Frankfurt LIVE: Mercedes-Benz Concept EQA

The Concept EQA could preview a future compact battery-electric vehicle from Mercedes.

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its new Concept EQA at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Concept EQA is a preview of Mercedes' upcoming line of electric vehicles that will be sold under the EQ banner.

The Concept EQA takes the form of a two-box hatchback with sleek lines. The concept has an overall length of 168.7-inches and a wheelbase of 107.4-inches. The Concept EQA is 71.3-inches wide and 56.2-inches high.

The front of the Concept EQA is highlighted by a futuristic version of the corporate Mercedes grille. The so-called virtual grille is embedded with an LED matrix that can alter the appearance of the grille based on what driving mode is selected — in "Sport” mode the grille has a horizontal blue motif while flipping the switch to "Sport Plus” nets vertical red bars. No matter the drive setting, the Mercedes central star is always illuminated.

The EQA's headlamps are just as high-tech as its virtual grille. Instead of laser diodes, the EQA's headlights employ a new laser fiber technology that Mercedes says provides a more consistent beam and also allows for a three-dimensional look.

The Concept EQA has a sleek profile thanks to a coupe-like roofline. A panoramic sunroof melds almost seamlessly with the car's back window, enhancing its sporty look. Taillights are wraparound units that help give the EQA a wide and planted look. A set of 20-inch wheels also help in that department.

Mercedes-Benz has not released any images of the Concept EQA's interior.

The Concept EQA is powered by a pair of electric motors — one at each axle — giving the show car an all-wheel drive setup. However, switching between Sport and Sport Plus modes alters how much power is sent to the car's rear-wheels. Power is rated at 200kW (268 horsepower) and 368 lb-ft of torque.

Mercedes says the Concept EQA can scoot from 0-60 in 5 seconds. A 60 kWh lithium-ion battery provides up to 400km (248 miles) of range. Charging can be done via inductive charging or a wallbox unit; a rapid-charging system can provide 100km of range with just a 10 minute charge.

"The progressive vehicle concept of the Concept EQA combines impressive dynamism with a long range that is ideal for day-to-day driving, and is based on an architecture exclusively developed for the battery-electric models,” said Ola Källenius, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.

Mercedes-Benz has not confirmed if the Concept EQA is destined for production, but we wouldn't be surprised to see a compact electric vehicle from Mercedes sometime early next decade.

Photos by Ronan Glon.