There are two areas of the car market that have seen significant growth in the past 12 months – SUVs and electric vehicles.
It’s no surprise, then, that manufacturers are clamouring to develop cars that tick both of those boxes, and it’s some of the most prestigious names in the industry that are leading the charge towards charging leads.
Here, then, are the five most hotly anticipated electric SUVs that we’re likely to see before the end of 2018.
Audi e-Tron Quattro
The e-Tron Quattro concept car was first revealed as a concept in 2016, with a Sportback version making its debut as a prototype last year.
The German firm is already taking deposits for the e-Tron Quattro, so there’s no doubt at all that a production version is imminent – expect to see it at the Paris Motor Show in October if not before.
Audi claims it will have a 310-mile range and accelerate from 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds, with an astonishing 800Nm of torque. It will also feature rapid charging capability.
Jaguar I-PACE
The star of the Geneva Motor Show in March, Jaguar’s I-PACE is a large all-electric SUV that is going head-to-head with the Tesla Model X.
It’s the most technologically advanced Jaguar ever made, and underlines the company’s commitment to innovate and disrupt the market – a very different approach for a company that has always been big on tradition.
The production-ready I-PACE is already on sale with the first customer deliveries expected imminently. It has a 298-mile electric range.
Mercedes-Benz EQ
The wraps were pulled off the Mercedes EQ Concept at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, with a production model expected to be revealed before the end of the year.
The first all-electric Mercedes features chunky SUV styling, but also outlines a new face for the brand’s electric models, with distinctive blue-lit body details.
Mercedes has committed to making EQ a sub-brand for the three-pointed star, with a range of related products such as charging boxes, adaptors and, ultimately, a range of vehicles of all types and sizes.
Porsche Mission E-Cross
Porsche’s commitment to developing a full electric model range was a real headline-grabber – the first time that a brand known only for performance models has committed to an electric future.
The Mission E-Cross is the ultimate definition of that dream – it somehow combines the low slung appearance of a sports car and the distinctive Porsche family face with the practicality and presence of an SUV.
What’s more, it’s not far off reality. Expect to see a production model by the end of the year.
Volkswagen ID Crozz
The Crozz is part of Volkswagen’s new ‘ID’ range, which is set to debut in the next 12 months and will include three separate models, the Golf-sized ID hatchback, the ID Crozz and the retro-themed ID Buzz, which harks back to the styling of the company’s famous Type 2 Microbus.
Compact, but chunky, the ID Crozz is expected to be a massive hit as it is developed for the most demanding sector of the car market. It has a proposed range of almost 400 miles and the equivalent of 302bhp, yet is expected to be competitively priced to appeal to mass-market buyers.
