News
Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX has considerably more range than any EV offered currently
German automaker Mercedes-Benz unveiled an electric car with 620 miles, or 1,000 kilometers, of range on Monday. The VISION EQXX has the potential to revolutionize electric vehicle road trips and overall adoption, offering considerably more range than any other EV on the market.
While the current projections for range are extending far past any electrified model currently offered by any company on the market, the figures were obtained by using internal digital simulations or real-life traffic conditions.
“The technology program behind the VISION EQXX will define and enable future Mercedes-Benz models and features,” Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, Chief Technology Officer responsible for Development and Procurement, said. “As a halo car, the VISION EQXX firmly establishes Mercedes-Benz as the brand that pairs luxury with technology in the automotive world and beyond. And the way we developed it is as revolutionary as the vehicle itself. VISION EQXX has seen the best minds from our R&D centers work together with engineers from our Formula 1 and Formula E programs. They are proving that innovations from motorsport – where powertrains are already highly electrified – have immediate relevance for road car development. We are challenging current development processes with innovative spirit and outside-the-box thinking. This truly is the way forward.”
There is a lot to unpack in Mercedes’ lengthy press release, which features all of the fine points of the vehicle. However, the vehicle has lofty and somewhat groundbreaking expectations, even for a company that has as much story and tradition as Mercedes-Benz does. Executives have no issues looking at it as something that will undoubtedly be on the roads in the future. “All the elements that we see in this car will make it into series production,” Schäfer added.
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- Der VISION EQXX zeigt, wie sich Mercedes-Benz die Zukunft des Elektroautos vorstellt. Das Auto hat eine Reichweite von mehr als 1.000 Kilometern und einen Energieverbrauch von weniger als 10 kWh pro 100 Kilometer. Der VISION EQXX steht für neue Maßstäbe hinsichtlich Energieeffizienz und Reichweite im realen Straßenverkehr sowie für die revolutionäre Entwicklung von Elektroautos. // The VISION EQXX is how Mercedes-Benz imagines the future of electric cars. The car has a range of more than 1,000 kilometres with an outstanding energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometres. The VISION EQXX stands for major new advances: it sets new standards in terms of energy efficiency and range in real-life traffic, and revolutionises the development of electric cars.
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- Der VISION EQXX zeigt, wie sich Mercedes-Benz die Zukunft des Elektroautos vorstellt. Das Auto hat eine Reichweite von mehr als 1.000 Kilometern und einen Energieverbrauch von weniger als 10 kWh pro 100 Kilometer. Der VISION EQXX steht für neue Maßstäbe hinsichtlich Energieeffizienz und Reichweite im realen Straßenverkehr sowie für die revolutionäre Entwicklung von Elektroautos. // The VISION EQXX is how Mercedes-Benz imagines the future of electric cars. The car has a range of more than 1,000 kilometres with an outstanding energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometres. The VISION EQXX stands for major new advances: it sets new standards in terms of energy efficiency and range in real-life traffic, and revolutionises the development of electric cars.
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- Der VISION EQXX zeigt, wie sich Mercedes-Benz die Zukunft des Elektroautos vorstellt. Das Auto hat eine Reichweite von mehr als 1.000 Kilometern und einen Energieverbrauch von weniger als 10 kWh pro 100 Kilometer. Der VISION EQXX steht für neue Maßstäbe hinsichtlich Energieeffizienz und Reichweite im realen Straßenverkehr sowie für die revolutionäre Entwicklung von Elektroautos. // The VISION EQXX is how Mercedes-Benz imagines the future of electric cars. The car has a range of more than 1,000 kilometres with an outstanding energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometres. The VISION EQXX stands for major new advances: it sets new standards in terms of energy efficiency and range in real-life traffic, and revolutionises the development of electric cars.
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- Der VISION EQXX zeigt, wie sich Mercedes-Benz die Zukunft des Elektroautos vorstellt. Das Auto hat eine Reichweite von mehr als 1.000 Kilometern und einen Energieverbrauch von weniger als 10 kWh pro 100 Kilometer. Der VISION EQXX steht für neue Maßstäbe hinsichtlich Energieeffizienz und Reichweite im realen Straßenverkehr sowie für die revolutionäre Entwicklung von Elektroautos. // The VISION EQXX is how Mercedes-Benz imagines the future of electric cars. The car has a range of more than 1,000 kilometres with an outstanding energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometres. The VISION EQXX stands for major new advances: it sets new standards in terms of energy efficiency and range in real-life traffic, and revolutionises the development of electric cars.
