Mercedes-Benz recently held its third Safe Roads summit in India. The initiative was launched in 2015, with the second iteration taking place in 2019. The German automaker made two significant announcements in the most recent edition. The Vision Zero 2050 initiative was the first to be announced, with the goal of achieving accident-free driving by 2050. The second event featured the Vision EQXX electric concept car, which completed more than 1,000 kilometres on a single charge not once. Earlier this year, the Vision EQXX EV concept was unveiled globally.
Manu Saale, managing director and CEO, of Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI), said, “Vision EQXX is a testament to our development approach. It underlines our pioneering spirit, technological leadership and expertise in electric cars, and positions Mercedes-Benz as a leading tech brand. I am proud to share that MBRDI has contributed extensively towards the development of Vision EQXX”.
The EQXX’s drag coefficient of 0.17Cd, the lowest of any Mercedes-Benz electric car, contributes to its efficiency. The drag coefficient of the EQS 580 is 0.20Cd, which is the best of any production car. This demonstrates Mercedes’ vision for the future of EVs.
Mercedes has strived to maintain the weight as light as possible in order to improve efficiency. The Vision EQXX’s dimensions have also been kept in check by keeping the total package modest.
The Vision EQXX is not the most powerful electric Mercedes-Benz because it focuses on efficiency. It is propelled by a single electric motor that produces 244hp (180kW) and is mounted on the back axle. It houses a 100kWh battery that can charge at up to 900V. As previously stated, the EQXX has a real-world range of over 1,000km, which is around 250km longer than the EQS’s highest-range option.
The Vision EQXX was created with one goal in mind: to maximise efficiency. Mercedes accomplished this by enhancing aerodynamics rather than using a huge capacity battery. While its 100kWh battery gives over 1,000km of range, its main advantage is its aerodynamics.
It is Mercedes-most Benz’s most efficient electric vehicle, achieving roughly 10km per kWh, nearly double the EQS on the WLTP cycle. Mercedes claims that this efficiency is similar to a 1.0-litre petrol engine in an ICE vehicle.
The inclusion of 117 solar cells on the roof also contributes to Vision EQXX’s slightly higher efficiency. Over the course of a day, the solar panels allow it to gain up to 25km of additional range. Currently, the solar panels obscure the rear glass, making it difficult to see out the back.
The Vision EQXX is a four-door coupe with a streamlined design that boasts smooth, flowing lines and few cuts. The Vision EQXX boasts an LED lightbar that spans the width of the vehicle, but the true show stopper is the incorporation of a three-pointed star as daytime running lights in the headlamps.
The Vision EQXX, like the Mercedes-AMG One hypercar, has a Mercedes-Benz brand sticker on the bonnet. It has several three-pointed star designs on the bumper that seem like a grille. This gives the concept car the appearance of being more roadworthy than it is.
The Vision EQXX’s design definitely sticks out from the rest of the EV crowd at the back. With the goal of reducing drag, Mercedes designed this EV with a swooping roofline evocative of the McLaren Speedtail. The rear also has an inverted U-shaped lightbar that serves as a brake light. However, there is a hidden rear diffuser that expands out at high speeds to improve airflow and prevent turbulence. The track width on the Vision EQXX is also staggered, with the rear being 50mm smaller than the front.
The interior of the Vision EQXX was inaccessible at the time, as Mercedes only presented the non-running prototype. Mercedes-Benz will unveil the fully operational and driveable Vision EQXX prototype in India in January.
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