The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)

Electrifyi­ng peek at Mercedes’ sleek new seven-seater

- FELICITY DONOHOE

Mercedes-Benz Vans has shared the first details of its nearproduc­tion-ready electric seven-seat vehicle concept.

Called EQT, it’s designed to follow the success of the larger EQV but in a smaller package.

Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans Marcus Breitschwe­rd says the “T-Class” is aimed at families and private buyers, and those “who enjoy leisure activities and need a lot of space and maximum variabilit­y without forgoing comfort and style.”

Despite being a more practical product, the EQT retains the sleek styling touches seen across the firm’s EQ range.

For example, the headlights are slim LED units and merge seamlessly into a large, curved front grille.

A minor slope in the roof and curved edges to the windows gives the van a fresh, modern look, while at the rear there’s an ultra-minimalist design with a thin, curved strip of LED lights.

Inside, the cabin is similar to the modern road-going Mercedes, demonstrat­ing how close to production the EQT really is.

There’s a large drive selector, rotary dials for the climate controls, and a small tablet-like infotainme­nt screen mounted to the dashboard.

The EQT is 4.9 metres long, 1.9m wide and 1.8m high, with sliding doors on both sides for easier access.

There are full-sized individual seats in the third row, and three child seats can be fitted side by side in row two.

The production version of the EQT is scheduled to go on sale in 2022 and will sit alongside the new Citan, which is targeted at commercial buyers.

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 ??  ?? CONCEPT: The EQT follows on from the success of Mercedes-Benz Vans’ EQV, but in a smaller package.
CONCEPT: The EQT follows on from the success of Mercedes-Benz Vans’ EQV, but in a smaller package.

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