Daily Archives: September 5, 2017
Mercedes-Benz Concept EQ A Teased Ahead of Frankfurt Show
Mercedes-Benz Concept EQA
Can you still remember the Generation EQ concept by Mercedes-Benz that made its debut at last year’s Paris auto show? That signaled the German automaker’s commitment to finally introduce a fully electric lineup. It was set to preview on the new crossover model called the EQ C.
Mercedes’ latest EV concept, the EQ A, is going to the Frankfurt Auto Show. Surprisingly, though, the German brand has given us a taste of what’s to come.
The EQ A looks very similar to the Generation EQ concept shown last year. It has the same basic architecture—long hood, gaping front grille, and flared fenders. We can’t be sure about that front grille, though, since the teaser photos have been darkened to keep features secret until the motor show.
What we can derive from the darkened photos is that the new concept will have sharper headlights divided from the rest of the car’s grille and a standard hexagonal Mercedes-Benz family grille design language. The Generation EQ is being powered by an electric motor on each axle with a lithium-ion battery that has a range of 310 miles. Will we see the same one on the EQ A? We’ll have to wait for the motor show for that.
The German auto brand plans to use the EQ concept for its range of electronic vehicle lineup. Before 2020, Mercedes-Benz promised to come up with at least four electric-powered vehicles. It will also be fitted in the hybrid setups of Mercedes’ lineup of vehicles, the first one being the Formula 1-derived Project One. But don’t expect the hybrid cars for the Formula 1 Project One and the EQ to have any shared components because of the former’s race history.
The Mercedes-Benz EQ A will make its debut during the Frankfurt Auto Show, so stay tuned for more details.
Cadillac CT6 With Super Cruise Sells For $71,300
Looking for an autonomous driving car? The top-end Cadillac CT6 that has been fitted with the Super Cruise autonomous driving system will sell for about $71,300, the same price tag that the Tesla Model S with similar technology is gunning for.
Beginning this fall, the Super Cruise autonomous driving system will charge $5,000 for anyone who wants to opt for it in the Cadillac CT6 Premium Luxury trim, Uwe Ellinghaus, Cadillar’s chief marketing officer, said. The price tag will be an add-on to the CT6’s $66,290, shipping included.
Those with $85,290, including shipping, to spare can have the package on the top-end CT6 Platinum model. The Super Cruise will be standard on that trim model, which had a $500 increase from the 2017 model year but the same with the 2018 pricing.
The Super Cruise is part of the mid-model-year addition that Cadillac dubbed as “2018i.” Originally, it was expected to charge $2,500 for two models, but Cadillac has since changed the pricing options. Ellinghaus said that it’s pertinent for Cadillac to make Super Cruise standard on the top-level CT6 because it’s still a new technology. Basically, this is a “trial” for Cadillac owners who may still not know they want what the system has to offer.
He added that the Super Cruise is the kind of system you “will never want to give it up” after trying it. Ellinghaus likened it with the head-up displays.
To make it more accessible to customers, Cadillac is topping its more than 900 dealers to have the Super Cruise-equipped CT6 models in their showrooms.
The Super Cruise includes Driver’s Awareness and Convenience and Enhanced Vision and Comfort packages. Aside from controlling the steering, braking, and acceleration in certain situations, as well as allowing the drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel and feet off the pedals while driving, the system added a safety measure to monitor facial cues and pupils. The system will be able to sense when the driver is either sleeping or not paying attention. It can then send alerts through audio warnings and a light bar on the steering wheel.
