that un-aerodynamic grill?
Are they trying to handicap it’s autobahn performance?
It will still Be Expensive “BMW Overpriced” , And then, Where is the Charging Infrastucture ?
The charging infrastructure depends on where you live.
Where I live, I can charge at home, at work, outside ALL public buildings like schools, hospitals, almost all gas stations, many grocery stores, stand alone charging stations and not to mention all the block heater outlets that is “all over the place”.
I usually charge at work. It cover 99% of my charging needs.
They can use Electrify America/Canada and IONITY in Europe, alongside the other networks. IONITY isn’t as spectacular, but Electrify America and Canada will likely compete closely for number of chargers by 2021.
One thing that appears glaringly obvious with every new announcement-
These prestige autos EV’s don’t have the range or the acceleration of comparable Tesla vehicles. Why?
To limit production and competition with their own gas engine production?
Along with price.
If I was a betting man, I’d make a bet on this. They can’t cannibalize their current model sales, as that’s what is fueling the development of EVs later on to an extent.
They’re faster then probably 90% of all the cars they sell.
I guess price, warranty calculations (I know a friend of a friend that has a Model S, and drives like all starts are a drag race – and is on his 4th drive unit on warrenty. .., and if he don’t loose the license, he will ruin another set too. ) and things like that.
Handling, quality and so on is probably more important for most people.
I would get an EV that takes 10 seconds from 0-100, if it is quite a bit cheaper then a sub 5 second car. I would also choose a car with nice interior, before a fast car. I just need a car with a firm ride. I don’t need autopilot, but auto breaking would be nice to have.
People have different prorities.
I agree especially on the auto braking. A functioning AEB is probably the biggest innovation in safety since ABS and traction control. Active cruise controls are just a comfort gimmick I can do without.
The EQC accelerates faster than it’s ICE bretherin (5.9 seconds) and the Q5 does 0-60 in 5.8 seconds, so the 5.9 seconds of the E-Tron is almost exactly the same.
The EQC has the same acceleration as the X 75d as displayed in the chart too so only the E-Tron is lacking, by a second… I doubt that’s going to affect many peoples choices. If acceleration is that important you don’t buy a CUV anyway…
Range is another matter, we don’t know yet, but it’s worth pointing out that the X 75D has a range of 237 miles (not 247 miles on the chart) and the estimated EPA range of the EQC is around 220, so not that far off. Hopefully we’ll find out the EPA range of the E-Tron today, but with the WLTP range it’ll probably be in the 220-240 mile ballpark too.
the batteries are smaller, isn’t it that simple? By now we didn’t know what the real range will be for the e-tron. even with the MB EQC we havn’t seen any real comparison by testers now. What we know now is, that the consumption of the e-pace from jaguar is higher than the from the model X if I am right. We will see. with 75 kWh batteries in the Model 3 Tesla can provide 310 miles but the model 3 is no big SUV. I think that Tesla has the biggest advantages in energy density. in all other fields the German carmakers will be better. Build Quality, service, and Design…. just my thoughts
The only effect of 3.x instead of 4.x seconds 0-60mph is more dead people. No car needs to accellerate quicker than 5 seconds in my opinion.
It’s like someone yells Surf’s Up, the German wave, you get to the beach and the wave is still out to sea.
Unless they can make their own batteries in the same quantity, cost and quality as Tesla they are going to be crushed as Tesla cannibalizes their market share. Tesla can grow without stranding it’s assets unlike the incumbents who have sunk big money into yesterdays technology. Sad!
Model X 75D starts at 95k€ in Europe, so the Germans will be quite good priced.
But none of them are available yet. And even when they do start shipping, it will likely be months/years before they are readily available. Their are a lot of promises out there to get our hopes up. But until they are on the road, we can see how they really perform, and you can actually get one, they are just dreams.
Audi E-tron production started already on 2018-09-03 at dedicated Audi factory in Bruxelles BE. The E-tron will soon be available.
I Love That “Brick Like” Efficiency Design…lol …. Great Aerodynamics !
He man car manufacturers will be burning thru the cash to build this new infrastructure.
I get that MB wanted to seamlessly integrate the EQC in the manufacturing line of the GLC. And some make a big fuzz out of it not having a frunk. I don’t think I’d miss that very much. But damn, that ground clearance is horrible for an SUV style vehicle. I know that 90 % of the 90 % soccer mom customer base for this car will never take it anywhere near even a dirt covered road, but still, this really bugs me for some reason.
Daimler EQC appears to me, at least to be a ‘Me Too’ electric – I see nothing particularly noteworthy about the vehicle, unless they offer it for a Song in the States. If high priced it probably won’t sell.
I am quite curious about the E-Tron release later today – that car is interesting enough to perhaps take a chance on.
Lol… these “competitors” are equivalent to Tesla 2012. And they aren’t slated to be released until 2020? They have no chance