In 2016, Mercedes-Benz unveiled that all of its future electric cars will be sold under the EQ sub-brand. The strategy is similar to BMW's, which now uses the i sub-brand for its EV lineup, which for the moment includes the i3 and i8. Last year, Mercedes also rolled out the Concept EQ, a sporty SUV that previewed what should become the company's first all-electric hauler. Come 2017 and Mercedes unleashed its second EQ concept. Dubbed Concept EQA, it's essentially an electric A-Class hatchback from the future.

A bit too futuristic for Mercedes' currently lineup, the EQA is here to showcase what the next-generation A-Class could look like. At the same time, it confirms that EQ cars will share the same naming strategy as the regular models. Specifically, much like the all-electric A-Class will be called the EQA, EV versions of the C- and S-Class should be launched as the EQC and EQS. There's no word as to when the first production EQ car will be launched, but don't expect the sub-brand to debut sooner than the second half of 2018.

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The A-Class of the Future?

The EQA concept could've been called the A-Class concept because it's essentially a futuristic compact hatchback, or the kind of concept car that would preview the next-generation A-Class. The exterior dimensions are very similar, with the concept car being one inch longer than the production A-Class. It's also one inch narrower, but that's hardly noticeable.

However, the hatchback layout and the size are the only things that the EQA and the A-Class have in common. The styling is decidedly more futuristic and the sharp lines of the production model have been replaced by more organic features.

Up front, there's a big, black panel instead of the traditional Mercedes-Benz grille. The panel is made almost entirely of LED matrix lights and also integrates the sleek, aggressive headlamps. So the grille is basically a screen that displays the chrome trim and tri-star emblem, which is a cool feature to have on a production car. What's more, the grille changes in appearance depending on the drive mode selected. In the "Sport" drive program, the grille depicts a flaming wing in horizontal format, while in "Sport Plus" mode vertical struts in the style of a Panamericana radiator grille are displayed.

Around back, the traditional A-Class taillights placed on each side of the tailgate have been replaced by a red stripe that covers the entire width of the fascia. Lighting technology is also news, with both the headlamps and taillights using laser fibers. Unlike laser diodes, where electrical energy flows into a semiconductor, here a laser-activated medium is embedded in the centre of a fibre-optic cable.

Potent Electric Drivetrain

Just like all future EQ cars, the EQA concept is an all electric vehicle. Power comes from two electric motors and a scalable lithium-ion battery that can deliver "over 200 kW" and a maximum torque of "over 500 Nm." These figures convert to 268 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, more than any other compact EV available right now. Sprinting from 0 to 62 mph takes "around five seconds," while the range for a single charge is estimated at 400 km (249 miles). Making the drivetrain that much more appealing is the fact that a 10-minute charge at a rapid charging station produces a range of 100 km (62 mph).

References

Mercedes-Benz Concept EQ

Read our full review on the Mercedes-Benz Concept EQ.

2018 Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Read our full speculative review on the next generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class.