Concept EQT Brings Mercedes EV Tech And Luxury To Minivans

Mercedes just dropped a big hint at its upcoming T-Class people mover in the form of the Concept EQT. And even if small vans aren’t your bag, those EQ letters in the name might be enough to get your attention. It means this petite people mover is battery-powered, and reminds us that Merc’s EQ-badged EV technology isn’t the preserve of luxury sedans and SUVs.

The upcoming T-Class is the passenger version of the baby Mercedes van that replaces the current Citan in markets like Europe – although slightly confusingly Benz is retaining the Citan name for commercial versions of the T-Class.

As before it’s based on the Renault Kangoo, which is on its third incarnation, having been renewed last November. But the Mercedes design team has ramped up the luxury quotient to make sure no one will ever mistake you for a French farmer.

The bikini bottoms-shaped grille familiar from the flagship EQS makes an appearance, complete with a bank of illuminated stars and a very cool set of slim LED headlamps that bleed backwards into each fender. Moving to the rear, past the flush door handles, you reach a pair of equally striking LED taillights joined by an illuminated strip below the rear window.

Related: Mercedes EQA Lineup Expands With New 300 And 350 Variants Offering Up To 288 HP

The 194.7-inch (4945mm) van has sliding doors on both sides that open wide enough to let passengers easily reach the third row of seats, and reveal the concept’s white nappa leather seats and multifunction steering wheel.

Ignore the shiny blue finish around the circular air vents and console and the interior looks pretty ordinary in the wake of the EQS and new C-Class. But this is still a commercial vehicle at heart, and it certainly looks like a nicer place to spend time than the equivalent Renault, particularly since it runs Merc’s MBUX infotainment software and features a panoramic sunroof.

Tech details regarding the EV hardware and cargo capacity are so thin they’re practically invisible, but Mercedes confirms the T-class will definitely get an EV option alongside traditional gasoline and diesel options.

And if it gets the same EV tech as the Kangoo E-TECH revealed last month we can expect a 44 kWh battery giving a WLTP driving range of 165 miles in the Citan commercial, but it is possible Mercedes will provide a bigger battery for the family-focused T-class. And if you’re still happy smoking fossil fuels, there’ll likely be a choice of 1.3-liter gasoline and 1.5-liter diesels, both made by Renault.

Neither will get pulse racing, but Mercedes has thought of that. Though it didn’t supply any pictures, the Concept apparently comes with an electric longboard stashed beneath a plexiglass lid under the load floor.