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- Der VISION EQXX zeigt, wie sich Mercedes-Benz die Zukunft des Elektroautos vorstellt. Das Auto hat eine Reichweite von mehr als 1.000 Kilometern und einen Energieverbrauch von weniger als 10 kWh pro 100 Kilometer. Der VISION EQXX steht für neue Maßstäbe hinsichtlich Energieeffizienz und Reichweite im realen Straßenverkehr sowie für die revolutionäre Entwicklung von Elektroautos. // The VISION EQXX is how Mercedes-Benz imagines the future of electric cars. The car has a range of more than 1,000 kilometres with an outstanding energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometres. The VISION EQXX stands for major new advances: it sets new standards in terms of energy efficiency and range in real-life traffic, and revolutionises the development of electric cars.
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- Der VISION EQXX zeigt, wie sich Mercedes-Benz die Zukunft des Elektroautos vorstellt. Das Auto hat eine Reichweite von mehr als 1.000 Kilometern und einen Energieverbrauch von weniger als 10 kWh pro 100 Kilometer. Der VISION EQXX steht für neue Maßstäbe hinsichtlich Energieeffizienz und Reichweite im realen Straßenverkehr sowie für die revolutionäre Entwicklung von Elektroautos. // The VISION EQXX is how Mercedes-Benz imagines the future of electric cars. The car has a range of more than 1,000 kilometres with an outstanding energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometres. The VISION EQXX stands for major new advances: it sets new standards in terms of energy efficiency and range in real-life traffic, and revolutionises the development of electric cars.
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- Der VISION EQXX zeigt, wie sich Mercedes-Benz die Zukunft des Elektroautos vorstellt. Das Auto hat eine Reichweite von mehr als 1.000 Kilometern und einen Energieverbrauch von weniger als 10 kWh pro 100 Kilometer. Der VISION EQXX steht für neue Maßstäbe hinsichtlich Energieeffizienz und Reichweite im realen Straßenverkehr sowie für die revolutionäre Entwicklung von Elektroautos. // The VISION EQXX is how Mercedes-Benz imagines the future of electric cars. The car has a range of more than 1,000 kilometres with an outstanding energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometres. The VISION EQXX stands for major new advances: it sets new standards in terms of energy efficiency and range in real-life traffic, and revolutionises the development of electric cars.
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- Der VISION EQXX zeigt, wie sich Mercedes-Benz die Zukunft des Elektroautos vorstellt. Das Auto hat eine Reichweite von mehr als 1.000 Kilometern und einen Energieverbrauch von weniger als 10 kWh pro 100 Kilometer. Der VISION EQXX steht für neue Maßstäbe hinsichtlich Energieeffizienz und Reichweite im realen Straßenverkehr sowie für die revolutionäre Entwicklung von Elektroautos. // The VISION EQXX is how Mercedes-Benz imagines the future of electric cars. The car has a range of more than 1,000 kilometres with an outstanding energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometres. The VISION EQXX stands for major new advances: it sets new standards in terms of energy efficiency and range in real-life traffic, and revolutionises the development of electric cars.
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- Der VISION EQXX zeigt, wie sich Mercedes-Benz die Zukunft des Elektroautos vorstellt. Das Auto hat eine Reichweite von mehr als 1.000 Kilometern und einen Energieverbrauch von weniger als 10 kWh pro 100 Kilometer. Der VISION EQXX steht für neue Maßstäbe hinsichtlich Energieeffizienz und Reichweite im realen Straßenverkehr sowie für die revolutionäre Entwicklung von Elektroautos. // The VISION EQXX is how Mercedes-Benz imagines the future of electric cars. The car has a range of more than 1,000 kilometres with an outstanding energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometres. The VISION EQXX stands for major new advances: it sets new standards in terms of energy efficiency and range in real-life traffic, and revolutionises the development of electric cars.
