The luxury electric sedan features a radical new Hyperscreen and can travel nearly 500 miles on one charge
The Mercedes-Benz EQS has been revealed and features upright tuning aerodynamics, live software update capability, an advanced interior, and a new electric drivetrain that will deliver over 700 horsepower in its most powerful form.
UK sales of the new liftback-style luxury sedan will start in the second half of 2021, with prices roughly in line with the standard S-Class starting at around £ 90,000.
The EQS is the first in an extensive line of EQ models to use Mercedes-Benz’s dedicated Electric Vehicle Architecture (EVA) platform and was designed as an electric-powered equivalent of the S-Class sedan – alongside from which it will be produced in Sindelfingen. , Germany.
Mercedes-Benz President Ola Källenius said: “The EQS is designed to exceed the expectations of our most demanding customers. This is exactly what a Mercedes must do to earn the letter “S” in its name. Because we do not attribute this letter lightly.
The new EVA platform, which is also intended for the upcoming EQE, EQE SUV and EQS SUV, brings air suspension at every corner and a rear steering system with a standard rear steering angle of 4.5 degrees.
The EQS production largely stays true to the 2019 EQS Vision concept, with an unusual front cabin profile. Its appearance is dominated by what Mercedes describes as an “arched roofline” that extends back to form a steeply sloping lift-style tailgate. Other key styling cues include a black grille panel topped by a pair of angular headlights – themselves connected by a horizontal light bar. The fully enclosed lighting unit can be ordered with an optional three-dimensional star pattern.
The aluminum-bodied EQS also features a fixed flap hood, which rolls up to the side to form the top of the front wheel arches. Rather than enclosing a front storage area, it is designed to be opened only during maintenance. The windshield washer fill bottle is built into a flap inside the left front fender, which swings out when pushed in.
The doors are frameless and feature the same flush handles that are available as an option on the S-Class, while the generously dimensioned wheel arches can accommodate alloys ranging from a standard diameter of 19 inches to 22 inches.
The EQS is 5,216mm long, 1,926mm wide and 1,512mm high and receives a 3210mm long wheelbase – 106mm longer than that of the S-Class – giving it relatively short overhangs.
Despite the car’s generous dimensions, Mercedes claims that the EQS improves on the refurbished Tesla Model S for its aerodynamic efficiency with a drag coefficient of 0.20.
The interior of the EQS is dominated by Mercedes’ new digital Hyperscreen – a one-piece curved display that spans the width of the dashboard and houses three digital displays – one for the instruments, one for the central infotainment and air conditioning functions, and another in front of the front passenger.
It is controlled by the latest generation of MBUX – an operating system that supports tactile and conversational voice input as standard as well as live software capability that will allow owners to update various features, including a 10.0 degree larger steering angle for the EQS rear wheel steering system, which gives a claimed 10.9m turning radius, as well as subscriptions, temporary feature activations and what Mercedes calls it “free software testing phases”.
A raised center console divides the front seats, while a nearly flat floor helps free up better rear-seat accommodation than in the S-Class.
Although the EQS does without a front storage compartment like many competitors, its claimed trunk volume of 610 liters is 60 liters more than that offered by the S-Class and it extends to 1,770 liters when the seats split folding rear are stowed.
In the rear-wheel-drive EQS 450, a rear-mounted asynchronous electric motor delivers 329 hp and 338 lb-ft of torque, while the initial top-of-the-range EQS 580 – which will not be sold in the UK – United – puts one motor on each axle for a combined 516bhp and 631lb ft.
Both cars receive a 107.8 kWh (net) lithium-ion battery, with an energy content described as being up to 26% higher than that used by the EQC and a reported range of up to 479 miles on the WLTP test cycle.
A smaller capacity battery is expected to be offered next year for a lower range and list price, although details have yet to be revealed.
Mercedes sets the time from 0 to 62 mph for the 2480 kg EQS 450 at 6.2 seconds, with the 2585 kg EQS 580, which benefits from full torque vectoring, reducing it to 4.3 seconds. Both models receive a top speed of 131 mph.
An even more powerful version of the EQS from the offshoot of Mercedes’ AMG performance car is also planned. Due to be revealed later this year, it uses the same twin-engine setup as the EQS 580, but will take total power beyond 700bhp.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-04-15 16:01:24
