Paris Motor Show 2018: Mercedes-Benz EQC makes its public debut

-    Mercedes-Benz celebrated the public debut of their first-ever electric vehicle. 

-    The EQC is the first product to be launched under the EQ brand.

-    The electric crossover is powered by two electric motors with a combined output of 300kW and a maximum torque of 765Nm.

Mercedes-Benz first showcased the Generation EQ concept back in 2016. Now, the German carmaker went onstage at the 2018 Paris Motor Show EQC with their first electric product under the new EQ brand. The EQ electric crossover is the first of the 10 all-electric products from Mercedes which are slated to arrive by 2025. 

The EQC retains most of its design elements from its Concept. The new imposing grille is done in chrome, while the contrasting glossy black finished surroundings extend all the way to the sleek LED headlamps. The profile is akin to the GLC, which it is based upon, and the raked D-pillar lends the EQC a sportier stance.  Move to the rear, and the single panel LED tail light seems to be similar to the new-gen Cayenne. The rear is finished with a dual chrome set-up where the exhaust tips should have been. The overall dimensions are on par with the conventional powered SUV. The cabin is futuristic and the same set-up will be seen in all the upcoming new-gen vehicles from the Three-Pointed Star. The MBUX integrated wide-screen infotainment system runs across the dashboard. 

Under the skin, the EQC has a set of two motors on each axle. The combined output of 300kW (402bhp) and a maximum twisting force of 765Nm is capable of pushing the crossover from standstill to 100kmph in just 5.1seconds. The zero-emission crossover can do a top speed of 180kmph and go 450km between charges.  The motors are fed through an 80 kWh lithium-ion battery pack which weighs 650kilograms, claims Mercedes, thus tipping the scales for the EQC at 2,425kilograms. 

The EQC arrives as a direct rival to Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model X. However, its prime nemesis is the recently revealed Audi e-tron Quattro. The BMW iNext will join the fray in 2021 as well. We might also expect to see the EQC make its way to India once the EV infrastructure in the country is up to the mark.