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- Der VISION EQXX zeigt, wie sich Mercedes-Benz die Zukunft des Elektroautos vorstellt. Das Auto hat eine Reichweite von mehr als 1.000 Kilometern und einen Energieverbrauch von weniger als 10 kWh pro 100 Kilometer. Der VISION EQXX steht für neue Maßstäbe hinsichtlich Energieeffizienz und Reichweite im realen Straßenverkehr sowie für die revolutionäre Entwicklung von Elektroautos. // The VISION EQXX is how Mercedes-Benz imagines the future of electric cars. The car has a range of more than 1,000 kilometres with an outstanding energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometres. The VISION EQXX stands for major new advances: it sets new standards in terms of energy efficiency and range in real-life traffic, and revolutionises the development of electric cars.
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- Der VISION EQXX zeigt, wie sich Mercedes-Benz die Zukunft des Elektroautos vorstellt. Das Auto hat eine Reichweite von mehr als 1.000 Kilometern und einen Energieverbrauch von weniger als 10 kWh pro 100 Kilometer. Der VISION EQXX steht für neue Maßstäbe hinsichtlich Energieeffizienz und Reichweite im realen Straßenverkehr sowie für die revolutionäre Entwicklung von Elektroautos. // The VISION EQXX is how Mercedes-Benz imagines the future of electric cars. The car has a range of more than 1,000 kilometres with an outstanding energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometres. The VISION EQXX stands for major new advances: it sets new standards in terms of energy efficiency and range in real-life traffic, and revolutionises the development of electric cars.
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- Der VISION EQXX zeigt, wie sich Mercedes-Benz die Zukunft des Elektroautos vorstellt. Das Auto hat eine Reichweite von mehr als 1.000 Kilometern und einen Energieverbrauch von weniger als 10 kWh pro 100 Kilometer. Der VISION EQXX steht für neue Maßstäbe hinsichtlich Energieeffizienz und Reichweite im realen Straßenverkehr sowie für die revolutionäre Entwicklung von Elektroautos. // The VISION EQXX is how Mercedes-Benz imagines the future of electric cars. The car has a range of more than 1,000 kilometres with an outstanding energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometres. The VISION EQXX stands for major new advances: it sets new standards in terms of energy efficiency and range in real-life traffic, and revolutionises the development of electric cars.
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- Der VISION EQXX zeigt, wie sich Mercedes-Benz die Zukunft des Elektroautos vorstellt. Das Auto hat eine Reichweite von mehr als 1.000 Kilometern und einen Energieverbrauch von weniger als 10 kWh pro 100 Kilometer. Der VISION EQXX steht für neue Maßstäbe hinsichtlich Energieeffizienz und Reichweite im realen Straßenverkehr sowie für die revolutionäre Entwicklung von Elektroautos. // The VISION EQXX is how Mercedes-Benz imagines the future of electric cars. The car has a range of more than 1,000 kilometres with an outstanding energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometres. The VISION EQXX stands for major new advances: it sets new standards in terms of energy efficiency and range in real-life traffic, and revolutionises the development of electric cars.
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- Der VISION EQXX zeigt, wie sich Mercedes-Benz die Zukunft des Elektroautos vorstellt. Das Auto hat eine Reichweite von mehr als 1.000 Kilometern und einen Energieverbrauch von weniger als 10 kWh pro 100 Kilometer. Der VISION EQXX steht für neue Maßstäbe hinsichtlich Energieeffizienz und Reichweite im realen Straßenverkehr sowie für die revolutionäre Entwicklung von Elektroautos. // The VISION EQXX is how Mercedes-Benz imagines the future of electric cars. The car has a range of more than 1,000 kilometres with an outstanding energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometres. The VISION EQXX stands for major new advances: it sets new standards in terms of energy efficiency and range in real-life traffic, and revolutionises the development of electric cars.
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- Der VISION EQXX zeigt, wie sich Mercedes-Benz die Zukunft des Elektroautos vorstellt. Das Auto hat eine Reichweite von mehr als 1.000 Kilometern und einen Energieverbrauch von weniger als 10 kWh pro 100 Kilometer. Der VISION EQXX steht für neue Maßstäbe hinsichtlich Energieeffizienz und Reichweite im realen Straßenverkehr sowie für die revolutionäre Entwicklung von Elektroautos. // The VISION EQXX is how Mercedes-Benz imagines the future of electric cars. The car has a range of more than 1,000 kilometres with an outstanding energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometres. The VISION EQXX stands for major new advances: it sets new standards in terms of energy efficiency and range in real-life traffic, and revolutionises the development of electric cars.
