Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow Points to Electric Future

MONTEREY, CA – Mercedes-Benz takes design inspiration from its streamlined high-speed record-breakers of the 1930s for a contemporary electric-powered concept car revealed at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance here.

Called the EQ Silver Arrow, the spectacular 208.7-in.-long (5,301-mm) single-seater officially acts as an homage to the 80-year-old W125 Rekordwagen (see photo at bottom of story), a teardrop-shaped prototype powered by a 725-hp 5.6L gasoline V-12 that was driven to a public road record speed of 269 mph (433 km/h) between the German cities of Frankfurt and Darmstadt by Rudolf Caracciola in 1938.

However, the new 738-hp concept, whose exaggerated proportions and pronounced wheel arches recall those of the W125 Rekordwagen, also incorporates current stylistic and aerodynamic developments at Mercedes-Benz.

Additionally, the EQ Silver Arrow acts as a technological figurehead for Mercedes-Benz’s newly established EQ sub-brand, through which the German automaker will market a range of new electric models starting with the EQ C set to make its production debut in early September.

Destined to remain a one-off, the EQ Silver Arrow is based on an extended version of Mercedes-Benz’s new MEA (modular electric architecture) platform that uses a flat floor to house battery modules. Its body structure, painted silver in recognition of the W125, is made of carbon fiber.

While the design of the low-slung concept is credited to Mathias Schenker, who works at Mercedes-Benz’s North American design studio in Carlsbad, CA, the flamboyant appearance of the EQ Silver Arrow was finalized under a team headed by Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener at the automaker’s main studio in Sindelfingen, Germany.

Various design elements, including the blue light band between the front headlamps and red light band at the rear, are claimed to evoke the treatment of upcoming EQ production models.

Meanwhile, a series of active aerodynamic elements, including spoilers that extend out of the rear bodywork at speed in a similar fashion to those incorporated on the earlier Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA show car, are designed to act as an air brake by providing added downforce during hard braking.

As with the W125 Rekordwagen, which was built around Mercedes-Benz’s Grand Prix car of the time, the EQ Silver Arrow features a single-seat cockpit (see photo below, left). The wood- and leather-lined interior takes on a futuristic appearance with a curved panoramic main digital display and a motorsport-inspired steering wheel that incorporates a secondary display.

The new Mercedes-Benz concept has been conceived to run an electric drivetrain claimed to develop up to 738 hp. Electrical energy is provided by an 80-kWh battery that the automaker says provides a theoretical range of up to 249 miles (400 km).

A similarly specified drivetrain is rumored to be under development for a new electric-powered AMG performance model that Mercedes-Benz sources suggest is being considered to sit at the top of the EQ lineup to rival the likes of the Porsche Taycan.

The EQ Silver Arrow is the third concept to be revealed by Mercedes-Benz in recent years at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, following the Mercedes-Maybach 6 and Mercedes-Maybach 6 Convertible shown in 2016 and 2017, respectively.