It gained’t be an exaggeration if we are saying that Mercedes-Benz has a love affair with portal axles. It in all probability began with the G500 4×42 earlier than the superior E-Class All-Terrain 4×42 debuted in 2017. Just some weeks in the past, the Stuttgart-based automaker reinvented the concept for the brand new period of mobility with the EQC 4×42.
Solely an idea at this level, the high-riding zero-emission SUV is lastly making its first look on digital camera. A brand new promotional video options the prototype performing off-road maneuvers and pulling wakeboard world champion Sanne Meijer. With the clip, Mercedes asks a basic query – “who says electrical automobiles and action-loaded driving don’t go collectively?” The reply is straightforward: “that’s prior to now.”
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And if you’re nonetheless on the fence about whether or not electrical automobiles can do correct off-roading, the rugged EQC will certainly comfort you. It will get portal axles and a lifted suspension that raises the journey top from the usual 140 mm (5.5 inches) to 293 mm (11.5 inches) – a complete 23 mm (practically one inch) larger than the G-Class. Not solely that, however the swap to portal axles additionally brings a large enhance of the fording depth by 150 mm (5.9 inches) to 400 mm (15.7 inches).
These chunky off-road tires you see in motion within the video are literally 20-inch wheels wrapped in 285/50 R20 rubber. With all these mechanical upgrades, we’ll forgive the one-off EQC for trying loads like a Kia Sportage on the again.
For sure, sadly, Mercedes has no plans to convey that idea into manufacturing. Perhaps a much less hardcore, off-road-oriented model of the EQC is a chance sooner or later nevertheless it’ll be nowhere close to the EQC 4×42‘s outlandish off-road capabilities.