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- Der VISION EQXX zeigt, wie sich Mercedes-Benz die Zukunft des Elektroautos vorstellt. Das Auto hat eine Reichweite von mehr als 1.000 Kilometern und einen Energieverbrauch von weniger als 10 kWh pro 100 Kilometer. Der VISION EQXX steht für neue Maßstäbe hinsichtlich Energieeffizienz und Reichweite im realen Straßenverkehr sowie für die revolutionäre Entwicklung von Elektroautos. // The VISION EQXX is how Mercedes-Benz imagines the future of electric cars. The car has a range of more than 1,000 kilometres with an outstanding energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometres. The VISION EQXX stands for major new advances: it sets new standards in terms of energy efficiency and range in real-life traffic, and revolutionises the development of electric cars.
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- VISION EQXX Außenspiegel // VISION EQXX exterior mirror
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- UI/UX im VISION EQXX: Das Benutzererlebnis im VISION EQXX katapultiert uns in eine intelligente, softwaregesteuerte Zukunft. Mit einem beeindruckenden Design und intuitiv bedienbar erstreckt sich das erste komplett nahtlose Display in einem Mercedes-Benz über 47,5 Zoll von einer A-Säule zur anderen. // UI/UX in the VISION EQXX: The user interface and user experience inside the VISION EQXX catapults us into a highly responsive, intelligent and software-driven future. Stunning to look at, intuitive to work with and in tune with the human mind, the first ever completely seamless display in a Mercedes-Benz spans 47.5 inches from one A-pillar to the other.
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- UI/UX im VISION EQXX: Das Benutzererlebnis im VISION EQXX katapultiert uns in eine intelligente, softwaregesteuerte Zukunft. Mit einem beeindruckenden Design und intuitiv bedienbar erstreckt sich das erste komplett nahtlose Display in einem Mercedes-Benz über 47,5 Zoll von einer A-Säule zur anderen. // UI/UX in the VISION EQXX: The user interface and user experience inside the VISION EQXX catapults us into a highly responsive, intelligent and software-driven future. Stunning to look at, intuitive to work with and in tune with the human mind, the first ever completely seamless display in a Mercedes-Benz spans 47.5 inches from one A-pillar to the other.
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- UI/UX im VISION EQXX: Das Benutzererlebnis im VISION EQXX katapultiert uns in eine intelligente, softwaregesteuerte Zukunft. Mit einem beeindruckenden Design und intuitiv bedienbar erstreckt sich das erste komplett nahtlose Display in einem Mercedes-Benz über 47,5 Zoll von einer A-Säule zur anderen. // UI/UX in the VISION EQXX: The user interface and user experience inside the VISION EQXX catapults us into a highly responsive, intelligent and software-driven future. Stunning to look at, intuitive to work with and in tune with the human mind, the first ever completely seamless display in a Mercedes-Benz spans 47.5 inches from one A-pillar to the other.
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- UI/UX im VISION EQXX: Das Benutzererlebnis im VISION EQXX katapultiert uns in eine intelligente, softwaregesteuerte Zukunft. Mit einem beeindruckenden Design und intuitiv bedienbar erstreckt sich das erste komplett nahtlose Display in einem Mercedes-Benz über 47,5 Zoll von einer A-Säule zur anderen. // UI/UX in the VISION EQXX: The user interface and user experience inside the VISION EQXX catapults us into a highly responsive, intelligent and software-driven future. Stunning to look at, intuitive to work with and in tune with the human mind, the first ever completely seamless display in a Mercedes-Benz spans 47.5 inches from one A-pillar to the other.
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- VISION EQXX Interieur // VISION EQXX interior
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- UI/UX im VISION EQXX: Das Benutzererlebnis im VISION EQXX katapultiert uns in eine intelligente, softwaregesteuerte Zukunft. Mit einem beeindruckenden Design und intuitiv bedienbar erstreckt sich das erste komplett nahtlose Display in einem Mercedes-Benz über 47,5 Zoll von einer A-Säule zur anderen. // UI/UX in the VISION EQXX: The user interface and user experience inside the VISION EQXX catapults us into a highly responsive, intelligent and software-driven future. Stunning to look at, intuitive to work with and in tune with the human mind, the first ever completely seamless display in a Mercedes-Benz spans 47.5 inches from one A-pillar to the other.
