Motor Trend has learned the drivetrain installed on the Vision EQXX concept will make it to production in 2024 on an MMA-based vehicle. There is a pretty good chance the already confirmed all-electric equivalent of the C-Class Sedan will get it first. We’re not just talking about the single motor delivering 201 horsepower (150 kilowatts), but also the more advanced battery with a capacity of just under 100 kWh and higher energy density.

Speaking of the battery, we wouldn’t hold our breath for the potential C-Class EV to go 621 miles (1,000 kilometers) on a single charge as is the case with the similarly sized EQXX. Why? Because the concept had an ultra-low drag coefficient of 0.17, which remains to be seen whether Mercedes will be able to match for a production vehicle.

In addition, the groundbreaking concept car was co-developed with Mercedes’ Formula 1 team and made use of lots of lightweight materials including carbon fiber. Putting all that technology into a road-going EV would render it too expensive. For these reasons, don’t get too excited about the prospects of a 621-mile electric sedan priced like a BMW i4 or a Tesla Model 3.

A realistic assumption is that Mercedes will want to top the EPA-rated 358 miles of range you get with the Model 3 Long Range. 400 miles seems doable considering the MMA-based electric vehicle won’t be out until 2024. Initially, it will probably be offered only with a rear-wheel-drive, single-motor setup for maximum efficiency by eschewing a front-mounted motor as that would add weight and therefore reduce range. An AWD-equipped version will likely follow later in the life cycle.

Details are murky regarding how fast the battery will be charged, but we do know the Vision EQXX needs only 15 minutes to provide 186 miles of range. As previously reported, Mercedes has already confirmed plans to offer an optional solar roof for EVs from 2024, which in the case of the concept, provides an extra 15.5 miles of range on a sunny day.

Source: Motor Trend

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As the three-pointed star is preparing for the inevitable electric era, it’s signaling the beginning of the end for the good ol’ three-box sedan. Yes, the Vision EQXX is technically a sedan since it has a trunk lid like the EQE rather than a more practical liftback as the bigger EQS, but the roofline looks like it was taken from a coupe.

This swoopy shape has prompted marketing departments from various automakers to label their cars as four-door coupes. The highly efficient electric concept fits that bill, and it’s not just for the sake of style, but rather for a lower drag coefficient to consequently boost efficiency for a greater range. Daimler design chief Gorden Wagener told Motor Trend the traditional sedan will be bidding adieu sooner or later while Mercedes is bolstering its electric portfolio.

Aside from looking more appealing and providing extra practicality for the cargo area, a fastback silhouette offers better airflow than an old-school sedan. The elongated tail is smoother to enable a lower drag coefficient, with Mercedes saying a reduction of just 0.01 translates to an additional 2.5% of range.

The German luxury brand will also be killing the traditional front grille since it’s obviously not necessary for a car that lacks an internal combustion engine. The EQXX we keep coming back to serves as a window into a future design language with the company’s iconic logo embossed into a front panel where you’d normally find a grille on a car with a gasoline or diesel engine that would have to be cooled during operation. In addition, the stars will also be built into the headlights to serve as the LED daytime running lights.

As previously reported, Mercedes will offer certain EVs with an optional solar roof from 2024 to increase the driving range furthermore. In the case of the EQXX, its 117 solar cells can store enough energy for an additional 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) of range on a sunny day.

On a related note, there are also plans to change how the SUVs are shaped for better airflow, but Mercedes admits these will never be as aerodynamically efficient as four-door coupes. Future electric sport utility vehicles will lose some of the rear headroom and cargo capacity by adopting a more sloped roofline to lower the drag coefficient. The EQE SUV and EQS SUV coming later in 2022 will be leading the way by being more aero friendly than the conventionally powered GLE and GLS.

Source: Motor Trend

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In just two years’ time, electric car buyers will be given the opportunity to pick from a fullsize, uninterrupted glass roof or go with a solar roof for storing extra energy which will then be fed to the battery. While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Schäfer said a solar roof is “extremely aesthetically attractive,” aside from giving an EV that extra precious range.

Mercedes has teamed up with Fraunhofer, Europe’s largest application-oriented research organization, to develop solar panels that will trickle down to road-going vehicles after debuting on the Vision EQXX with its 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of range. In the concept, there are no fewer than 117 solar cells embedded into the roof. During a whole day spent under ideal conditions, the solar roof can add as much as 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) of range.

Interestingly, the energy is stored in a separate lightweight lithium-iron-phosphate battery rather than the Vision EQXX’s main battery with its capacity of just under 100 kWh. The extra battery juice powers the infotainment, lights, climate blower, and other ancillaries. Together with its partners, Mercedes says is working towards transferring the solar-harvested power into the EV’s main battery.

It should be noted Mercedes won’t be the first automaker to put a solar roof on a production car since Hyundai has been selling one since 2019. Going back in time, the second-generation Audi A8 (D2) had one in 1999 as part of the warm weather package in North America. In other words, a photovoltaic roof is not a groundbreaking tech, but it looks like it’s about to finally become more widespread.

