At the Paris auto show this September, Mercedes-Benz will officially introduce an electric-vehicle platform. It?s designed to underpin an upcoming crossover that is tasked with taking on Tesla?and, subsequently, will lead to an entire family of battery-electric vehicles.

Details are scarce, but our sources hint at a crossover about the size of the GLC-class, with an entirely different, more futuristic design. It will be fitted with electric motors both up front and in the rear, thus offering all-wheel drive. Combined power should be comfortably above 300 horsepower?perhaps well above, as people with knowledge of the project rave about its acceleration.
Fitted with a lithium-ion battery pack, the new model is designed to travel up to 310 miles on a charge, making the vehicle suitable for more than just commuting. Fast-charging capability is part of the package. Components from the modular electric-vehicle architecture that underpins the new crossover will be used by Daimler’s future plug-in hybrid and hydrogen-electric models as well. All except the Smart EV; it’s too compact to allow component sharing with the Mercedes EV.

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Daimler?s crossover EV will compete with the somewhat bigger Tesla Model X as well as Audi’s upcoming e-tron Quattro crossover SUV. Look for it to come to market in early 2018.
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