The road to the Mercedes-Benz T-Class van is certainly looking great. That’s if the recently unveiled Mercedes-Benz EQT electric vehicle concept will serve as its blueprint. After teasing about it last year, the three-pointed star marque finally unveiled the concept EV on May 10 using its Mercedes Me Media digital platform.
According to the press release of Mercedes, the EQT is geared towards “families and leisure active private customers”. So, does the van have what it takes to please its target market?
Here is a rundown on the key features of the Mercedes-Benz EQT:
1. Mercedes’ First Premium Van
The EQT is billed as the company’s first premium vehicle in the small van segment for private customers. That is a huge departure from the utilitarian characters of the Sprinter and V-Class.
2. Sleek and Stylish
The all-new model is based on the Renault minivan like the Citan but it incorporates the sensual appeal of the latest Mercedes cars and SUVs. It features cleaner and smoother surfaces adorned with artfully crafted creases replacing the rigid character lines found in the other vans of the German brand.
The vehicle’s exterior is also highlighted by swooping frontal profile, narrow headlamps, illuminated front grille with thin LED strip running across its base, chrome linings, and thin strip of LED bridging the vertical taillights. Lastly, it is topped off with big 21-inch alloy wheels.
3. Spacious Interior
The van is 4945 mm long, 1863 mm wide, and 1829 mm tall. It may be smaller than the V-Class but its maker claims that it can carry up to seven people in its three-row layout.
4. Comfortable and Hi-tech Cabin
The cabin of the van is a breath of fresh air thanks to its two-tone cabin in black and white Nappa leather, chrome accents, individual seating on the first and second rows, foldable and detachable third-row seat, automatic climate control, three-spoke leather steering wheel, multi-function display, and panoramic roof. Like the Mercedes luxury cars and SUVs, the van comes with the MBUX touchscreen infotainment system for added convenience.
5. Power
Mercedes is still mum about the powertrains of the upcoming T-Class, but considering that it will be based on the EQT, it is almost certain to get hybrid and full-electric variants. A closer observation on the instrument cluster of the concept reveals that it is capable of reaching up to 265 km on pure electric power.
Some trims of the T-Class will likely get turbocharged engines. Sources say that it might get the Renault Kangoo E-Tech electric powertrain too.
Market Rollout
The new Mercedes-Benz T-Class is expected to arrive in the market by 2022. The pure electric variant fully based on the Mercedes-Benz EQT will follow at a later date.
