Mercedes-Benz unveils a brand new ‘smart’ electric SUV at the Paris Motor Show
The EQC is the first-ever fully electric SUV released by Mercedes
DUBBED the Electric Intelligence Car, the EQC is the result of Mercedes-Benz flipping the switch on its new plug-in range.
The car maker is investing more than £9billion in expanding the EQ model portfolio and £1billion in developing batteries.
Production of the £67,500 SUV will start next year at Mercedes's plant in Bremen.
It will include two electric motors - one each powering the front and back sets of wheels - delivering 408hp and accelerating 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds.
The car has a claimed range of around 280 miles, however, that's significantly less than Tesla's £75,850 Model X SUV that travels 351 miles on a single charge.
It also falls slightly short of its Jaguar I-Pace rival, despite costing £4,000 more.
Just one of the smart innovations includes pre-car entry climate control, so that you don't have to de-ice the EQC in cold weather, for example. Temperature can be controlled via an app before you enter the car.
An updated Active Distance Assist Distronic driving system will allow the car to automatically adjust speeds according to traffic ahead.
The car will also position itself off-centre when stuck on the motorway to allow space for emergency vehicles.
Automated assistance with blind spots and evasive manoeuvres is also available.
Meanwhile, Mercedes also revealed that the EQC will be apart of a 10 new electric car line up to be released over the next four years.
Three of those plug-ins will come from the sister Smart brand - two ForTwo models and one ForFour.
A smaller version of the EQC - the EQA - will follow up in Mercedes's electrification project.
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Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Daimler AG, said: “The EQC embodies the Progressive Luxury design idiom of our new EQ product and technology brand.
"This creates an experience and a preview of the ‘next big thing’ to come tomorrow.
"With its seamless, clear design, the EQC is a pioneer for an avant-garde electric look with trailblazing design details and colour highlights typical of the brand both inside and out.”