Mercedes’ EQC electric vehicle hits Korea
Mercedes-Benz Korea launched the EQC 400 4MATIC, as the first fully electric vehicle (EV) of the German car giant’s EV brand, EQ, the company said Monday.
With the car’s debut, the competition between carmakers over EVs in the domestic market is expanding to luxury import vehicles, with Jaguar’s I-Pace taking on strong contenders including the EQC and Tesla’s Model 3.
The new EQC was introduced to the world in September last year, and unveiled in Korea at the Seoul Motor Show in March.
Mercedes-Benz has a number of EVs in its lineup, but set up the EV-dedicated brand as part of its future mobility strategy. The EQC is the first car under the brand.
“The EQC embodies the future of mobility, being that next-generation car,” said Mark Raine, vice president of product and marketing at Mercedes Benz Korea.
“A modern and contemporary design is complimented by innovative technology, the latest in digitization and connectivity as well as a powerful and efficient purely electric powertrain.”
The new EQC features fresh exterior and interior designs which are distinct from existing Mercedes-Benz vehicles. With muscular proportions, the car sports an avant-garde and progressive look, highlighted by a large black-panel surface that encloses the headlamps and grille. It also features colors exclusive to the EQ brand, the company said.
The new EQC sits on a powertrain engineered specifically for EVs. It is powered by an 80 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery developed by Daimler subsidiary Deutsche ACCUMOTIVE, and can propel the vehicle for more than 309 kilometers on a single charge. It takes 40 minutes to be charged to 80 percent with 110 kilowatt quick charging.
For improved dynamism and reduced power consumption, the EQC has two motors configured differently.
The front motor is tuned for the maximum efficiency in the low to medium load range, while the rear one determines dynamism. Combined, the two motors generate 408 horsepower and up to 78.0 kilogram-meter torque, propelling the EQC from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 5.1 seconds.
Mercedes-Benz Korea said the EQC is equipped with its latest driving assistance technologies, including Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC.