New Mercedes-Benz EV Sedan Prototype Spied On The Road
A new compact sedan may be underway in the Mercedes-Benz EQ EV line. The prototype of the electric vehicle was recently spotted during testing by spy photographers.
Photo courtesy of Brian Williams/Spiedbilde via Car and Driver
Mercedes-Benz currently has two sedans in its EQ range, namely the EQE and the EQS. Another may be coming up and it will likely be based on the Concept EQXX unveiled last year.
The subject of the spy shots by Car and Driver shows a fully camouflaged vehicle, which makes it hard to discern the auto’s identity. However, it appears to be riding on the MMA platform reserved for the small EVs of the three-pointed star marque.
If this is the case, expect the auto to carry an electric range of around 200 miles (based on EPA standards), as touted by the recently unveiled Concept CLA. But then again, if it follows the promise of the EQXX, it’s a potential 745 miles on a full charge according to Mercedes’ claims.
Photo courtesy of Brian Williams/Spiedbilde via Car and Driver
The source suspects that we may be looking at the production version of the anticipated CLA EV. On the other hand, it’s also possible that it’s the C-Class EV we have been seeing a lot lately.
Regardless of whether it’s the electric CLA or C-Class, it will likely inherit the Concept CLA’s 800-volt super fast charging architecture. This would allow a 200-mile run in mere 15 minutes of charging using a 250-kW DC fast charger. It’s also expected to carry an electric motor with around 235 hp managed via an ultra-efficient two-speed transmission.
The production version of the Mercedes-Benz CLA EV will probably be unveiled as early as next year. Meanwhile, the rumored C-Class EV will possibly come around 2025. But then again, if this is a test mule for an all-new class slotted between the two, it will be a whole new story altogether.
