At the IAA auto show in Munich, Mercedes unveiled the Mercedes-Benz Concept CLA Class while BMW presented the BMW Vision Neue Klasse. These cars feature innovative platforms created by the German automakers that will be the foundation for their EV models in the near future. This is a very determined effort by Mercedes and BMW to compete with Tesla in the electric vehicle market.
At the IAA auto show in Munich, Mercedes-Benz and BMW unveiled concept electric cars, aiming to equip themselves with the necessary gear to compete with Tesla in the luxury segment.The Concept CLA Class and BMW Vision Neue Klasse were built on completely fresh platforms from the German manufacturers that shall support their future EV releases, in what is the most extreme shift into battery-operated vehicles to date.As these are concept models, the design of the final production versions is yet to be seen. Let’s take a closer look at Mercedes and BMW's proposals.
Mercedes-Benz has constructed the Concept CLA Class on the recently devised Mercedes‑Benz Modular Architecture (MMA), a platform crafted for electric cars. This range includes four fresh models - a four-door coupé, an estate, and two sports utility vehicles. Further, Mercedes suggest that the auto can cover a distance of 750 kilometres (466 miles) in one charge and a mere 15 minutes of charging will allow the car to run 400 kilometres.
Mercedes has given considerable attention to the interior and drive experience. MB.OS has been formulated by the enterprise to serve as their automotive operating system. It will be the source of power for the large display panel at the front of the vehicle, and the voice-activated assistant. Third-party applications, for example comprehensive music and video streaming services, will be interlinked into the car due to MB.OS. Mercedes-Benz expressed in a statement that "This unique chip-to-cloud architecture denotes a fresh direction for the company and it will be a major, yet hidden, factor of all their upcoming cars."
Perceptions have been that traditional automakers lag behind Tesla when it comes to software; however, Mercedes is demonstrating that it is making progress.
BMW's response to Tesla is the Vision Neue Klasse. This model is based upon a new platform that will be implemented in BMW's future electric vehicles. Come 2025, the first vehicles to be made using the Neue Klasse structure will be created.
The concept vehicle has a glass roof, which BMW says was designed to embody classic elements that fans are familiar with from the brand.
BMW has declared that the car will feature Panoramic Vision, which is a heads-up display that displays information at the driver's line of sight. Both driver and passenger will be able to interact with this feature. There was little information on the range and charging, yet BMW suggested that the new technology will increase the charging speed of the Neue Klasse by up to 30%, and also increase the range by an equal percentage.
— This report was contributed to by Sam Meredith of CNBC.
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