Mercedes EQ Silver Arrow 01 Is The Brand’s First Electric Race Car

Mercedes has used the Geneva Motor Show to introduce the EQ Silver Arrow 01.

Set to compete in Formula E, the EQ Silver Arrow 01 is an electric race car that will help to promote electric vehicles such as the EQC crossover. It’s outfitted with a “teaser” livery that features blue horizontal lines and a star motif at the rear. The model also features EQ badging and blue accents on the wheels.

According to Chief Design Officer, Gorden Wagener, “The Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 01 teaser car gives a foretaste of the first all-electric Silver Arrow from Mercedes-Benz.” He went on to say the teaser livery, with its “subtle contrast between matte and gloss,” conveys the concept of “progressive luxury in electric motorsport.”

The EQ Silver Arrow 01 will enter competition later this year and Mercedes will become the only automaker to compete in both Formula 1 and Formula E. The company noted the “parallel commitment to the two racing series will enable Mercedes to transfer the lessons learned in both arenas to the road.”

In terms of specifications, the EQ Silver Arrow 01 has a 52 kWh battery and an electric powertrain that produces up to 335 hp (250 kW / 340 PS). That doesn’t sound like much, but the car can weigh as little as 1,984 lbs (900 kg). As a result, the racer can accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in approximately 2.7 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 174 mph (280 km/h).

While this is Mercedes’ first year in Formula E, they’ll find some familiar competition from Audi, BMW and Jaguar.