Mercedes A35, GLE, EQC And Smart Forease Concept
The Paris Motor Show doesn鈥檛 officially kick off until tomorrow, but that hasn鈥檛 stopped Mercedes from unveiling an assortment of new models at a special event in the city. Starting things off is the Mercedes-AMG A35 4MATIC which is designed to slot between the standard A-Class and the upcoming A45. Given its positioning, the model has a hot - but not too hot - turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 301 hp and 400 Nm of torque. The engine is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and an all-wheel drive system. This setup enables the hatchback to rocket from 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds before hitting a limited top speed of 250 km/h. As part of the AMG makeover, the car has been equipped with a sportier front fascia which features a revised grille, a new splitter and small flics. The rear end has also been updated thanks to a new bumper, a distinctive diffuser and an AMG dual exhaust system. Other highlights include a sports steering system, an AMG Ride Control suspension and 18-inch lightweight alloy wheels which are backed up by a high-performance braking system.
While the A35 is certainly an interesting addition to the Mercedes lineup, crossovers were front and center at today鈥檚 event. The more interesting of the two was the electric EQC which will compete with the Audi E-Tron. Set to become Mercedes鈥?first mainstream electric vehicle, the EQC has two electric motor which are powered by an 80 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This setup gives the crossover all-wheel drive and a combined output of 402 hp and 765 Nm of torque. In terms of performance, the EQC can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 5.1 seconds and hit a limited top speed of 180 km/h. The company also says the model will be able to travel more than 450 km on a single charge in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). The other crossover at today鈥檚 event was the 2019 GLE. Set to battle the redesigned BMW X5, the GLE sports an evolutionary design which follows the company鈥檚 latest styling philosophy.
Larger and more luxurious than its predecessor, the GLE will be launched with a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that produces 362 hp and 500 Nm of torque. The powertrain also has an EQ Boost function which can temporarily deliver an additional 21 hp and 250 Nm of torque. The engine is connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission which sends power to a 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. Besides the new powertrain, the GLE has an upscale interior with two 12.3-inch displays. The model also has a more spacious second row which can be equipped with segment exclusive six-way power seats. Last but not least, Smart showcased the Forease concept. Designed to pay tribute to the 2001 Crossblade and 2011 Forspeed concepts, the Forease is based on the EQ Fortwo Cabrio and features unique styling inside and out. Mercedes hasn鈥檛 released detailed specifications, but the electric concept likely has a 17.6 lithium-ion battery pack and an electric motor that develops 80 hp and 160 Nm of torque. This should enable the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in approximately 11.8 seconds.
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The larger-battery Kona has a capacity of 64kWh, and my home energy tariff (which happily includes electricity sourced entirely from renewable sources) would give a full charge for around 拢8.50. By contrast, 300 miles in a petrol-powered Kona would cost you around 拢40, so you could save more than 拢1,000 per year on fuel alone. Perhaps the hardest part of buying a Kona Electric could be the patience required waiting for it to turn up. We collected our car from a dealership, as many customers still will. Salesman Michael Dayles talked us through the options Kona customers can choose from - including the vibrant colour palette (our car is in what鈥檚 known as Acid Yellow, in case you鈥檙e wondering). And he admitted he has noticed a surge in interest in EVs over recent months. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had at least one person a day walking in to request information about the Kona Electric,鈥?Michael said. 鈥淎 few of them have actually been Tesla Model 3 customers who have become frustrated at the delays with that car. We鈥檙e able to help, of course, by walking them through the online process. We鈥檙e in a relatively privileged position, then, with six months ahead of us to rack up miles and put that real-world range (and the Kona鈥檚 everyday usability) to the test. It鈥檒l certainly be interesting to find out whether it feels like 鈥榣ess of an EV鈥?because of the increased range.