Thanks to a pass from the AustinEV Group I attended the Electrify Expo recently at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. I didn’t catch the industry panels on Friday and early Saturday but did get to see a lot of the upcoming EV class of 2022! I’ve drove the Polestar back in March, but it was the first time seeing other models from Volvo, Mercedes, Porsche, Kia, and Hyundai. Two of the more intriguing cars were the Volvo XC40 Recharge and Kia’s EV6.
I hadn’t heard of the EV6 and it certainly was drawing attention as I toured one of the Kia tents. Its low profile and sleek lines grab you, but I was more impressed with the battery. The top-level configuration will get you more than 300 miles of range! That’s also what the Ioniq 5 (bottom left) is rumored to have with its rear-wheel drive version. The all-electric Volvo XC40 Recharge was also a popular demo at the show. It was a little smaller in-person but had all the cache you’d expect from a european-designed SUV. I’d expect it sell well in the United States with an MSRP of $55,000, before federal and state incentives.
Next to the Porsche exhibit were a few Mercedes EQS 450s. If you’ve seen the TV commercials you know Mercedes is pushing the “futuristic” slant, which is really every manufacturer. If you drive EVs regularly you quickly realize that’s deadly accurate. The EQS is beautifully appointed inside with a curvy exterior that grows on you. It also makes the 2022 EQS 450+ very aerodynamic. Mercedes touts it as the most aerodynamic car on the planet with some stats to back it up. All that design and technology is delivered at an MSRP of roughly $102,000 with a range of 340 to 350 miles. It’s just a matter of time before some of Mercedes’ most avid customers go electric. The EQS 450+ will make it an easy decision.
We’ll see you at the next EV event! 🔋🔌🙌
