The new Mercedes EQE SUV
The new Mercedes EQE SUV
We continue our look into some of the best new electric cars making their debut in Arnold Clark showrooms across the country in 2023.
Today we focus on the best electric SUVs and Luxury cars.
Forming part of the all-new BMW 5 Series range, the i5 will be a fully-electric model. Using the same CLAR platform as the combustion-engined version, the i5 will have styling based on the sleek BMW i Vision Dynamics concept car (pictured below), boasting a blanked-off grille and smooth wheel trims, all designed to improve aerodynamics.
Expect too the i5 to take the i4’s technology and essentially clothe it in a large, four door body. And whisper it, but there’s also the likelihood of a Touring estate version following in 2024.
The entry level i5 eDrive 40 should also mirror the corresponding i4’s 250kW motor. The range will also include a single motor rear drive and all-wheel-drive twin motor derivative with up to 536bhp of power on tap. The i5 should be capable of least 300 miles between charges.
Inside, the posh cabin will be capable of hosting four adults in comfort, with the dash being dominated by large infotainment screens.
Price: From £70,000 (est)
Hyundai’s forthcoming all-electric flagship, the Ioniq 7, will be a large premium SUV. The imposing new seven-seat model — illustrated by Hyundai’s SEVEN Concept (pictured) — will sit above the current Santa Fe with order books expected to open at the end of this year before first deliveries in 2024.
Promising to deliver the same relaxing lounge-like experience as the Ioniq 5, the 7 will raise the comfort bar yet higher ensuring occupants enjoy a lavishly luxurious feel.
With its distinctive LED lights and slab-sided styling, there’s no denying the Ioniq 7 will stand out from the crowd. It will also utilise the latest tech, being built on Hyundai’s E-GMP underpinnings. Building on major advances in battery development, the new model is expected to be fitted with a 100kWh pack which will see range advance to around 400-miles. A standard twin-motor set-up for four-wheel-drive security will also be included.
Price: From £52,000 (est)
Fresh from being crowned Europe Car of the Year, Jeep’s first fully-electric car, the Avenger, is now available to pre-order at Arnold Clark dealerships.
The first of Jeep’s four-strong line-up of new electric cars — including the luxury-focused Wagoner S detailed below — the Avenger EV is set to go head-to-head with the likes of the Kia Nero EV and Hyundai Kona Electric.
And while the rest of the Avenger e line-up will be launched in June this year, including the combustion-engined versions, the range kicks-off with the inaugural 1st Edition version priced from £36,500. Expect petrol-powered models to start closer to £30,000.
Thinking of making the switch to electric?
The 1st Edition though comes stacked with plenty of kit as standard, including a two-tone black roof, tinted windows and 18-inch alloys. Inside, the cabin gets a 10.25-inch central touchscreen, Apple Carplay and Android Auto compatibility, voice recognition, 360-degree parking sensors and a 180-degree rear camera. There’s also keyless entry and start, a hands-free bootlid and wireless smartphone charging.
Introduced in front-wheel-drive form — a 4WD version will join the range next year — the electric version is fitted with a single motor producing 154bhp, which means 0-62mph in 9.0-secs and a top speed of 93mph. As for range? On a full charge, Jeep says 254 miles on the WLTP test cycle, climbing to as much as 342-miles in slower, stop-start city situations.
Price: From £36,500
Set to go head-to-head with the likes of the Audi e-tron and Mercedes EQS, the Jeep Wagoneer S will be powered by a 592bhp two electric motor powertrain delivering four-wheel drive and giving it acceleration of 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds. Jeep is also promising its luxurious flagship SUV will have around 400-miles of range on a single charge.
Design-wise, the Wagoneer S will boast a modern, clean-cut design while retaining trademark Jeep cues such as square wheel arches and vertical grille bars. Expect the latter to display a modern slant: it’s likely the grille will light up and that, in tandem with the rear light bar, will hint at its electric powertrain.
Price: From £75,000 (est)
Go big or go home: that seems to be the message from Kia with news that its forthcoming EV9 is shaping up to being the kink of large SUVs. The humungous seven-seater takes its inspiration from the Concept EV9 which made its debut at the 2021 Los Angeles Motor Show. Technically, the EV9 will be built on the extended E-GMP platform — the same basis for the Hyundai Ioniq 7 — with the availability of four-wheel drive, thanks to its twin-motor, plus a big 100kWh battery which will ensure a range of around 400-miles.
And while the exterior promises to be all angular lines topped off by a bold LED light signature, inside the vast cabin minimalism will rule. Luxurious materials with state-of-the-art tech, while it’s also likely the 27-inch-wide display for the infotainment and instruments, first seen on the Concept EV9, will make its way into the production version.
Price: From £63,000 (est)
The EQE will be something entirely new for Mercedes-Benz. Unlike the previous EQA, EQB and EQC electric vehicles, Mercedes’ new SUV won’t use a converted combustion-engine platform: instead it’ll sit on a new dedicated EV architecture. The result? More interior space.
But that’s not all. It will also deliver improvements in range and charging tech, much of it carried over from the EQE saloon. That means 170kW charging and, most likely, the EQE saloon’s 96kWh battery. That should result in a range of around 350 miles.
And while we’re still waiting to see official images of the EQE SUV’s exterior, Mercedes has released an image of the interior. It confirms there will be plenty of room for four adults and the new SUV will benefit from the company’s astonishing Hyperscreen infotainment display.
Price: From £75,000 (est)
