The Mercedes-Benz EQS: The future arrived yesterday
Yesterday, on April 15, 2021, at 19:00, the new Mercedes EQS was presented to the world: emotions first, details later. We wonder if a fashionable and advanced electric car is going to compete with its progenitor, the S-Class. What we are sure of is that the Tesla Model S, Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron (by the way, we are waiting for the release of the new production e-tron GT four-door coupe) will no longer feel so superior.
The presentation of the new Mercedes-Benz EQS all-electric, luxury flagship was held in accordance with all the canons of marketing: we witnessed a slow, but expressive demonstration of all the power and magnificence of this almost cosmic miracle. The model was associated with a spaceship from the very beginning: starting from the countdown, as before the launch of the rocket, the starry sky in the beams of searchlights to the rapidly approaching blue planet Earth. And here it is in front of us, flying across the endless spaces of the universe, ideal, smooth, streamlined. It is worthy to star in James Cameron’s movies, so it’s no surprise that it was the very model used to present the EQS to the public. The electric car is so unusual and perfect that it is quite appropriate to compare it with the genetically engineered body of the Na’vi from Avatar.
The details of the new EQS electric car, which has become an ecologically-friendly alternative to the S-Class sedan with a traditional internal combustion engine, were revealed step-by-step. And today we have finally learned how it looks and how it drives. The new Mercedes EQS has turned out to be a little narrower and higher than the new S-Class sedan: 5,216 × 1,926 × 1,512 mm (L x W x H). The length of the electric vehicle is 5,216 mm, which makes it close in size to the new generation S-Class with an extended wheelbase. The company claims that the EQS is the most aerodynamically efficient production car in the company’s history, with a drag coefficient of 0.20. The trunk size is 610 liters, which is also slightly more than that of the S-Class. With the rear seats folded down, it increases up to 1,770 liters. But the EQS does not have any front trunk.
We already knew about the main feature of the interior, so it was not mind blowing. But once again we want to mention it. The new MBUX Hyperscreen infotainment system is gorgeous, its huge 56-inch screen combines three displays: a 12.3-inch virtual dashboard, a 17-inch multimedia touchscreen and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the front passenger. The number of physical buttons is minimized, and they are all located on the central tunnel. It can’t hurt to compare it with the new S-Class. Feel the difference, as they say!
Currently, there are two modifications of the Mercedes EQS. The rear-wheel-drive base model is powered by a single 333 hp electric motor, which allows the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km in 6.2 seconds. The 524 hp top version accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds. The maximum speed in both versions is limited to 210 km/h, which is a pity… The electric motors work together with a 400-volt battery with a capacity of 107.8 kWh, providing a drive range of up to 770 kilometers. A 15-minute charge from a 200-kilowatt terminal increases the range of a single-engine electric car by 300 km, whereas the range of a twin-engine car will be increased by 280 km for the same time. In the future, they promise an option with a less capacious battery of 90 kWh. Moreover, the Germans are developing the most powerful version of the EQS with 725 hp engines, which will have the AMG logo.
The EQS comes standard with a fully controlled chassis. By default, the rear wheels turn 4.5 degrees, which increases stability at high speeds and improves maneuverability at low speeds. But you can choose the option with 10 degrees, in which case the turning radius of more than 5 meters is reduced from 11.9 to 10.9 meters. This option can be activated immediately after purchase via a wireless software update. Interestingly, the new EQS is the first Mercedes to offer this functionality. Plus, there is an optional Drive Pilot semi-autonomous driving system, corresponding to the third level autopilot. The manufacturer assures that artificial intelligence will allow the driver to let go of the steering wheel and take care of secondary matters. However, it is only possible when driving at speeds up to 60 km/h, exclusively on some sections of the route and only in Germany. It’s a pity…
The overall list of basic options is impressive: there are almost as many of them as in the S-Class, including electric rear doors. And yet, not everything is available here: there is no 4-seater configuration with rear seats separated by a multifunctional console. In total, depending on the trim level, the car is equipped with about 350 sensors and gauges, which are responsible for the operation of various systems. For example, as the driver approaches the car, the electronics will extend the door handles, which are ‘hidden’ in the body to improve aerodynamic performance. And as soon as the owner comes close to the car, the driver’s door will automatically open slightly.
After seeing this magnificence, we literally froze in anticipation of prices. Most likely, the EQS will enter the European market in August, and by the end of the year it will reach the United States. In the meantime, we can only assume: the cost will clearly not be less than 110 thousand dollars (we hope it won’t exceed 150 thousand dollars).
