While many enjoyed the futuristic display of the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 at the Paris Motor Show, another unveiling included the new Mercedes-Benz Generation EQ, a fully electric SUV.
Mercedes-Benz originally introduced consumers to the F 015 Luxury in Motion for their first fully electric self-driving vehicle. While the F 015 was a unique self driving office on wheels, the concept car was more a display of technical innovation than specific market demand.
This time Mercedes-Benz has decided to produce a concept car that will have a much stronger market. As a fully electric SUV, Mercedes-Benz continues to push into the SUV market that has remained strong.
Almost 25% of vehicles currently sold are SUV’s, and with the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz GLA a while back Mercedes-Benz continues to strongly push into this market.
The GLA was a direct competitor for market dominance BMW and Audi were taking in the SUV and compact SUV space. Mercedes-Benz isn’t only focused on the SUV market, as Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche insisted the fully scalable powertrains and architectures inside the Generation EQ would give Mercedes-Benz a battery-electric family of an SUV, a sedan, a wagon, a coupe, two and four seat convertibles and more.
The Generation EQ is still a concept car but considered to be very close to a production model, with many saying the production vehicle will bear a very similar resemblance to the concept car. This look is being called the electro look by Mercedes-Benz, a futuristic minimalism similar to the zero emission minimalism of the vehicle.
The Generation EQ is powered by two electric motors producing 402 hp, providing a 0 - 60 mph in under 5 seconds. Energy in reserved in a 70 kWh battery providing coverage for 300 miles.
The electro look designed interior has a sleek minimalism. It includes a floating wide display and lack of knobs, relying instead of touch sensitive interfaces in order to control the vehicle.
This is expected for a company that continues to innovate in autonomous driving. No need for knobs when you being driven and your car is now your iPad as well. Mercedes-Benz is utilizing their HERE mapping system to provide driver assistance programs to fully develop autonomous vehicles.
But the real innovation is Mercedes-Benz venturing into every aspect of zero emission, clean energy consumer products.
This is direct competition for Tesla, as Zetsche says, Those in the luxury market looking for electric vehicles continue to have more and more choices as luxury manufacturers continue to develop and innovate their electric production line. But Mercedes-Benz continues to be a leader as they stand on their four pillars of being connected, autonomous, shared and electric.