Mercedes Unveils Rugged EQC 4×4² Concept: Portal Axles, Chunky Tires
New EQC Concept in many ways is a spiritual successor to the 2017 E-Class All-Terrain 4×4² prototype.
Mercedes-Benz recently shared its electrification strategy and confirmed that electric variants of the company’s Maybach, AMG, and G-Wagen nameplates will soon join the car manufacturer’s vehicle portfolio. Now the Tri-star brand has announced that it will soon enforce a serious cost-cutting plan that will result in the discontinuation of several models. Mercedes will soon retire its manual transmission and several powerplants in favor of electrified models. The Stuttgart-based luxury car manufacturer has now unveiled an all-terrain concept based on the EQC battery-only SUV.
The concept has been dubbed EQC 4×4² and in many ways, it is a spiritual successor to the 2017 E-Class All-Terrain 4×4² prototype. To enhance the battery-powered SUV’s off-roading capability, Mercedes has equipped EQC 4×4² with portal axles. In the past, Mercedes-Benz gave similar treatments to its G650 Landaulet and G500 4×4² offerings. The ground clearance of the zero-emissions concept has been nearly doubled thanks to the upgraded suspension. EQC 4×4²’s now offers 11.5 inches of suspension travel instead of the 5.5-inch travel offered by the standard EQC 400 4Matic model.
This EQC 4×4² concept has even more suspension travel than Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Merc’s all-electric off-road concept stands 7.9 inches taller and 0.4 inches wider than the standard EV. The axle hubs have been raised higher than the wheels with the help of the special hardware upgrades.
EQC 4×4² offers 15.7 inches of fording depth and the electric SUV’s approach angle has been improved to 31.8 degrees as compared to the 20.6 degrees of the standard EQC. Similarly, the departure angle of the 4×4² concept has been increased to 33 degrees as opposed to 20 degrees of the EQC 400 4Matic.
To accommodate the 20-inch heavy-duty alloys that are wrapped in chunky 285/50 R tires, Mercedes has modified the bodywork of the EQC and installed flared wheel arches that sport a contrasting black paint scheme. The EQC 4×4² concept also gets sporty “4×4²” decals on the sides but the EV’s pièce de résistance has to be its headlamps.
Mercedes calls them “lampspeakers” and they are essentially a part of the Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS). Car manufacturers have to equip their EVs with AVAS to comply with electric vehicle safety regulations.
The headlamps have built-in loudspeakers which are used to produce noise that warns bystanders of the vehicle’s presence. As with its spiritual predecessor- the E-Class All-Terrain 4×4², Mercedes-Benz EQC 4×4² is also a standalone technological demonstration that will unfortunately not be put into production.
Photos: Daimler