The EQC 400 4MATIC of Mercedes-Benz Korea launched as its first fully electric vehicle (EV) of the carmaker’s EV brand, EQ, the company announced Monday.
Competition between car manufacturers over the domestic market of EVs is expanding to luxury import vehicles after the EQ’s EV debut. Jaguar‘s I-Pace takes on contenders, including Tesla’s Model 3 and the EQC to capture the market.
Mercedes-Benz introduced the EQC to the world in September last year and launched at the Seoul Motor Show in Korea in March.
The German car giant possesses several EVs in its product line. It set up the EV-dedicated brand as part of its future mobility strategy, and the EQC is the first vehicle under the brand.
Mark Raine said, “The EQC embodies the future of mobility, being that next-generation car.” The vice president of product and marketing at Mercedes Benz Korea also noted, “A modern and contemporary design is complemented by innovative technology, the latest in digitization and connectivity as well as a powerful and efficient purely electric powertrain.”
Fresh interior and exterior designs distinguish the new EQC from existing Mercedes-Benz vehicles. It sported an avant-garde and progressive look with its muscular proportions and highlighted by its headlamps and grille enclosed by a large black-panel surface. The car also features colors exclusive to the EQ brand, the firm said.
The new EQC is equipped with a powertrain engineered uniquely for the EVs. Deutsche ACCUMOTIVE, a subsidiary of Daimler, developed an 80-kilowatt-hour lithium battery to power the EV. On a single charge, the vehicle can run for more than 309 kilometers. It takes about 40 minutes with a 110-kilowatt quick charging to charge the battery to 80 percent.
The EQC is equipped with two motors differently configured for reduced power consumption and improved dynamism. The motor at the front is calibrated for maximum efficiency in the low to medium load range, while the rear motor is for dynamism. The two motors combine to generate up to 78.0 kilogram-meter torque and an impressive 408 horsepower, running the EQC from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in just 5.1 seconds.
The EQC is also equipped with the latest driving assistance technologies, including Active Distance Assist dubbed DISTRONIC. Mercedes-Benz Korea said the technology allows the vehicle to maintain a safe distance with the car in front of it. It also supports automatic speed control based on the moving vehicles the EV is following, including a stop-and-go situation.
The company said it would provide either a prepaid unlimited charging card valid for one year or free installation of a home charger to customers buying the EQC by the end of this year. The new EQC 400 4MATIC of Mercedes-Benz is priced at 105 million won ($89,430).
