When you think of competitors to Mercedes-Benz, which companies come to mind? BMW and Audi, right? Maybe Lexus?
How about Tesla? It should.
Starting in 2018, Mercedes will release the first of four electric vehicles intended to compete with the offerings from the California-based manufacturer. It’ll be a sedan that splits the size difference between the C- and E-Class. The next vehicle, a crossover with similar dimensions (rendered by Car below), will be positioned in the gap between the GLC and GLE. Both models will ride on 106-inch wheelbases and a new electric vehicle architecture aka EVA. Design inspiration and proportions should come from the Concept IAA (above) that Mercedes showed in Frankfurt last year.
According to Car, EVA “adopts elements of the modular, rear-drive MRA architecture such as the electronic platform, the suspension and the basic body structure.”
The second phase of that platform, EVA II, will underpin a four-door the size of the S-Class and another SUV, one bigger than the GLS.
Given that these will be electric vehicles, expect each one to have a large battery pack weighing about 882 pounds. Depending on vehicle specs, each unit will power one or two electric motors. A 300-kW power plant will move RWD models; an additional 90- or 150-kW motor will be in the front of four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Appropriately, many special features will come with an “e” suffix, such as the adaptive e-suspension, e-brakes with wheel-selective energy recovery, and e-torque vectoring system.
Mercedes-Benz intends to sell 20,000 of each electric model a year. Prices will start in the neighborhood of $75,000 – $86,000.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
