Tentatively called Ecoluxe, the platform is part of an ambitious €2 billion (about $2.4 million) project that Mercedes executives are allegedly about to approve. The guidelines call for a platform that is light in order to offset the bulk of the battery pack and modular so that it can underpin both long- and short-wheelbase vehicles. Mercedes is currently planning on building four body styles on the Ecoluxe platform, though additional variants could be added later in the production run.
German magazine Auto Bild reports that all cars built on the Ecoluxe platform will feature rear-wheel drive and an innovative four-wheel steering system. The first model, which has not been given a name yet, will pack the equivalent of 544 horsepower in standard S form or 603 ponies in GT tune. A high-capacity battery pack located under the passenger compartment will give the car a maximum driving range of at least 279 miles.
The first model underpinned by the Ecoluxe platform is scheduled to hit the market in either 2019 or 2020. If the rumor proves true, most of the cars that will be built upon the Ecoluxe platform will be added to the Mercedes lineup in the United States shortly after their introduction.
Note: Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive pictured
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