Mercedes-amg Silver Arrow
● Stunning EQ concept pays homage to 1938 Rekordwagen
Futuristic streamlined EQ racer gives glimpse of electric future
A NEW Mercedes EQ concept has been revealed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’elegance event, and it’s quite unlike anything else we’ve seen from the manufacturer’s electrified sub-brand.
The concept is called Mercedes EQ Silver Arrow, and it’s a modern tribute to the 1938 W 125 Rekordwagen – a streamlined, experimental derivative of the W 125 racer. It set a world land speed record on a public road of 269mph, a feat only bettered last year.
Aside from the overall shape of the concept, a nod to the Rekordwagen is found on the flanks of the vehicle; the kink in the side skirt to accommodate the EQ badge is where the exhausts were placed on the V12-engined car.
Around the back the aerodynamic work is completely contemporary, with a gaping rear end home to a huge diffuser and two extendable rear spoilers, which can act as an air brake. It rides on forged aluminium wheels – 24 inches at the front and 26 inches at the rear – each featuring 168 spokes, while the body is made entirely from carbon fibre.
The cockpit houses a racing seat, with a four-point harness, and Mercedes’ Airscarf neck-level blower heaters.
Drivers view the road through a large panoramic screen that is supported by augmented reality technology which ‘projects’ vital information straight on to the road. The set-up also claims to have a ‘virtual race’ mode, which superimposes a current or classic Mercedes racing car on to the road, driving alongside the EQ Silver Arrow.
Powering the concept is a 740bhp electric drivetrain supported by a thin 80kwh battery pack mounted in the floor. Mercedes rates overall range at over 249 miles, but hasn’t issued any speculative performance figures.
The EQ Silver Arrow concept arrives just ahead of the first all-electric Eq-branded production Mercedes. The EQ C SUV will be revealed next week, and will rival the Tesla Model X and Jaguar I-pace, plus the upcoming Audi e-tron and BMW ix3.
“Augmented reality technology projects vital information straight on to the road”