Mercedes Design Chief Reveals EVs Will Kill The 3-Box Sedan

The Mercedes design chief Gordon Wagener has revealed that electric cars will be the end of the traditional 3-box style sedan because of the design challenges represented by the presence of batteries and aerodynamic requirements. He revealed this on the sidelines of the IAA 2021 Munich conference where his company announced numerous EVs including the EQE, the EQS AMG, G-Wagon AMG and the electric Maybach SUV. 

Also Read: Mercedes Maybach EV concept revealed at IAA Mobility 

"Electrification will kill the three-box sedan for several reasons. Aero is one. Secondly, with a six-inch battery pack a three-box sedan simply doesn't look good, it looks s**t. You have to do something that visually digests the height," said the Daimler design boss. 

(The Mercedes EQE electric sedan has a claimed range of 660 kilometres)

"That's why we came up with that bold design with the EQ models because it looks stretched, it looks stylish. So that [electrification] will change the proportions of cars. We have to make sure they don't all look alike, but that fear has existed for 30 years or so. We managed to make them look different, and I'm confident we can do that in the future," he added. 

It is noteworthy that the new EQS which is the electric S-class doesn't have a traditional boot and isn't a saloon but rather a hatchback which allows it more space in the boot and also allows for a 60:40 split of the rear seats.  Even the Tesla Model S which has been the preeminent electric car in the world doesn't have a 3-box style.