Source: Autoblog

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Featuring a sleek design with a minimalist approach, the 201-horsepower (150-kilowatt) EQXX takes the shape of a low-slung sedan with a sloping roofline akin to a coupe. The CLS from a distant future is a zero-emissions concept conceived primarily with efficiency in mind, but without compromising too much on styling. The end result is an avant-garde EV that makes the EQS flagship electric car from the three-pointed star look a bit dated by comparison.

The official images make the car seem bigger than it actually is since the EQXX is only 4.63 meters (182.2 inches) long, which is almost the same as the previous-generation C-Class Sedan (W205). It has a 2.8-meter wheelbase and an unusually long rear overhang for a dedicated EV due to the aero-driven design to squeeze out extra miles of range.

Speaking of aerodynamics, the new groundbreaking electric concept from Mercedes has a drag coefficient of only 0.17, which is way better than the aforementioned EQS and its 0.20 Cd. Why is that important? Because a reduction of 0.01 in the drag coefficient increases the range by 2.5%. The Vision EQXX bests the company’s previous sleekest car, the 2015 Concept IAA with its Cd of 0.19.

As for the battery, it has a capacity of nearly 100 kWh but is half the size and 30% lighter than the 107.8-kWh pack installed in the EQS. And yes, the German luxury brand says the EV will travel for more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) before running out of battery juice. However, we should mention the range number is “based on digital simulations,” so it hasn’t been actually tested in real life.

Nevertheless, a four-digit range (if we’re talking about kilometers) should cure range anxiety as you can’t cover such an extended distance with the vast majority of gasoline-fueled cars on the road today. Only some diesels manage to beat that, but not by much, and only if you drive them as efficiently as possible.

Perhaps just as remarkable is the curb weight of the Vision EQXX as the concept tips the scales at a relatively low 1,750 kilograms (3,858 pounds). That’s not too shabby for an electric car with a big battery and only a little bit heavier than a C-Class with a diesel engine and all-wheel drive. To keep the weight penalty of an EV down to a minimum, Mercedes collaborated with the F1 division and used carbon fiber in several areas along with ultra-light aluminum brake discs.

All these measures contribute to an energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 62 miles (100 kilometers), granting the concept an efficiency of more than 6 miles per kWh. This was also possible by installing ultra-low-rolling-resistance on the magnesium wheels and a solar roof panel to add as much as 25 kilometers (16 miles) of range.

The interior is just as cutting-edge as the rest of the Vision EQXX by being developed with sustainability in mind. It boasts carpets made entirely out of bamboo fiber, along with animal-free leather upholstery from a cactus-based biomaterial. Recycled waste materials have also been used, including recycled PET bottles. The four-seat cabin has individual rear seats and eschews most conventional buttons since the vast majority of functions are built into the ultra-widescreen dominating the dashboard.

The Mercedes Vision EQXX concept won’t be going into production, although it foretells a long-range compact EV due to arrive at some point.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

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You’re probably wondering by now how have the engineers been able to extract such a long range over the already impressive EQS. We will have to wait until later today for the full details, but we do know aerodynamics has played a major role during the development phase. The EQS has a drag coefficient of only 0.20, but rest assured the Vision EQXX will have an even lower Cd to bolster efficiency thanks to more optimal airflow.

Aside from having a sleek body, the revolutionary concept car is going to utilize Mercedes’ next-generation battery technology with a 20% percent density. In addition, a lightweight construction was also crucial for the engineering team, which collaborated with the company’s hugely successful Formula 1 division.

It’s worth pointing out the Vision EQXX won’t be going into production, but Mercedes has promised the gained know-how will be put to good use in a future compact electric car with an extended range. However, it will take a while before an EV the size of an A-Class will be able to cover 1,000 kilometers before having to pull over at a charging station.

Concept cars usually pave the way for a new design direction, which means Mercedes might provide us with a window into the future of how its next-gen EVs will look. The Vision EQXX is shaping up to be quite interesting judging from the sheer numbers of teasers released in the build-up to today’s world premiere.

Depending on where you’ll be watching the livestream, it’s scheduled to kick off at 6 PM CET / 5 PM GMT / 12 PM EDT.

Source: Mercedes-Benz / YouTube

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In the meantime, the German luxury brand has released the second episode of its video series about the EQXX and how it aims to become Mercedes’ most efficient car ever. Hitting the 1,000-km target is not easy as a lot of work goes into the car’s design to make it slippery and thus lower its drag coefficient.

According to Steffen Kohl part of the Advanced Exterior Design team, the hotly anticipated EV “should look fantastic” even though aerodynamics have top priority in the design phase. He is brutally honest by saying “we don’t wanna make it look shit” for the sake of a better Cd, one that will likely be lower than the 0.20 of the EQS.

The Vision EQXX is the outcome of hundreds of sketches done until the people working on the concept all agreed on the perfect compromise between aesthetics and functionality. Active aero body elements played an important role during the development stage, including the implementation of an active rear diffuser. Without it, Mercedes would’ve had to make the vehicle either longer or narrower, but it didn’t want that.

