- With the new EQS, the S-Class of electric cars, Mercedes-EQ is redefining the luxury-saloon segment.
- The EQS is also the first model to be based on the modular architecture for luxury and executive-class electric vehicles.
- Fusing technology, design, functionality and connectivity, the EQS delights both drivers and passengers.
- First models on the market will be the EQS 450+ and Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC.
– Fusing cutting-edge technology, design, functionality and connectivity, the EQS is designed to delight both its driver and passengers. With its impressive proportions, this new flagship in the Mercedes-EQ range embodies progressive luxury and combines apparent opposites into a coherent overall concept. Short overhangs and a long wheelbase create the basis for a prestigious and sporty exterior design.
As with the drive concept, the EQS takes a completely new approach to interior design – along with extensive digitalisation. And even the standard Electric Art interior impresses with exquisite materials and top-quality workmanship. Equipment highlights such as the MBUX Hyperscreen (PAG) define the EQS as the pioneer of a new era.
Deliberately placed accents, such as the dominant turbine-design side air vents, underscore the masterful engineering skill that has been applied here. At the same time, EQS is mindful of its roots and its positioning as a pioneering saloon in the S-Class segment: it meets the highest standards of comfort and luxury. A mix of technologically pioneering as well as traditional materials and colours illustrates these apparent contrasts that come together in the EQS.
“The EQS is an innovative and intelligent car, unmatched in exclusivity. It’s the S-Class of electric cars,” says Mark Raine, Co-CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director of Mercedes-Benz Cars South Africa.
“With its state-of-the-art tech and digitalisation, coupled with a progressive and dynamic yet elegant look, the EQS is the ultimate luxury EV,” concludes Raine.
In brief: EQS
In South Africa, the EQS range is being launched with two derivatives, including the first local all-electric model from Mercedes-AMG: the EQS 450+ and Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+. Both models’ lithium-ion battery is one of the largest-ever fitted to an electric vehicle and has an energy content of 107.8 kWh. This allows a driving range according to WLTP of up to 782 km in the EQS 450+.
The EQS 450+ and Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ will be available in South Africa from November 2022. The EQS 450+ will cost R2,615,700 and the EQS 53 4MATIC+ R3,410,100. These prices include a PremiumDrive Platinum 5-year/100,000 km maintenance plan and a 10-year battery warranty.
In depth: EQS
As part of its Ambition 2039 initiative, Mercedes-Benz is working on offering a carbon-neutral new car fleet within 20 years from now. By as early as 2030, the company wants more than half the cars it sells to feature electric drive systems – this includes fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. In many areas, Mercedes is already thinking about tomorrow today: the new EQS is designed to be correspondingly sustainable. The vehicles are produced in a carbon-neutral manner, and resource-saving materials such as carpets made from recycled yarn are used. This is because Mercedes-Benz considers the entire value chain, from development and the supplier network to its own production. Mercedes-Benz AG has had its climate protection targets confirmed by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTI).
With a great deal of meticulous detail work and on the basis of the Purpose design, the aerodynamicists, in close cooperation with the designers, were able to achieve a new c d best value of as low as 0.20. This makes the EQS the most aerodynamic production car in the world. The operating range particularly benefits from this. It is also among the best in terms of quiet running. The very low wind noise level contributes significantly to this.
With ranges up to 782 kilometres (WLTP) and an output of up to 484 kW (EQS 53), the powertrain of the EQS also meets every expectation of a progressive saloon in the S-Class segment. The EQS 450+ has an electric powertrain (eATS) at the rear axle, while the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ also has an eATS at the front axle to supplement the rear-sited powertrain.
The EQS marks the launch of a new generation of batteries with significantly higher energy density. The innovative battery management software, developed in-house, allows updates over the air (OTA). In this way, the energy management system remains up to date throughout the life cycle. In terms of the cell chemistry, the cobalt content of the cathodes has been reduced to 10 percent.
The EQS can be charged with up to 200 kW at fast charging stations with direct current. At home or at public charging stations, the EQS can be conveniently charged with up to 22 kW with AC using the on-board charger. In addition, there are various intelligent charging programs that can be activated automatically depending on the location, and functions such as particularly battery-saving charging.
Navigation with Electric Intelligence plans the fastest and most convenient route, including charging stops, based on numerous factors and reacts dynamically to traffic jams or a change in driving style, for example. A new feature of the EQS is a visualisation in the infotainment system (MBUX Mercedes-Benz User Experience) showing whether the available battery capacity is sufficient to return to the starting point without charging. Charging stations along the route that have been added manually are given preference in the route calculation. Proposed charging stations can be excluded.
Although the EQS is a close relative of the new S-Class, it is built on an all-electric architecture. This completely new concept made a rigorous Purpose Design possible: with its one-bow lines and cab-forward design with fastback, the EQS is clearly distinguishable from vehicles with combustion engines even at first glance. The design philosophy of Sensual Purity, combined with Progressive Luxury, is reflected in generously sculpted surfaces, reduced joints and seamless transitions (seamless design).
The front is combined into a ‘Black Panel’ unit. Innovative headlights connected by a light band and the deep black radiator grille (Black Panel) form the distinctive face. The exclusive look of the Black Panel radiator grille with central Mercedes star can be enhanced still further: as an optional extra, they are also available with a three-dimensional star pattern. This so-called Mercedes-Benz pattern is available in conjunction with AMG Line Exterior or Electric Art Exterior (standard on EQS 450+).
