See the Jaw-Dropping Mercedes Vision EQXX Up Close

Luxury electric vehicles were always going to go hand in hand with the more urbane and typical machines that you would expect on the market. While the hypercars of Ferrari and Lamborghini aren’t likely to join the likes of Tesla and Rivian just yet, Porsche, BMW, and Mercedes have developed their own offerings for the market.

Mercedes, in particular, have been refining their high-tech EV, the Vision EQXX, since its introduction in June 2020. The EQXX’s recent showing at CES 2023 has shown even more promise for this hyper-efficient luxury EV. Let’s take a look at the tech, specs, and promises Mercedes are making for their next steps forward with the EV platform.

4 Facts About the Mercedes Vision EQXX

1. Rumored to be the most efficient EV on the market.
2. It’s solar-capable.
3. Could enter production in 2024.
4. Has less drag than an American football.

Mercedes Vision EQXX Specs

Mercedes Vision EQXX: Where to Buy?

The Vision EQXX isn’t a production vehicle, but rather a test bed for Mercedes’s electric vehicle platform. Technical advancements made by Mercedes will likely be found in their future EVs. This is a given considering the massive leap forward their battery tech seems to have over their closest competitors.

The History of the Mercedes Vision EQXX: What to Know

Mercedes developed the EQXX with minimal turnaround. The Vision EQXX comes as a blank sheet exercise meant to demonstrate the dedication and drive to stay committed to pivoting Mercedes-Benz to a fully electric automotive manufacturer.

With other EVs introduced by established manufacturers, there have been some design cues taken from their previous gasoline-powered vehicles. Mercedes, on the other hand, has started with a fresh canvas.

The initial design for the EQXX had its start in 2020. The first driveable prototype made its debut in 2022. Mercedes-Benz leaned on not only its traditional automotive department but also its F1 design team. The result is a highly efficient EV. It is capable of extreme operational ranges that exceed even the highest capacity battery options from Tesla.

Designed For Range

Mercedes have festooned the vehicle with solar panels, aiding in efficiency along with the highly aerodynamic automobile frame. With a drag coefficient of 0.17, it is one of the most aerodynamic electric vehicles designed. The solar panels atop the vehicle don’t necessarily charge the entirety of the battery but do take the pressure off other systems so more efficient usage of the battery can occur.

The Vision EQXX is an elegant vehicle. It has an unusual design for a production car but is perfect for a concept car. Its scalloped exterior is the result of months of research and development to find an efficient aerodynamic design to minimize drag.

This has the added benefit of reducing power consumption. Which, in turn, leads to greater range on the battery when driving at optimal speeds.

Mercedes’ mission statement was to produce a vehicle that was lightweight, aerodynamic, easy to use, and could travel over 500 miles on a single charge. To say they’ve succeeded would be an understatement. The Vision EQXX made a voyage from Germany to the United Kingdom in under 12 hours. The journey ended up totaling 747 miles traveled on a single charge.

Public Reception to the Vision EQXX

Mercedes’s concept testbed has been met with near-universal praise. While it isn’t a production vehicle just yet, Mercedes is taking steps to implement the technology into actual production vehicles. Mercedes-Benz will be launching a vehicle using the technology from the EQXX with a direct competitor to the BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3.

The electric sedan isn’t going to take every aspect of the EQXX and reproduce them. However, the aerodynamics, performance, and range should impact the production model meant to debut in 2024.

The Vision EQXX serves as a modular platform and testbed. Mercedes-Benz has developed a truly breathtaking platform that they can use as the basis for all future electric vehicles, further refining it.

What this means for Mercedes-Benz and their future electric vehicles is brimming with potential, and one can only hope to see other manufacturers take some inspiration from them.

CES 2023

Mercedes and their Vision EQXX made an appearance at CES 2023, with their exhibition being titled, “Tech to Desire.” The manufacturer showed the Vision EQXX prototype to the public and showed many of the new features and technology making their way to future Mercedes EVs.

Mercedes will roll out their North American charging network, accounting for 400 hubs and 2,500 chargers covering the continent by 2027. Further networks will be established in Asia, Europe, and elsewhere after the successful initial deployment of the North American one.

Vision EQXX’s appearance was in a lifesize model, giving attendees a chance to get a close-up look at the concept car. Mercedes also detailed their autonomous driving platform, capable of SAE level 3 in specific conditions in the states of Nevada and California.

Hopefully, further locations arrive after its successful development. Mercedes-Benz is the first manufacturer with an internationally recognized certification for the deployment of an autonomous platform. The United States hasn’t ratified nationally recognized provisions for autonomous EVs, so California and Nevada make for good testing areas.