The Mercedes-Benz Concept EQ

Electro-aesthetics.

Design philosophy of sensual purity becomes avant-garde, contemporary and distinctive electro-look.

The monolithic basic form of "Concept EQ" unites the genes of an SUV with the dynamic character of a coupé and a dash of shooting brake at the rear end. The squat, elongated greenhouse gives rise to muscular-purist proportions. The new electro-look is the result of a flowing transition from the gleaming black bonnet across the windscreen to the dark-tinted panoramic roof – an exciting contrast to the alubeam silver paintwork.

Concept EQ is hot and cool. Its fascination lies in a reinterpretation of our design philosophy of sensual purity, the aim being to create an avant-garde, contemporary and distinctive electro-look. At the same time, the design of the visionary show car, which has been reduced to the essentials, reveals an alluring progressivity.

Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Daimler AG

Cockpit in electro-look

The focus of the driver-oriented cockpit is on simple, touch-based controls with a new electro-look consistently reflecting the exterior styling. The asymmetrical design of the instrument panel with its large, floating wide-screen display is tailored to the driver. The innovative, digital user experience differentiates "Concept EQ" from the familiar control logic in today’s vehicles while giving a peek into the future of user interaction at Mercedes-Benz.

Interior characterised by contemporary luxury

The interior of "Concept EQ" is characterised by contemporary luxury, finding its main expression in an all-new user interface which combines emotive appeal with intelligence and user-friendliness while dispensing with traditional switches and knobs, except for the electric seat adjustment typical for Mercedes. Two of the three narrow spokes on the steering wheel are provided with touch controls, which are integrated into OLED displays. They indicate icons and symbols in the respective menus. The 24-inch TFT high-definition wide-screen display presents all the relevant information, such as speed, range, driving data, or navigation and map details. The innovation is apparent from the differentiation between a highly reduced and a complex display, including intermediate stages. Whether there is a low information density with a very clean look to the display or whether extra content is on view is left to the driver’s personal preference.

New light signature for electric cars

With a new exterior and interior light signature, the inventor of the automobile presents the design trend for future electric vehicles with the star. The distinguishing mark of "Concept EQ" is the “Black Panel” front grille: The white-illuminated Mercedes star and all the light elements are integrated in this seamless glazed design element.

The peripheral light strip of the “Black Panel” is equally typical of "Concept EQ". Embedded in it are the white, powerful LED headlamps. Viewed from the side, the flowing E-line and beltline form a frame around the base of the mirror camera.

The rear lamps take up the contour of the “Black Panel” and are surrounded by an LED optical fibre in electric blue which changes to red when the vehicle is moving and acts as a tail light. The central Mercedes star at the rear end is likewise illuminated in white. Similarly to the front end, the clasp-like light signature on the outside changes to orange as soon as the direction indicator is operated.

Avant-garde interior

"Concept EQ" comes with four individual seats. The reduced volume, impression of floating in space and avant-garde seat upholstery layout make for a visual lightness. A tailored sound experience is provided by speakers integrated into the head restraints. The side bolsters are covered in light-white leather, while perforations with a pixel rain look reveal a view of particles in rose gold. Stitching with a PCB look on the deep-brown centre sections produces an exciting contrast. TFT monitors for rear-seat entertainment are integrated into the front backrests.

A special feel-good atmosphere is produced by the adaptive ambience lighting on board "Concept EQ". There are lighting elements in the light strip underneath the windscreen, on the side and middle air vents, seats, door handles and interior door panels, on the centre console and around the Mercedes star in the steering wheel.