For the past few months, the Silver Star automaker has been unveiling a number of new electric models. Already, the EQS lineup includes an SUV and a sedan, while the EQE can also boast both body styles. But the German division must also think about appealing to a clientele that can’t necessarily afford a vehicle that hovers above $100,000.
In this regard, the British publication Autocar reports that future affordable electric models, starting in 2024, will benefit from the technology unveiled earlier this year in the impressive Vision EQXX prototype.
The first vehicle to benefit from the EQXX prototype’s technical advances will be a sedan with proportions similar to those of the CLA sedan-coupe, a claim confirmed by Robert Lesnick, Mercedes’ head of exterior design. The Stuttgart-based automaker will finally be able to compete with the other electric sedans on the market (Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2 and BMW i4) with a sedan that should in principle offer a little more interior space than the current CLA.
The flexibility of electric platforms allows for more roomy configurations inside, thanks to the placement of the batteries under the vehicle and the reduced size of the mechanicals, among other things. This new offensive will be based on a new modular platform, in addition to being dressed in an aerodynamic silhouette, as is already the case with the EQ models or even this EQXX prototype.
We can also expect the use of denser and lighter battery packs. On board the prototype, the EQXX’s 100 kWh battery pack is almost half the size of the one used in the brand’s first EVs. CATL is responsible for supplying the batteries for Mercedes-Benz.
The automaker is also planning to reduce the size – and weight – of the motors used in its future models, while new assembly methods are also on the agenda.
It will be interesting to see where the brand goes in the coming months, as the arrival of this optimized technology could well help Mercedes-Benz make its entry-level products more profitable.
