Mercedes not too long ago unveiled the brand new Mercedes C-Class W206 however didn’t give any particulars a couple of potential electrical model. German journal auto motor und sport speculates {that a} future Mercedes C-Class electrical might be constructed on the MMA platform.
Like VW, Mercedes has adopted a radical answer for future electrical fashions by creating a totally separate platform, referred to as EVA.
On this platform, Mercedes has already introduced the upcoming Mercedes EQS and Mercedes EQE sedans and the EQS SUV and EQE SUV SUVs. However Mercedes says nothing a couple of potential Mercedes C-Class electrical.
Mercedes at the moment makes use of the MRA II platform for standard and Plug-In Hybrid fashions which can be primarily based on rear-wheel drive. This class contains all limousines from C-Class to S-Class and all SUVs from GLC to GLS.
Nevertheless, the present electrical fashions from Mercedes are primarily based on standard platforms: MRA II modified for EQC and MFA II modified for EQA and EQB. Mercedes introduced in October 2020 that along with the EVA platform for high-class fashions, it’ll develop a second platform devoted to electrical propulsion for compact and middle-class fashions that will likely be referred to as MMA.
On the time of the announcement within the fall of 2020, we didn’t pay a lot consideration to the truth that Mercedes specified that the MMA platform will likely be devoted to compact and MIDDLE CLASS electrical fashions.
It is because when it comes to standard propulsion and PHEV, the C-Class makes use of the MRA II platform having the identical base because the bigger fashions E-Class and S fashions.
Now, the electrical propulsion adjustments the group of the segments and the longer term electrical C-Class will be part of the compact class fashions with which it’ll share the brand new MMA platform.
Within the October 2020 presentation, Mercedes introduced 5 electrical fashions on the MMA platform however didn’t give any info. Auto motor und sport claims that the primary mannequin on the brand new MMA structure will seem in 2024 and might be a mixture between an SUV and a limousine (SUL) or a usually barely taller limousine. In 2024, a facelift is deliberate for the brand new C-Class W206, however no electrical model is deliberate.
Markus Schafer, head of improvement at Mercedes, stated the brand new MMA platform can be appropriate for C-Class-sized autos. Actually, there’s a distinction of solely 5 cm between the compact 4-door CLA coupe constructed on the MFA II platform and the brand new Mercedes C-Class.
The massive shock is that the MMA platform will even have the ability to obtain standard engines. Markus Schafer stated that the MMA platform was developed primarily for electrical propulsion however that it could possibly additionally obtain standard engines. It doesn’t matter that the brand new MMA structure can solely be used for fashions with 3 or most 4-cylinder engines.
The brand new C-Class has already given up on 6-cylinder engines and that’s the reason it’s potential that the following era Mercedes C-Class will likely be developed on the MMA platform. It is usually good additionally for PHEV propulsion programs.
Mercedes has introduced 10 electrical fashions by 2025. Along with EQC, EQV, EQA and EQB that are transition fashions, being constructed on standard platforms comply with the 4 luxurious fashions on the devoted EVA platform: EQE, EQS, EQE SUV and EQS SUV .
A complete of 8 fashions. There are nonetheless two unknowns till 2025 that can certainly come on the MMA Platform that begins in 2024. One among them might be this SUL, a combination between limousine and SUV or a limousine just a bit taller.
One factor is for certain: Mercedes wants a rival for the Tesla Mannequin 3 and the brand new BMW i4. And an electrical Mercedes C-Class can be the right candidate.
