The second-generation compact electrical SUV switches to a devoted EV platform that ought to assist increase house and driving vary
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by Chris Chilton
4 hours in the past
The Tesla Mannequin Y has been the electrical SUV to beat for the previous couple of years, and in Europe, the place the Y is the best-selling automotive of any form or energy sort, rivals can’t get near matching its gross sales numbers.
However life for the Mannequin Y will get more and more tough over the following few years. Not solely will it quickly discover itself below fireplace from Chinese language manufacturers increasing exterior of China for the primary time, however the established luxurious automotive manufacturers Tesla stole prospects from are combating again.
BMW is on the point of launch the primary EV to make use of its Neue Klasse platform, an electrical SUV that might be known as iX3. And Mercedes is placing the ending touches to the EV you see right here, the 2026 EQC SUV (or GLC EV, as some sources check with it). The EQC badge has been round since 2018, however simply as the present European BMW iX3, which isn’t bought within the U.S., is merely an electrified X3, right now’s EQC is just an EV-converted model of the combustion GLC SUV. The subsequent EQC, although, will change to an EV-centric platform that ought to make the Mk2 SUV much more aggressive.
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Shifting to a devoted drawback ought to imply massive positive aspects in cabin and baggage house because of the superior packaging, but it surely may also deliver reductions in curb weight that may make the brand new EV far sharper to drive, sooner in a straight line and capable of eek extra miles from a kilowatt of cost. True, the platform has additionally been designed to accommodate combustion engines, however this time it’s the electrical automobiles which have been given precedence on the planning and engineering stage, and the ICE variations which have needed to settle for the compromises.
This prototype sadly doesn’t appear to be sporting any much less camouflage than the final one we noticed again in the summertime, and it’s arduous to get a transparent thought of the design particulars. However the camo can’t cover the flared hips, flush door handles and pretty sporty roofline on this subsequent EQC. We’re sticking with the EQC title to make issues easy, but it surely feels like Mercedes gained’t be in line with studies from the start of this 12 months that stated the automaker was making ready to ditch its (typically complicated and convoluted) EQ naming technique.
Made within the USA
Whatever the title Mercedes chooses for it, studies point out that the EV will probably be manufactured at Mercedes’ 6-million-square-foot Vance, Alabama plant. Based on provide chain sources who spoke to Autonews this week, Mercedes plans to shift manufacturing of the flagship EQS SUV from Alabama to make room for the brand new EQC (or GLC EV). Manufacturing of the EQS SUV is about to maneuver to Bremen, Germany, within the second half of the last decade.
