Remember the remarkable Vision EQXX electric vehicle concept that Mercedes-Benz showed off earlier this year? The very one that was able to cover more than 1,000 kilometers on a full charge during a test in April thanks to its ultra-low consumption of 8.7 kWh/100 km?
Too radical in shape to be produced as is, it will donate several systems and technologies to future production models from the German manufacturer. And we learn today that the first of these will see the light of day in 2024.
In an interview for the British website Autocar, Mercedes-Benz exterior design director Robert Lesnik explained that the vehicle in question would be an entry-level sedan around 4.7 meters long, therefore of similar size. To the current Class C and CLA.
By positioning itself alongside these as a 100% electric alternative, it will become a direct competitor for the Tesla Model 3, BMW i4, and Polestar 2. An AMG performance version will inevitably follow a year later.
In addition to replicating part of the design, Lesnik has confirmed that some cutting-edge aerodynamic elements from the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX concept, such as the moving diffuser and active wing, will carry over.
Technically, it will be one of the first electric vehicles to be based on the new Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA) inaugurated by said EQXX. While it’s unrealistic to expect such a long-range, the automaker suggests that the compact sedan will be able to travel up to 700 kilometers or more between charges.
The Vision EQXX concept employed a 100 kWh battery that was more compact in size and 35% lighter than the 107.8 kWh battery in the large EQS sedan. In addition to its lightness, its center of gravity was lower. Lesnik, however, could not say if the same kind of battery would be used in the new car. There is still talk of a smaller and more efficient electric motor called eATS 2.0.
Remember that Mercedes-Benz Canada has been marketing the EQS sedan (equivalent to the S-Class) since this year and, very soon, the mid-size EQE sedan (comparable to the E-Class). Both spawned a utility variant, the EQS SUV and EQE SUV. Another electric utility, the compact EQB, has been on sale since this standalone with a more reasonable base price of $75,700.