Mercedes unveiled the EQA as an electric counterpart of the GLA compact crossover on January 20 and now it’s about ready to take the covers off its boxy sibling. Debuting on Sunday before the first press day of the 2021 Auto Shanghai will be the EQB, a zero-emissions GLB as part of Daimler’s electric onslaught that also includes the flagship EQS. Meanwhile, a shadowy teaser image eases the wait by revealing the boxy shape and familiar styling.
Being an electric adaptation of the combustion-engined GLB, it means the EQB will largely inherit the design of the gasoline- and diesel-fueled compact crossover. That’s exactly what happened with the GLA’s conversion to EQA by getting some mild cosmetic tweaks, aero wheels, and a blocked-off grille. It remains to be seen whether the EQB will also receive a full-width light bar at the back as it’s the case with the EQA. Inside, it will be offered with seven seats instead of the EQA’s five-seat layout, along with a cargo capacity of up to 1,700 liters with the second and third rows of seats folded.
We’re expecting the technical specifications to closely mirror those of the EQA pictured below, so there will be a base front-wheel-drive version with an electric motor good for 188 horsepower and 375 Newton-meters (277 pound-feet) of torque. Performance should be borderline identical, meaning the 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) sprint will likely take around 8.9 seconds and top speed will be electronically capped at 100 mph (160 km/h).
Further down the line, both the EQA and EQB will be available with all-wheel drive by gaining a rear-mounted electric motor. The silent compact crossovers are going to pack a combined output of 268 hp, which should dramatically improve performance and traction on slippery surfaces thanks to the addition of 4Matic.
As far as the battery is concerned, the EQA’s lithium-ion pack will probably be installed in the EQB as well. It has a usable capacity of 66.5 kWh and can last for up to 265 miles (426 kilometers) between charges, based on the WLTP cycle. Mercedes has already confirmed there will be a more efficient derivative that will cover 311 miles (500 kilometers) on a full charge.
Much like the EQA, the boxy EQB should feature support for 100-kW charging to take the battery from 10% to 80% in roughly thirty minutes. Using a regular 11-kW AC charger to fully recharge the battery from 10% will require close to six hours.
The EQA goes on sale this spring while the EQB will initially be launched in China before arriving in Europe later this year, with the US getting the electric crossover in 2022. It could end up slightly more expensive, so look for a starting price of over the €47,540 sticker that Mercedes is asking for the EQA at home in Germany before any applicable EV-related incentives.
Source: Mercedes-Benz