The EQS is the first Mercedes to offer the option of activating completely new vehicle functions via over-the-air updates (OTA) in many functional areas. Available from launch: two special driving programs for young drivers and service staff, some little games and the demo program “The Best or Nothing”. This means that, following the purchase and the initial new-car configuration, some of the features of the EQS can be adapted according to personal preferences. In addition to the classic purchase of individual functions, subscriptions, temporary activations and free test phases are also planned.
As an exceptionally intelligent vehicle, the EQS has up to 350 sensors, depending on the equipment. These record distances, speeds and accelerations, lighting conditions, precipitation and temperatures, seat occupancy as well as the driver’s blink of an eye or the passengers’ speech. This wealth of information is processed by control units that, controlled by algorithms, make decisions at lightning speed. So they are the brain, so to speak. The new EQS can expand its capabilities based on new experiences, because it is highly capable of learning thanks to artificial intelligence (AI).
The all-round sound experience in the EQS also makes the paradigm shift from a conventional to an electric car audible. A variety of soundscapes allows for an individual acoustic set-up. In combination with the optional Burmester® surround sound system, the EQS features the two soundscapes Silver Waves and Vivid Flux. As Sound Experiences they can be selected or switched off on the central display. Another soundscape can be unlocked using over-the-air technology. The interactive driving sound, which is reproduced via the sound system’s loudspeakers in the interior, also moves within the respective sound world.
New to ENERGIZING COMFORT are the three ENERGIZING NATURE programs Forest Glade, Sound of the Sea and Summer Rain. These provide an immersive and impressively realistic on-board sound experience. These calming sounds were created in consultation with the acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton. As with the other programs that form part of ENERGIZING Comfort, lighting moods and images are used to address other senses.
The standard rear-axle steering contributes to the handy and dynamic impression of the EQS. With the rear-axle steering setup with a steering angle of up to 10 degrees, the EQS has a turning circle of 10.9 metres. This corresponds to the turning circle of many models in the compact class. The respective rear-axle angles and trajectories are shown in the driving mode menu in the central display. The EQS 450+ is equipped with 4.5-degree rear-axle steering as standard and the EQS 53 AMG is equipped with 10-degree rear-axle steering as standard.
Thanks to powerful sensors that monitor the vehicle’s surroundings, the parking systems can help the driver with manoeuvring in many areas. The driver can park and unpark the car via smartphone using Remote Parking Assist.
The MBUX Hyperscreen (standard on the EQS 53) is the absolute highlight in the interior. This large, curved screen unit sweeps almost from A-pillar to A-pillar. Three screens sit under a cover glass and appear to merge into one. The 12.3-inch OLED display for the front passenger gives them their own display and control area. The entertainment functions are only available there while the car is being driven in accordance with the country-specific legal regulations. Mercedes-EQ relies on an intelligent, camera-based locking logic: if the camera detects that the driver is looking at the front passenger display, it is automatically dimmed.
With adaptive software, MBUX adapts completely to its user and makes personalised suggestions for numerous infotainment, comfort and vehicle functions. With the zero layer, the most important applications are always offered on the top level within the field of vision, according to situation and context.
The latest generation of driver assistance systems includes numerous driver support functions. New, for example, is the additional microsleep warning from ATTENTION ASSIST. It analyses the driver’s eyelid movements through a camera on the driver’s display (only in conjunction with MBUX Hyperscreen). The assistance display within the driver’s display shows the operation of the driving assistance systems in a comprehensible full-screen view.
The principles of Integral Safety, in particular accident safety, apply regardless of the platform. Like all other Mercedes, the EQS therefore features a rigid passenger cell, special deformation zones and state-of-the-art restraint systems. PRE-SAFE® is standard. The fact that the EQS is based on an all-electric architecture also opened up new design possibilities for its safety concept. It meant, for example, that a favourable location could be chosen for the installation of the battery, in a crash-protected area in the underbody. And because there is no large engine block on board, the behaviour in a frontal crash could be modelled even better. In addition to the standard crash tests, the car’s performance in various additional load situations was verified and extensive component tests carried out at the Vehicle Safety Technology Centre (TFS).
Technical data
| EQS 450+ | AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ | |
| Drive system layout | Rear | Front and Rear |
| Electric motor(s) | Permanently excited synchronous motor(s) (PSM) | |
| Rated output (kW) | 245 | 484 |
| Rated torque (Nm) | 568 | 950 |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h (s) | 6.2 | 3.8 |
| Top speed (km/h) (limited) | 210 | 220 |
| Battery capacity, usable (WLTP) (kWh) | 107.8 | 107.8 |
| Combined fuel consumption (WLTP) (kWh/100 km) | 19.8-15.8 | 23.4-21.1 |
| WLTP range (km) | Up to 782 | Up to 586 |
| Combined fuel consumption (NEDC) | 19.1-16.0 | 20.0-16.9 |
The stated figures are the measured “WLTP CO2 figures” in accordance with Article 2 No. 3 Implementing
Regulation (EU) 2017/1153. Electrical consumption and range were determined on the basis of Commission
Regulation (EU) No. 2017/1151. Electrical consumption and range are dependent on the vehicle configuration,
and in particular on the selected maximum speed restriction.
Ends
