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Electrification and in-house developed technical solutions, especially on the software front, are at the heart of Mercedes’ strategy to tackle the energy and technological transition. The plan, named Ambition 2039, provides for many new features over the next few years that will revolutionize the Star’s offer. The operation is supported by the strong appreciation of the Daimler stock recorded at the end of 2020 which, among other things, inspired the Renault group to sell its stake in the German one to reduce its debt. The sale will not affect, at least in the medium term, the industrial collaboration between the two groups, but has left Mercedes hands free to start a cooperation with Volvo, thanks to the kinship between Daimler and Geely. The aim is to develop new electron-powered powertrains with which Mercedes will incisively convert its range. Already this year the offer of full-electric models will reach five, while that of hybrids on tap will rise to twenty. Then, by the end of the decade there will be at least twenty pure electric Mercedes, while sales of models with internal combustion engines will not exceed 30%. The plan includes new architectures, the MMA for compact and medium-sized cars and the Eva which will debut with the Eqs flagship for all large ones, and the direct development of batteries. A path that the Star is already following to develop a proprietary operating system, christened Mb.Os, which should debut in 2024. Meanwhile, in this period, the Eq compact crossover and the new generation of the C-class sedan enter the electrified sub-brand. and station wagon.
The EQA, on sale at prices starting at 51,000 euros gross of incentives, is extrapolated from GLA and is the first zero-emission compact car from Mercedes. It debuts with the front-wheel drive 250 version powered by a 190 horsepower powertrain. It is powered by a 66.5 kWh lithium-ion battery integrated into the body under the cockpit that promises a range of 426 kilometers. Using 11 kW systems, a 10 to 100% recharge is completed in just under six hours, while using 100 kW rapid columns you can refuel from 10 to 80% in thirty minutes. The Eqa 4Matic with two electric motors and variants with a range of more than 500 kilometers will also arrive in the coming months. The new generation of the C-class sedan and station wagon, which will arrive in the summer, is part of Mercedes’ electrification strategy thanks to hybrid engines. In addition, it offers many safety innovations thanks to the highly updated Adas suite, the extended connectivity offered by the latest generation of the Mbux system and the lengthening of the range of artificial intelligence brought to the debut by the new S class. from which class C also draws external and internal formal inspirations. In the hood of the new family there are only mild-hybrid four-cylinder engines, whose motor generator brings an additional 20 horsepower to each powertrain.
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The petrol offer includes 180 and 200 versions pushed by 1.5-liter units of 170 and 204 horsepower, in addition to the 300 with a 2-liter 258 horsepower engine. Instead, the turbodiesel line-up is formed by the 200d, 220d and 300d equipped with the 163, 200 and 265 horsepower declinations of the most recent 2-liter diesel engine from the Star. A plug-in version will also arrive in the coming months, which will offer a total power of 313 horsepower and which promises to drive zero emissions for a hundred kilometers.