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Nico Rosberg kicked off Monaco’s Formula 1 weekend by taking a look at a very special concept vehicle. The 2016 F1 world champion had the very rare opportunity to ride a shotgun in the Mercedes-Benz EQXX, one of the most efficient engines in the history of the automotive industry. Calling this prototype just a show car is a bit unfair, as it’s more of a technology program, as Markus Schäfer, the automaker’s chief technology officer, told us earlier this year.
Perfect aerodynamics play a key role in achieving maximum efficiency in the car and the EQXX has a drag coefficient of just 0.17 thanks to many aerodynamic tricks. It may not look like the photos but the vehicle is actually very compact with a length of about 182.3 inches (463 centimeters) and a wheelbase of 110.2 inches (280 centimeters). These numbers make it slightly smaller than the current C-Class, for example.
The attached video above starts with Nico talking about some of the aerodynamic solutions on the EQXX and then he moves on to the weight-saving measures. Magnesium wheels, aluminum brakes and a carbon roof – these are just a few of the tricks Mercedes uses to keep the weight of electric vehicles down. But most importantly, the biggest weight savings come from the relatively low weight of the battery – only about 1,091 pounds (495 kilograms) for a 100 kWh battery pack. Overall, the EQXX weighs 3,858 lbs (1,750 kg) or slightly more than the C-Class C300.
Nico then turned to some of the car’s interior features and a Mercedes employee informed him that he was “not qualified” to drive the EQXX. The F1 champions are obviously very disappointed but the video continues with footage from inside the car where Nico is driving with a Mercedes test driver around Monaco. This is where we learn some facts about the EQXX that may not be widely known, including which components the prototype shares with production electric vehicles from Mercedes and which are exclusive to the EQXX.
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