Author: Sasha Lekach / Source: Mashable
Following years of rumors that Mercedes-Benz might unleash an electric model into a high-end market that has so far been dominated by Tesla, the German auto maker finally showed a major card in its hand on Tuesday when it unveiled its plans for a zero-emission crossover SUV called the EQC.
The vehicle will be the first in its EQ lineup — “EQ” meaning “electric intelligence” — and will start production in 2019 with an expected 280-mile electric range. In a series of statements, Mercedes described the EQC as a “muscular” vehicle with a new “electro-look;” the “design idiom of Progressive Luxury.”
Hyperbole aside, the instrument cluster and media display (or “infotainment system,” in Daimler’s terms) is a proprietary system called MBUX, which will learn user patterns and behaviors. So if you listen to NPR at the same time every day, a suggestion will pop up for that action during that time of the day, and navigation to frequently visited locations will automatically load in the background of the screen when it thinks you want to go there.
A lithium-ion battery will power the vehicle to a 110-mile-per-hour…
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