When a brand like Mercedes goes all out to build an electric car, what do you get? You get a solid car that raises the bar. With a legacy of being the brand to beat in the luxury executive segment of the auto industry, Mercedes has not dropped the ball here. And that is the story of the EQS, Mercedes’ newest electric car.
The Mercedes EQS will be available in two variants at launch, the EQS 450+ and EQS 580. Prices are expected to start from £80,000. It should be available from summer 2021.
This is the first car that Mercedes is building from the ground up as an electric car and it shows. The range is top class, promising up to 478 miles on a single charge. This is phenomenal as the closest competition in the price range will manage 412 miles before recharging. The range is made possible because Mercedes was able to use a massive 107.8 kWh battery. There will be a 90 kWh option later, with a range of 400 miles.
To help customers avoid running out of battery juice, the EQS comes with Mercedes’ Navigation with Electric Intelligence. It will help identify routes with charging stations. You won’t have to stay long at the stations though as the EQS is compatible with 200 kW rapid charging. The larger battery pack will gain 80% charge in just about thirty minutes. If you want to charge at home, be prepared to spend about ten and a half hours,
The EQS 580 uses a dual motor setup that delivers 509 bhp and 855 Nm of torque, which will see the car go from 0 to 62 mph in 4.3 seconds. The EQS 450+ uses a single electric motor on the rear wheels, outputting 328 bhp and 568 Nm of torque. It will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds.
Speaking of appearance, the exterior has some similarities with the EQS predecessor. For example, it also has a considerably rounded nose, with vents resembling those on the S-Class models. It also has a sweeping roofline and short bootlids, which will remind some people of the CLS. Mercedes claims the EQS is the most aerodynamic car in the world, based on its design choices.
Inside, the most conspicuous feature is the massive 55.5 inch screen, which Mercedes is calling the Hyperscreen. It is a first for any infotainment set up in a production car. The screen is divided into three sections; a 12.3 inch portion for the instrument cluster, a central 17.7 inch portion for the main display and another 12.3 inch for the shotgun rider. The Hyperscreen is however optional.
The rest of the interior is ultra-posh, as can be expected. With its large size, there should not be a lack of leg and head room for adult sized passengers. The cargo capacity is 610 litres, ample enough, but you can increase it to 1,770 litres by folding down the backseats.
Mercedes is throwing in some safety and assist tech. There is a voice assistant that responds to ‘Hey Mercedes’. You will also get active steering assistance, attention assistance, active lane-changing assistance, parking-assistance systems and adaptive cruise control.
Mercedes will surely have lots of fans for the EQS as it is a complete package, as far as electric vehicles are concerned.