Mercedes-Benz’ testing of its all-electric vehicles have moved to the next stage, with the upcoming EQ C fully electric SUV now spotted testing in Sweden in its production body. A previous development mule was seen wearing the bodyshell of a GLC instead.

Essentially paving the way for a production version of the Generation EQ concept, which also marked the birth of the Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle sub-brand. The EQ C will be underpinned by the German automaker’s EVA scalable EV platform, which itself is based upon the firm’s MRA (Modular Rear wheel-drive Architecture) platform – body, suspension and basic electrical components.

Motive power is tipped to be from either a 402 hp electric motor driving the rear wheels only, or which is supplemented by a 122 hp or 204 hp motor driving the front wheels. Energy will come from a 400 kg battery pack, and total range of at least 500 km on a single charge.

Features such as adaptive suspension, regenerative braking and electric torque vectoring are all tipped to be standard equipment on all EQ models to come, according to our spy photographer sources.

As for the bodyshell itself, we can see that the EQ C sports a shape that still largely resembles that of the GLC, although certain cues such as the headlamp detail point towards a new design direction more akin that of the Generation EQ concept.

Around the back, the tail lamps still have a strong GLC flavour about them with their slim, horizontal layout, however further aesthetic detailing should be revealed later on when the EQ C sheds more of its camouflage. The interior has yet to be seen, however it will almost certainly be far more restrained than the Generation EQ concept’s; those individual rear buckets will surely yield to a conventional bench.

Also in the EQ pipeline – or pylon, figuratively speaking – is a smaller model in the form of the EQ A, though that remains at the concept stage for the time being.




GALLERY: Mercedes-Benz Generation EQ Concept

Generation EQ, Exterieur ; Generation EQ, exterior;
Generation EQ, Exterieur ; Generation EQ, exterior;
Generation EQ, Exterieur ; Generation EQ, exterior;
Generation EQ, Exterieur ; Generation EQ, exterior;

Generation EQ, Exterieur ; Generation EQ, exterior;
Generation EQ, Exterieur ; Generation EQ, exterior;
Generation EQ, Exterieur ; Generation EQ, exterior;
Generation EQ, Exterieur ; Generation EQ, exterior;
Generation EQ, Exterieur ; Generation EQ, exterior;

Generation EQ, Exterieur ; Generation EQ, exterior;
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Vorsitzender des Vorstands der Daimler AG und Leiter Mercedes-Benz Cars am Generation EQ ; Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars with the Generation EQ;
Generation EQ, Interieur, Pedale zum Beschleunigen und Verzögern ; Generation EQ, interior, accelerators;
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Vorsitzender des Vorstands der Daimler AG und Leiter Mercedes-Benz Cars im Generation EQ ; Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars in the Generation EQ;

Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, Vorstandsmitglied der Daimler AG, Konzernforschung und Mercedes-Benz Cars Entwicklung am Generation EQ ; Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development with the Generation EQ;
Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, Vorstandsmitglied der Daimler AG, Konzernforschung und Mercedes-Benz Cars Entwicklung im Generation EQ ; Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development in the Generation EQ;
Ola Källenius, Vorstandsmitglied der Daimler AG, Mercedes-Benz Cars Vertrieb im Generation EQ ; Ola Källenius, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing & Sales in the Generation EQ;
Generation EQ, Interieur, Innenraum mit vier Einzelsitzen ; Generation EQ, interior, interior with for individual seats;
Generation EQ, Interieur, avantgardistisch und funktional gestalteter Innenraum ; Generation EQ, interior, avant-garde, functional interior;

Generation EQ, Interieur, fahrerorientiertes Cockpit ; Generation EQ, interior, driver-oriented cockpit;
Generation EQ, Interieur, Türöffner und elektrische Fensterheber werden mit Touch-Elementen bedient ; Generation EQ, interior, both the door openers and the electric window lifters are touch-controlled;