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- Das Batteriepaket des VISION EQXX speichert annähernd 100 kWh Energie bei 50 Prozent weniger Volumen und 30 Prozent weniger Gewicht als das in dieser Hinsicht weltbeste Batteriepaket des EQS. // The battery pack in the VISION EQXX holds almost 100 kWh of energy, yet has 50% less volume and is 30% lighter than the already benchmark pack in EQS.
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- Wegweisender Antriebsstrang für das Elektrozeitalter: Das radikal neue, von Mercedes-Benz entwickelte Antriebskonzept erreicht einen Benchmark-Wirkungsgrad von 95 Prozent von der Batterie bis zu den Rädern. // Pioneering drivetrain for the electric era: Radical new Mercedes-Benz electric drive system achieves benchmark efficiency of 95% from battery to wheels
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- BIONEQXXTM Gussteil – optimale Funktionalität auf kleinstem Raum: Das im Aluminium-Gussverfahren hergestellte BIONEQXX Element ist das derzeit größte Leichtmetall-Strukturbauteil bei Mercedes-Benz und bildet die Hauptkomponente im Heck des VISION EQXX – den Heckboden. // BIONEQXXTM casting: Currently the largest aluminium structural casting at Mercedes-Benz, BIONEQXX is the major structural component at the rear end of the VISION EQXX – the rear floor.
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- BIONICAST ist ein eingetragenes Markenzeichen von Mercedes-Benz für Gussteile, die nach natürliche, bionischen Prinzipien konstruiert sind. Beispielsweise sind die Träger der Scheibenwischer des VISION EQXX nach bionischen Prinzipien gestaltet. // BIONICAST is a Mercedes-Benz registered trademark applied to structural castings engineered according to the principles of nature. For example, the bracket carrying the windscreen wipers of the VISION EQXX is designed using principles of bionic engineering.
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- Der Leichtbaugedanke wurde beim VISION EQXX konsequent umgesetzt. Neue glasfaserverstärkte Kunststofffedern, die in Zusammenarbeit mit Rheinmetall Automotive entwickelt wurden, sorgen für eine Gewichtseinsparung im Vergleich zu herkömmlichen Schraubenfedern. // Lightweight design thinking was applied throughout the VISION EQXX. Meanwhile, new advanced glass-fibre-reinforced plastic springs developed in partnership with Rheinmetall Automotive remove further weight compared with conventional coil springs.
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- Von Pilzen bis hin zu veganer Seide – nachhaltige Werkstoffe im VISION EQXX Interieur: Beispielsweise sind die Türgriffe im VISION EQXX aus Biosteel-Faser gefertigt. Dabei handelt es sich um ein hochfestes, biotechnologisch erzeugtes und als vegan zertifiziertes seidenähnliches Gewebe. // From mushrooms to vegan silk, nature’s influence continues in the VISION EQXX interior. For instance, the door pulls in the VISION EQXX are made from Biosteel fibre. This is a high-strength, biotechnology-based and certified-vegan silk-like fabric.
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- Das Batteriepaket des VISION EQXX speichert annähernd 100 kWh Energie bei 50 Prozent weniger Volumen und 30 Prozent weniger Gewicht als das in dieser Hinsicht weltbeste Batteriepaket des EQS. // The battery pack in the VISION EQXX holds almost 100 kWh of energy, yet has 50% less volume and is 30% lighter than the already benchmark pack in EQS.
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- Im Innenraum des VISION EQXX kommt UBQ-Material zum Einsatz, ein nachhaltiger Kunststoffersatz, der aus Haushaltsabfällen hergestellt wird. // The interior oft he VISION EQXX features UBQ material, a sustainable plastic substitute made from household and municipal landfill waste.
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- Der VISION EQXX verdankt seinen herausragenden cW-Wert von 0,17 der strömungsförmigen Grundform, der innovativen, aerodynamisch neutralen Kühlplatte im Unterboden und der aufwändigen Integration von passiven und aktiven Aero-Elementen in die Karosserie. // The VISION EQXX owes its outstanding drag coefficient of 0.17 to its streamlined basic shape, the innovative, aerodynamically neutral cooling plate in the underbody and the elaborate integration of passive and active aero elements in the body.
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- Der VISION EQXX verdankt seinen herausragenden cW-Wert von 0,17 der strömungsförmigen Grundform, der innovativen, aerodynamisch neutralen Kühlplatte im Unterboden und der aufwändigen Integration von passiven und aktiven Aero-Elementen in die Karosserie. // The VISION EQXX owes its outstanding drag coefficient of 0.17 to its streamlined basic shape, the innovative, aerodynamically neutral cooling plate in the underbody and the elaborate integration of passive and active aero elements in the body.