The designers and aerodynamic engineers had many talks about what has to stay and what must go before finalizing the shape of the all-electric concept car. Mercedes admits it had to overcome numerous hurdles during development, not just in terms of aero and design, but also regarding engineering.

In the end, “science and sexy shape came together.” We’ll see the end result on Monday.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

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Scheduled to be unveiled on January 3, the Vision EQXX is back in a first episode part of a video series. The swoopy sedan reveals a tad more skin courtesy of a partially transparent car cover showing the vehicle’s sloping roofline and pop-out door handles akin to the road-going EQS. Its front fascia appears later in the video, featuring a wide lightbar and several LED lines for the headlights looking like the company’s three-pointed star logo.

A prominent front badge is visible, as are dual air ducts in the front hood for aerodynamic purposes. Speaking of which, the Vision EQXX will likely become the most aero-efficient Mercedes in history. The EQS already has a drag coefficient of 0.20 while the 2015 IAA concept had a Cd of 0.19, but we’d wager the new Las Vegas-bound EV will be even sleeker.

Since we’ve mentioned the EQS, the German luxury brand previously revealed it will boost battery density by 20% compared to the flagship EV. Combined with an ultra-low drag coefficient and lightweight construction, the Vision EQXX will be able to offer a four-digit range. However, it’s too soon to say when these advancements will trickle down to a production model, but our money is on a post-2025 launch.

Mercedes is targeting a single-digit kWh per 62 miles (100 kilometers) and the real range of 1,000 km from a battery pack typically installed in a compact EV. To make it happen, it has teamed up with the hugely successful Formula 1 team, so we expect great things from the Vision EQXX.

Source: Mercedes-Benz / YouTube

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Teased here ahead of its January 3, 2022 world premiere at CES in Las Vegas, the Vision EQXX will provide the first taste at Mercedes’ extra-long-range EV. However, it should be worth mentioning a production version of the concept is not planned since the showcar will serve as a technological demonstrator. This revolutionary package will eventually be installed in a compact car, but it’s unclear when exactly it’ll happen.

Meanwhile, we can admire the swoopy roofline of this sleek four-door coupe reminding us of the IAA Concept from 2015. That one had a drag coefficient of only 0.19, so it will be interesting to see whether the Vision EQXX will be even more aerodynamic. It could very well happen considering the EQS is the world’s sleekest car by featuring a Cd of just 0.20.

The concept seems far larger than the subsequent road-going compact car, which will be significantly lighter and therefore more efficient. We are not expecting the Mercedes EV you will be able to buy at some point in the future to carry around a large battery (EQS has a 107.8-kWh pack) since that likely won’t fit within a shorter wheelbase. Instead, battery density is set to improve furthermore in the coming years, and it should be even better once solid-state batteries will finally hit the market.

Speaking of battery density, it’s set to increase by 20% compared to the company’s flagship electric vehicle, the EQS. Corroborated with groundbreaking aerodynamics and lightweight construction, it will be possible to cover 1,000 kilometers with a compact EV with a single charge.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

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Mercedes design boss Gorden Wagener took to his personal Instagram to share a preview image of what will be an ultra-curvaceous showcar to boost aerodynamic efficiency as much as possible. With a 0.20 drag coefficient, the EQS is already the most aero-efficient production car in the world, but there’s still room for improvements. Some will remember the stunning 2015 IAA concept, which took the shape of a sleek four-door coupe with active aero and extending rear body elements to lower the Cd to just 0.19.

The swoopy showcar will be more than just about maximizing aero as Mercedes has previously mentioned it will usher in “body castings and sophisticated materials.” Hitting the targeted four-digit range could involve a significant weight loss, which EVs certainly need since all are much heavier than similarly sized cars powered by combustion engines because of the bulky batteries they’re carrying. Take for example the EQS 580, which tips the scales at a whopping 5,699 pounds (2,585 kilograms).

One juicy tidbit revealed by the head honcho of design at the German luxury brand has to do with the Vision EQXX’s reveal. We finally get to know when it will be officially unveiled – January 3. Logic tells us the premiere will take place at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas as CES opens its doors to the press precisely on Monday, January 3.

Mercedes has vowed to give the concept car the “longest electric range” and achieve the “highest efficiency” of any electric car in history, so it’s safe to say there’s a lot riding on the Vision EQXX. It is worth mentioning the showcar won’t preview a future flagship since the EQS will not lose its position as the range-topping model. Instead, the concept is going to provide a window into the future of next-gen battery tech that will be installed in a compact car.

From this we can deduct the subsequent production model won’t have a massive battery to top the EQS’ already large 107.8-kWh pack since there simply would not be enough space in a compact car to fit a huge battery. As for the concept and its range, the quoted 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) is based on a real-life environment rather than being an optimistic lab-based estimate. Mercedes is confident the Vision EQXX will actually go beyond 1,000 km thanks to advanced aero, lightweight construction, and greater energy density.

Source: Gorden Wagener / Instagram

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