Everything We Learned about the 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC at CES

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC crossover might be the most important vehicle that the company has introduced in the past few decades. It's the first car that Mercedes has designed from the ground up as an electric car; previous models including the B-class Electric Drive and the SLS Electric Drive were based on existing Mercedes models. It's also spearheading the new Mercedes-EQ sub-brand, which is focused on electrification and innovative technology. While it is fairly conventional in terms of design and mission-it's a pretty normal-looking compact crossover, after all-the EQC is radical when it comes to the Mercedes brand.

The EQC made its North American debut this week at the CES technology show in Las Vegas, and while we still don't have U.S. pricing or range (Mercedes claims 279 miles on the European NEDC cycle), we did learn some interesting new details about the new EV. We had the opportunity to sit down with both Leonhard Gebel, the EQC's product manager, and Gorden Wagener, Daimler's chief designer, to learn more about the design and development process of the EQC.

We asked lead engineer Leonhard Gebel about Mercedes' number-one goal in developing the EQC, and he said that it was for the EQC "to be a real Mercedes." The team did not set out to beat competitors outright in any metrics such as range or acceleration-they just wanted it to be "the Mercedes of EVs."

While the EQC rides on the same basic platform as the similarly sized GLC crossover, Gebel emphasized that more than 85 percent of its parts and components are totally new. The GLC platform was easy to modify to the exact needs of the EQC, and it was a lot cheaper to develop than a stand-alone EV platform-although Mercedes is working on one of those for future EQ models.

The EQC will only be available as an EQC400 4Matic at launch, with an 80.0-kWh battery pack, two electric motors making 402 horsepower and 564 lb-ft of torque, and all-wheel drive. But Gebel said that it would be extremely easy to introduce a rear-wheel-drive model with less power or a higher-output model. Different motors and battery packs are possible, and he said that "the EQ brand will work for AMG." Fingers crossed that we eventually see an AMG version with typically absurd power levels.

To Gebel and his team, the most shocking discovery during development was hearing sounds that they never noticed before in internal-combustion-powered vehicles-things such as wind noise and the HVAC system. The engineers found ways to combat the noises unearthed by the lack of engine noise, for instance using noise-insulating glass as standard.

In testing the EQC, Gebel said, they never found it to be more difficult or demanding to test than any regular Mercedes-a benefit of their already rigorous testing regimen, he said. He did point out that Mercedes has more than 200 prototypes out in the world, covering more miles than they usually would to make sure they get their first EV just right.

Design chief Gorden Wagener said that his most important goal in creating the EQC's design was to come up with the EQ brand's design philosophy as a whole first: "Once we got that, we can of course apply it to new EQ models with different shapes and design purposes." He went on to describe the EQ brand's ideal, saying: "EQ, as our progressive luxury brand, is more seamless in design, like a smartphone. The simplicity we do on cars like the CLA, we increased even more." We asked whether the EQC's design process was more difficult than that of other conventionally powered models, and Wagener said no-but it was more exciting.

According to Wagener, the first EQ model was always going to be an SUV. The compact crossover segment comes first because "it's our hottest segment, so it was a no-brainer to start in that segment with an SUV-ish proportion." He described the EQC as "electric sporty," with a character between that of the regular GLC and the GLC coupe.

On current Mercedes-Benz models, a light-up three-pointed star is available as an option-but not in conjunction with options like the adaptive cruise control, which mounts radar sensors behind the logo. The EQC is the first Mercedes model that is able to have both options together, and it's also the first Mercedes to fit the light-up star as standard. It'll be an EQ-brand trademark, but only in the Unites States, as regulations prevent illuminated logos in Europe and China.

Here at C/D, we can get enthusiastic about minor details like fonts. While walking around the EQC on display at CES, we noticed that the rear badging is a completely different font from that of any other Mercedes model. Wagener said that this was intentional-EQ is Mercedes' most progressive branch, and they wanted a font that matches that. The font was inspired by the basic "EQ" logo, which itself was based on a computer's startup button.

Wagener said that starting a new sub-brand from scratch was like working on a blank sheet of paper, especially with the freedom given by an electric powertrain. We asked whether the EQ brand will receive any insane, style-centric models such as the CLA and CLS, and Wagener said: "This is just the start. You will see some really progressive, cool designs. It's fun!"