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- Der VISION EQXX verdankt seinen herausragenden cW-Wert von 0,17 der strömungsförmigen Grundform, der innovativen, aerodynamisch neutralen Kühlplatte im Unterboden und der aufwändigen Integration von passiven und aktiven Aero-Elementen in die Karosserie. // The VISION EQXX owes its outstanding drag coefficient of 0.17 to its streamlined basic shape, the innovative, aerodynamically neutral cooling plate in the underbody and the elaborate integration of passive and active aero elements in the body.
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- Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX, Exterieur // Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX, exterior
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- Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX, Exterieur // Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX, exterior
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- Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX, Exterieur // Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX, exterior
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- Der VISION EQXX zeigt, wie sich Mercedes-Benz die Zukunft des Elektroautos vorstellt. Das Auto hat eine Reichweite von mehr als 1.000 Kilometern und einen Energieverbrauch von weniger als 10 kWh pro 100 Kilometer. Der VISION EQXX steht für neue Maßstäbe hinsichtlich Energieeffizienz und Reichweite im realen Straßenverkehr sowie für die revolutionäre Entwicklung von Elektroautos. // The VISION EQXX is how Mercedes-Benz imagines the future of electric cars. The car has a range of more than 1,000 kilometres with an outstanding energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometres. The VISION EQXX stands for major new advances: it sets new standards in terms of energy efficiency and range in real-life traffic, and revolutionises the development of electric cars.
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- Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX, Interieur // Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX, interior
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- Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX, Interieur // Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX, interior
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- Das UI/UX im VISION EQXX bietet ein neues Maß an digitalem Luxus. Es liefert den Insassen die Informationen, die sie brauchen. Und zwar genau dann, wenn sie sie brauchen – nicht mehr und nicht weniger. // The UI/UX in the VISION EQXX offers a new level of digital luxury, providing the occupants with the information they need when they need it – no more no less.
Among the most interesting features, apart from the massive range estimation and other efficiency ratings that will put it among the “who’s who” of the EV industry, is Mercedes’ plan to utilize solar cells to supplement additional needs. The car will draw additional energy from 117 solar cells installed on the roof. Developed alongside the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE — the largest solar energy research institute in Europe — the solar cells will reduce the energy drain on the high-voltage system. Under ideal conditions, Mercedes-Benz says, an additional 15 miles, or 25 km, will be generated from the solar cells.
Mercedes is coming off of a huge announcement last month where it unveiled it had officially received approval for the first SAE Level 3 autonomous driving system with DRIVE PILOT. The system, which will act as a “traffic jam chauffer,” according to SAE guidelines, is the first conditionally automated driving system to meet the requirements of Global Automotive Regulation No. 157, which concerns the approval of vehicles with regards to Automated Lane-Keeping Systems.
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News
Tesla hits FSD hackers with surprise move
In recent weeks, the company has begun remotely disabling FSD capabilities on affected vehicles, and in some instances, permanently revoking access even for owners who paid thousands of dollars for the feature.
Tesla is cracking down on hackers who have figured out a way to utilize third-party programs to activate Full Self-Driving (FSD) in their vehicles — despite the suite not being approved for use in their country.
Tesla has launched a sweeping enforcement campaign against owners using third-party hardware hacks to activate FSD software in countries where the advanced driver-assistance system remains unregulated or unapproved.
In recent weeks, the company has begun remotely disabling FSD capabilities on affected vehicles, and in some instances, permanently revoking access even for owners who paid thousands of dollars for the feature.
Tesla has started remotely disabling Full Self-Driving on cars fitted with third-party CAN bus hacks in countries where the software is not yet approved.
This crackdown began after the hacks started spreading widely last month. 👇 pic.twitter.com/wL8VqZuTlK
— PiunikaWeb – helpful, and breaking tech news (@PiunikaWeb) April 9, 2026
Reports of the crackdown have surfaced across Europe, China, Japan, South Korea, and the UK, marking a significant escalation in Tesla’s efforts to enforce regional software restrictions.
FSD is Tesla’s flagship supervised autonomy package, which is available in several countries across the world. Currently limited by regulatory hurdles, it has not received full approval in most markets outside of the United States due to various things, such as safety standards, data privacy, and local traffic laws.
