The Mercedes-Benz EQC 4×4² concept vehicle is designed to show that EVs can go “farther than the road network”.
According to the press release, the Mercedes-Benz EQC 4×4² concept vehicle is “an electric car of extremes”, and apparently it has been developed to show that e-mobility is not just for urban areas but also destined for off-road use. It is the latest in a long-line of electric 4X4s that we’ve seen over the past few months.
“Our aim is to combine modern luxury and sustainability with emotional appeal,” explains Markus Schäfer, a Mercedes-Benz Board of Management bloke. “The EQC 4×4² shows how enjoyable sustainable mobility can be. This is where electro-mobility high-tech and an intriguing customer experience are transferred to the mountains, thanks to MBUX and over-the-air updates. To put it succinctly, electric, progressive luxury goes off-road.”
Well, if you’re not quite sure what Markus is on about (we’re certainly not), here are the more salient points regarding the Mercedes-Benz EQC 4×4²:
- It has a 293mm ride height, which is 58mm more than a G-Class
- It runs portal axles
- It has a 400mm maximum wading depth
- It has a 31.8° approach angle, a 33° departure angle and a 24.2° break-over angle
- It runs 285/50R20 rubber
- It has selectable Off-Road drive programs
Interestingly, Mercedes-Benz makes no mention of the EQC 4×4²’s potential touring range, which we would have thought would be of some significance.
Mercedes-Benz says the EQC 4×4² also comes with its own soundscape to give the driver feedback on system availability and vehicle parking, and “an interactive, emotionalising driving sound”. In other words, it makes engine noises through the vehicles sound system that vary depending on throttle position, vehicle speed and energy recovery rate. It also has an external noise generator (Acoustic Vehicle Alert System, AVAS) required by law that uses the headlights as external speakers. The “lampspeaker” has been born!
The EQC 4×4² is the third model of the 4×4² family, following in the tread marks of the 2015 G 500 4×4² and the the 2017 E 400 All-Terrain 4×4² study.
