Mercedes-Benz Unleashes New EQ Concept: The Silver Arrow
The brand that's always thinking ahead has recently announced a new family of battery-powered luxury vehicles called Mercedes-Benz EQ. These vehicles will offer timeless luxury style and comfort combined with cutting-edge zero-emission power. To show off the adaptability of this technology, the automaker created a one-of-a-kind show car: the EQ Silver Arrow.
Mercedes-Benz unveiled the new concept at this year's Monterey Car Week in Pebble Beach, California. The annual event attracts the whos-who of enthusiasts and collectors in the automotive world, and this year, they got to see a true work of art. The EQ Silver Arrow may feature the leading edge of all-electric power on the inside, but its body pays homage to a Mercedes-Benz legend: the record-breaking W 125 (pictured below).
This twelve-cylinder Grand Prix racer broke records back in 1937. Back then, designers took the suggestions from aviation engineers to increase the aerodynamics of the body by sculpting the nose and rear to reduce lift, a novel approach in car design at the time. And it worked; not only did it win races, but it broke the speed record for public roads when Rudolf Caracciola achieved an average speed of 268.9 mph on the A5 autobahn with the W 125 between Frankfurt and Darmstadt, a record that would hold until November 2017!
Now, Mercedes-Benz continues to spin the wheels of revolution. This latest concept incorporates timeless style with modern technology. The power comes from a thin rechargeable 80 kWh battery in the underbody with an output of 738 hp. On a single charge, the EQ Silver Arrow can achieve a range of up to 250 miles.
In the cockpit, the driver is strapped into the Saddle Brown genuine leather racing seats with a four-point seatbelt inspired by motorsports. The seat also features the brand's exclusive AIRSCARF® neck-warming technology found in cabriolet models. The digital displays built into the steering wheel and projected on the dashboard offer crystal-clear telemetry and navigation data unlike anything else on the market. The display technology in the EQ SIlver Arrow hints at new features that may be commercially available in Mercedes-Benz models in the future, like a 3D image of the surroundings to aid with parking and a Virtual Race Coach to improve performance driving skills.
Over 80 years ago, the historic Silver Arrows demonstrated that Mercedes-Benz was a pioneer when it came to speed, thanks, among other things, to their streamlined shape. The EQ Silver Arrow show car draws on that legacy. Intended for acceleration and driving pleasure, it embodies progressive luxury and provides an insight into the future of our design. As a result, the show car drives the design idiom of our new EQ product and technology brand to the top.
- Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer at Daimler AG
We hate to say it, but this phenomenal work of art will not be commercially available, at least not any time soon. However, the next few years will see the emergence of multiple all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQ models, like the forth-coming 2019 Mercedes-Benz EQC. If you're interested in learning more about the EQ future, visit the Mercedes-Benz of Silver Spring showroom or contact us online, and we'll show you the wonders of modern Mercedes-Benz technology.
Image Credit: Mercedes-Benz