However, the company is working to expand its availability globally. Nevertheless, Tesla has installed the necessary hardware on vehicles globally, but locks the features based on geographic location.
Some owners have taken accessing FSD into their own hands, using jailbreak or bypass devices.
These “jailbreak” tools, typically €500 USB-style modules that plug into the vehicle’s Controller Area Network (CAN) bus, intercept signals to spoof approvals and unlock FSD, including advanced navigation, Autopark, and Summon features.
Hackers in Poland, Ukraine, and elsewhere have distributed the devices, with some claiming they work on HW3 and HW4 vehicles and can be unplugged to restore stock settings. In China alone, over 100,000 owners reportedly installed such modifications.
Tesla’s response has been swift and uncompromising. Recently, the company began sending in-car notifications and emails warning owners that unauthorized modifications violate terms of service, compromise vehicle safety systems, and expose cars to cybersecurity risks.
The email communication read:
“Your vehicle has detected an unauthorized third-party device. As a precaution, some driver assistance functions have been disabled for safety reasons. A software update will be available soon. Once you install the update, some features may be enabled again.”
Vehicles detected using the hacks have had FSD capabilities remotely disabled without refund. In some cases, owners report permanent bans, even if they had legitimately purchased the software package.
Tesla’s hardline stance underscores its commitment to regulatory compliance and safety.
Tesla has long argued that unsupervised FSD requires rigorous validation, and premature activation could endanger drivers and bystanders.
The crackdown sends a clear-cut message to those who are bypassing the FSD safeguards, but there are greater implications for Tesla if something were to go wrong. This is an understandable way to protect the company’s reputation for its FSD suite.
News
Tesla developing small, affordable SUV, report claims
This latest rumor deserves heavy scrutiny. Tesla has already walked away from a mass-market $25,000 EV once before.
Tesla is developing a small, affordable SUV, a new report claims, speculating that the automaker is planning to add yet another vehicle to its lineup at a price point similar to the Model 3 and Model Y, but smaller and more compact.
But it does not make a whole lot of sense, especially considering a handful of things CEO Elon Musk said and the overall plan for Tesla’s future.
Reuters reported that Tesla is in the early stages of developing an all-new, smaller, cheaper electric SUV. Citing four sources familiar with the matter, the story claims the vehicle would be shorter than the Model Y, built in China, and represent a fresh platform rather than a variant of the Model 3 or Y.
Suppliers have reportedly been contacted to discuss details, though Tesla has not commented. The move appears aimed at broadening affordability amid slowing EV demand and intensifying competition, particularly from Chinese rivals.
This latest rumor deserves heavy scrutiny. Tesla has already walked away from a mass-market $25,000 EV once before.
In 2024, the company scrapped its long-teased “Redwood” project for a budget-friendly car. Elon Musk explained the decision bluntly during an earnings call: a conventional low-cost model would be “pointless” and “completely at odds with what we believe.”
It’s sort of hard to believe this report: 3/Y are already relatively affordable, Elon said a $25k wouldn’t make sense, consumers want something larger than the Y with X going away, and Musk said what’s coming is “cooler than a minivan.”
Have to think the car is at least an SUV. https://t.co/4CQUV9ZNA5
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) April 9, 2026
In other words, chasing a bare-bones cheap EV runs counter to Tesla’s core mission of accelerating sustainable energy through cutting-edge technology and autonomy rather than volume-driven price wars.
Musk’s own recent statements reinforce skepticism about a compact SUV pivot. Just two weeks ago, on March 25, he responded to fan requests for a minivan by posting on X: “Something way cooler than a minivan is coming.”
Elon Musk says Tesla is developing a new vehicle: ‘Way cooler than a minivan’
The remark came in the context of family-hauling needs, with Musk highlighting the Cybertruck’s ability to seat multiple child seats. It signals Tesla’s focus is shifting toward more spacious, innovative people-movers—not shrinking its lineup.
U.S. demand data echoes this logic.
The long-wheelbase Model Y L—a six-seat, stretched variant offering extra room for families—has generated massive interest wherever offered. Fans in the U.S. have basically begged for the Model Y L to make its way to the States, or for the company to develop a full-size SUV.
The Model Y L is selling well in China, where it is manufactured.
Delivery wait times for the Model Y L stretched into February 2026 as orders poured in. Tesla recently expanded the trim to eight new Asian markets, yet it remains unavailable in the United States, where consumer appetite for a larger, more practical SUV is reportedly strong.
