After literally months of teasers published online, this week we finally got to see the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX Concept unveiled in full, with amazing numbers on its side and a design that will surely raise at least a few eyebrows. However, this is clearly a concept, meant to only show what can be done with enough leeway, so what you see here should be taken with a grain of salt, not as a definitive shape for a production car. But what is the Vision EQXX Concept after all?
This is the most efficient interpretation of a sedan to come out of Mercedes-Benz’s capable hands in its over 100 years of automotive experience. The Vision EQXX Concept was created to prove that electric cars can be easy to live with and, according to the company’s estimates, its incredible range would only require charging it twice a month. With an estimated autonomy of 620 miles, that seems like a stretch for most drivers, who don’t cover such long stretches in just four weeks.
The body of the car was streamlined to the absolute limit, in order to make sure that the energy consumption figures are as low as possible. To that end, the Vision EQXX Concept is a preview for a what would be the world’s most aerodynamic production car, if it enters production in this shape. That’s because the EQXX has an aerodynamic drag coefficient of just 0.17, thanks to extensive wind tunnel work. It is 182.3 inches long and has a wheelbase of 110.2 inches. To put things into perspective, the new C-Class is 187 inches long and has a wheelbase of 112.8 inches. Therefore, while the pictures might make the EQXX Concept look long and wide, it’s really smaller than a C-Class.
That means the battery included in the floor of the car can’t exceed certain physical limitations. Mercedes-Benz didn’t offer an exact number but said that the battery is smaller than 100 kWh. While that may seem small, considering the range estimates, the secret lies in other key areas, from the aerodynamic shape to the battery chemistry. According to the German company, the cells occupy 50 percent less volume than the ones used in the EQS while also being 30 percent lighter, for similar energy storage capacities.
In order to help out, the roof of the Vision EQXX Concept also features 117 solar cells that can feed energy into the system for ancillary electric systems (HVAC, lights, infotainment), freeing up some 15.5 miles of range in the process. Last, but not least, the electric motor, good for 201 HP and mounted on the rear axle, is supposed to be so efficient that 95 percent of the energy ends up at the wheels.
Inside the cabin you’ll find sustainable materials used all over, including fabric that uses Biosteel silk-like fiber, vegan leather made of mushrooms, animal-free leather from pulverized cactus fibers and bamboo-based carpets. There’s also a huge 8K screen spanning the entire width of the dashboard. For now, the Vision EQXX Concept remains just that, a concept, but Mercedes-Benz says it is previewing a production model, without offering any indication as to when we could expect to see it.
