Mercedes-Benz’s future lineup of EQ electric cars will feature more distinctive styling than the recently revealed EQC all-electric crossover. The revelation comes from EQ sales and marketing chief, Jorg Heinemann, who told Autocar that the EQC is just the tip of the iceberg as far as the EQ brand’s design creativity is concerned. For now, Mercedes is more concerned about establishing a starting point for the entire EQ family without going too far out on a limb with its styling.

This would explain a lot if this really is Mercedes’ strategy for its EQ brand. The Mercedes EQC, for lack of a better word, was a design flop. As it turns out, Mercedes may have done this deliberately, opting to evolve the EQ’s design language slowly and organically.

“The EQC has a close link to GLC, but for some of the future EQ models you will see more distinct design,” EQ sales and marketing head Jorg Heinermann said. “We have deliberately decided to take a step-by-step approach here."

The “step-by-step” approach Heinermann is referring to pertains to a deliberate approach on Mercedes’ part to not go all-out with the design of the EQC. Mercedes interior designer Hartmut Sinkwitz added to that, saying that the company considers the EQC as the “starting point for the electric family.”

“We felt this is the right amount of revolution to start with for this car,” Sinkwitz said. “You will see more with other EQ models. We believe this is a good starting point.”

Unfortunately, Mercedes’ approach came at the cost of the EQC looking like a standard Mercedes SUV. The EQC lacked the personality that its concept counterpart had. It wasn’t an emotional design by any stretch. It was an all-electric crossover with a Mercedes front grille and badge.

Speaking of the front grille, don’t expect Mercedes to ditch that on any of its future EQ models, even if they’re technically useless. “The grille is important because otherwise, the car would be faceless,” exterior designer Robert Lesnik said. “It doesn’t matter if there needs to be an air intake or not. We believe that every EQ car needs a certain shape in the front.”

Hopefully, that extends to having more design creativity with its future models. Mercedes says that it’s the plan all along. For the sake of the EQ brand’s design direction, let’s hope that the German automaker is true to its word.

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC.

Read our full review on the 2016 Mercedes‑Benz "Generation EQ" Concept.

Read more Mercedes-Benz news.