American buyers have consistently favored bigger vehicles; the Model Y already outsells most competitors precisely because it delivers crossover utility without compromise. A compact model shorter than today’s bestseller would likely miss this mark entirely.
Tesla’s product strategy has long emphasized differentiation through autonomy, range, and desirability rather than racing to the bottom on price. Stripped-down variants of the Model 3 and Y have already struggled to ignite broad demand.
A new compact SUV built in China might sound logical on paper for cost-sensitive buyers, but it risks repeating past missteps—diluting brand cachet while ignoring clear signals from Musk and the market.
History suggests Tesla talks about affordable cars more often than it delivers them. Whether this Reuters scoop evolves into metal or joins the $25k project on the scrap heap remains to be seen.
For now, the smart money is on Tesla doubling down on “way cooler” vehicles that actually fit American families—and Tesla’s ambitious vision—rather than a smaller SUV that feels like yesterday’s news.
News
Tesla CEO Elon Musk says next FSD release is the one we’ve been waiting for
On Thursday, Musk teased the capabilities and next steps for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software, focusing squarely on the incremental improvements of the current v14.3 suite, as well as the looming arrival of v15.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk teased the capabilities of a future Full Self-Driving release, but it seems like we are getting what Yogi Berra once called “Déjà vu all over again.”
On Thursday, Musk teased the capabilities and next steps for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software, focusing squarely on the incremental improvements of the current v14.3 suite, as well as the looming arrival of v15.
He confirmed that upcoming point releases of v14.3 will deliver additional polish to the current build, smoothing out remaining edges in an already capable system. These iterative updates, Musk noted, are designed to refine performance without requiring a full version overhaul.
Yet the real headline was Musk’s forecast for v15.
“V15 will far exceed human levels of safety, even in completely unsupervised and complex situations,” he wrote.
Tesla V14.3 self-driving review. The point releases will bring polish.
V15 will far exceed human levels of safety, even in completely unsupervised and complex situations. https://t.co/s4UK9RWw9f
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 9, 2026
He clarified that v15 will be powered by Tesla’s long-awaited large model, an AI architecture with roughly 10x the parameters of the smaller model currently in widespread use. The leap, Musk explained, stems from the unusually rapid progress of the compact model, which has advanced so quickly that the larger counterpart has yet to catch up in real-world deployment.
However, it is becoming a pattern that is, by now, familiar to anyone following Tesla’s autonomous driving roadmap.
There’s no debating you on that 🤷
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) April 9, 2026
Musk has consistently and repeatedly framed each successive major release as the one poised to deliver game-changing autonomy. Earlier versions were similarly positioned as a movement toward the final piece of the puzzle, only for attention to pivot to the next milestone once they arrived.
The refrain has become a recurring feature of FSD communication: current software is impressive, the point releases will sharpen it further, but the true breakthrough lies one major iteration ahead.
Musk’s latest comments fit squarely into that cadence. While v14.3 point releases are expected to tighten supervised driving behaviors in the coming weeks, v15 is cast as the version that finally crosses the threshold into unsupervised operation at human-or-better safety levels across demanding scenarios.
Our rate of advancement with the small model has been so fast that the large model has not yet caught up.
V15 will be the large model.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 9, 2026
The 10x parameter scale of the underlying large model is presented as the key technical enabler, promising richer reasoning and more robust decision-making than anything deployed to date.
Whether v15 ultimately fulfills that promise remains to be seen. Tesla’s history shows that each new target generates fresh excitement—and occasional skepticism—about timelines.
Fans realize Musk’s timelines for FSD are exciting, but rarely met:
You can see a rift happening in the Tesla bull community between a large group of reasonable people who aren’t afraid to acknowledge the elephants in the room, and those who are essentially bull bots whose entire identities are destroyed if they have to acknowledge any bump in…
— Mike P (@mikepat711) April 9, 2026
For now, Musk’s message is familiar: the immediate focus is polishing v14.3 through targeted point releases, while the 10x-parameter large model in v15 represents the next decisive step toward fully unsupervised, superhuman safety.
Hopefully, Tesla can come through, but we can only believe that once v15 gets here, v16 will be the next big step toward autonomy.
Drivers can expect continued refinement in the short term and a significantly more ambitious leap once the large model is ready. The cycle continues, but the stakes, Musk insists, keep rising.
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