Fans of Mercedes-Benz and electric cars are probably wondering what Stuttgart has in store to compete with the likes of BMW’s i and Tesla Motors, as the luxury EV wars continue to heat up and gain momentum.
Mercedes did say that they could create a sub-brand similarly to BMW’s i program, but they decided not to and preferred to integrate the new models into the already preexisting lineup. They think it’ll be an easier and smoother sell to offer alternatively powered vehicles in an already familiar package, to avoid confusion by creating an entire new lineup, like BMW with the i3 and the i8.
The result, according to AutoCar, are some new electrified vehicles from the Silver Arrow, specifically, two new sedans and two SUVs by the year 2020. This is on top of the already pending next-generation B-Class Electric Drive, which will be launched in Europe later this year.
Word was shared by Merc’s outgoing research and development head, Thomas Weber, that the new sedans could essentially be electrified versions of the C-Class and the S-Class sedans, as the Mercedes’ official premiere to all-electric luxury cars. This makes sense considering the C-, S-, and even the middling E-Class are basically built off of the company’s latest modular platform. That platform was also designed with electric and hybrid powertrains in mind.
The original platform is called the MRA. No, it’s not a body scanner. It stands for Modular Rear Architecture, while the electrified version is basically the MRA platform, designed for accommodating battery packs and electric motors–and it’s called the Modular Electric Architecture. Such creative, much interesting…
As for the crossover SUVs, the case is pretty much the same with their respective modular platforms. Hints and pointers are directed at an EV based on the latest GLA crossover, as well as the C-Class-based GLC crossover.
Ok, so what’s powering them? Specifics weren’t shared to the exact “t”, but power figures are said to range from 101hp to 536hp, meaning Mercedes-Benz is setting their eyes directly on Tesla.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: AutoCar
Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/1s86YFy
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