Frankfurt Motor Show - After announcing plans to launch a range of all-electric EQ-badged cars in 2016, Mercedes-Benz has added a Golf-sized hatch model called the EQA to the concept car line-up.
The EQA follows last year’s EQC - a similarly styled electric SUV, which debuted at the Paris Motor Show - and while both are strictly concept cars (for now), it’s believed the newcomer might preview some styling elements for the upcoming new A-Class and for the upcoming EQ family.
However the next A-Class won't share the EQA’a virtual grill design, which is a black panel LED screen (not unlike a modern TV) that’s used to display which mode the car is in.
With Sport mode engaged this ‘TV’ grill shows an animated flaming wing design in horizontal layout, and in Sport Plus this changes to a vertically slatted Panamerica-style grill similar to that on the new AMG GT R supercar. The EQA’s headlights, which use laser fibre strands for illumination, also seamlessly blend into this black panel.
Propulsion comes from a pair of electric motors driving all four wheels, but Mercedes-Benz isn’t specific about outputs saying only that power is “more than" 200kW and 500Nm. This means acceleration from 0-100km/h in “about” 5 seconds.
With a fully charged battery the EQA is good for a range of up to 400km, says Mercedes, while a 10 minute top up at a rapid charging station can provide juice for around 100km.