The Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4Matic (all-wheel-driven) electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) is the German carmaker's legitimate attempt at providing Malaysian consumers with an emissions-free mobility option.
The EQC's order-books will likely open sometime in 2020 for this fully-imported electric SUV from Stuttgart, Germany, while priced somewhere in the RM600,000 range.
Based on the GLC, the EQC gets fitted with two electric motors - one fitted to the front and another to the rear axle, that will provide 402hp/765Nm performance for all four wheels.
However, it does differ dimensionally with a 2,873mm (+3mm) wheelbase and measuring in at 4,761mm-long (+105mm), 2,096mm-wide (+206mm) and 1,624mm-tall (-15mm) to help its sheet metal achieve a lower (and better) drag coefficient of 0.29Cd.
While the EQC will run predominantly in front-wheel drive mode, the rear electric motor is called to serve when extra performance is needed by flooring the throttle.
When that happens, this 2,495kg (kerb) electric SUV will sprint from 0 to 100kph in 5.1 seconds before reaching a top speed of 180kph while a 652kg 80kWh lithium-ion battery (made up of two 48-cell and four 72-cell modules) provides all the necessary electrical 'juice'.
The company claims that the EQC will be able to travel up to 417km before taking 11 hours to recharge via a dedicated Wallbox and if a DC Combined Charging Socket fast-charger is used, the battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in about 40 minutes.
As standard, the EQC comes fitted with Multibeam LED headlights that are connected to each other via a LED band that runs across the entire front end, just above the three-pointed star' badge at the centre of the newly-designed grille. Likewise, the rear-end is similarly styled with a red LED band.
This emission-free SUV gets equipped with five driving modes of Comfort, Eco, Max Range, Sport and Individual (a customisable option) as well as paddle-shifters behind the multi-function steering wheel that manages the degree of energy recuperation back to the battery when taking the foot off the throttle.
Inside, the cabin gets fitted with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system as well as a 10.25-inch instrument cluster display for the driver and another for that acts as a touchscreen display at the centre of the dashboard.
The system is accompanied by Liguatronic voice control that comes with the "Hey Mercedes" activation phrase as well as an optimised navigation system that takes into account the remaining range and available charging stations.
Owners will be able to make use of the EQC's pre-entry climate control system that's able to adjust the temperate condition of the cabin prior to a journey via the MBUX system, the 'Mercedes me' smartphone application or simply allow it to automatically activate by unlocking the EQC for five minutes.
For safety, the previewed EQC was 'tricked' out with the advanced Driving Assistance package which includes an adaptive cruise control system with automatic restarts, an active steering assistant with active lane change assistant and active emergency stop assistant.
Additionally, it also came with active brake assistant, evasive steering assistance, active lane keeping assist, active blind spot assist, pedestrian warning system and Pre-Safe Plus which initiates preventive occupant protection measures if a rear-end collision is detected.
