140mm of extra ground clearance for EV EQC
Joins G 500 and E 400 Wagon 4×4 Squared Models
Worried that electrification means that Mercedes-Benz won’t still do absurd vehicles like the off-road beast that was the G-Class 4×4 squared? Don’t be, because they’re doing it again and this time using the slightly less boxy but now no less impressive EQC.
Mercedes-Benz calls the EQC 4×4² “an electric car of extremes,” and we’d be hard-pressed to disagree. Just look at those fender flares, pushing the edges of the arches out 10 cm and allowing the fitment of 20-inch wheels and 285-wide all-terrain tires.
The 4×4² sits 140 mm higher than the standard Mercedes-Benz EQC, and that makes it 58 mm higher than even a G-Class. It can ford 40 cm of water thanks to the ground clearance offered by portal axles. Those axles add a gearset at each wheel that allows the center of the wheel to sit well below the level of the axle (and differential) boosting it up and letting the underside of the EQC stay well away from obstacles.
While better for hopping rocks and logs, the 4×4² can also better approach and depart over hills with massively higher clearance angles thanks to the lift. Off-road drive modes use the brakes and electric power controllers to help move grip around and maintain traction.
Despite the wide tires, the EQC 4×4² offers a tight turning circle thanks to the four-link front axle. Interesting for an off-roader, the EQC 4×4² uses a new acoustic alert system made just for the model that turns the headlights into “lampspeakers” and produces more volume and a unique soundscape for the model. Does that mean it’ll make fake rock scrape noises? Probably not, but it should sound interesting.
Mercedes-Benz didn’t say if this was just a concept or if they had plans to build it, but since this is a zero-emission model, and because the G 500 4×4² was a big hit, you might just end up seeing this electric rock crawler at your local dealer.
