Mercedes-Benz EQS: EV limo set to step up tech and gadgets

Mercedes-Benz’s first electric limousine will keep an eye on you courtesy of up to 350 sensors to monitor everything from your eye movements to your luggage.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS – essentially an all-electric version of the S-Class limousine that is the pinnacle of Benz luxury – will even monitor what language the occupants are speaking.

Plus it comes with its own fragrance that even has a touch of French pompousness in its name – No.6 Mood Linen.

Aiming to slam down the high-tech gauntlet in an EV space currently dominated by Tesla – and, no doubt, create plenty of BBQ talking points – the world’s oldest car maker is launching its latest gadgets and trinkets at what is shaping up to be its most advanced car.

FIRST DRIVE: Mercedes-Benz EQS450+ electric limousine

Mercedes-Benz is claiming “more than 40 new inventions have found their way into the EQS”, which is one of at least six new EVs coming as part of the brand’s EQ electric car sub-brand.

The EQS also promises to deliver more than 700km of WLTP range between charges thanks to an intense focus on efficiency and the latest generation lithium-ion batteries.

Full details and images of the EQS will be released within weeks, but Mercedes-Benz’s carefully choreographed teaser campaign has seen the reveal of more images and snippets of the technology set to dominate the cabin.

It’s headlined by Benz’s modestly-named optional Hyperscreen, which stretches 141cm across the dash and incorporates online music streaming services.

Those in the rear – a key focus given the limousine positioning of the EQS – can view 11.6-inch infotainment screens and even have an “Interior Assistant” that uses cameras and can interpret head and hand movements as part of the next-generation gesture control.

The Energizing Comfort feature promises “an immersive and impressively realistic on-board sound experience” with programs such as Forest Glade, Sounds of the Sea and Summer Rain. You get the idea…

There’s also a Power Nap function that encourages a quick roadside sleep before a phased wake-up sequence designed to improve the driver’s energy. It even incorporates fragrances.

A 15-speaker Burmester sound system incorporates sound scape programs such as Silver Waves Vivid Flux. All of which should have audiophiles frothing in anticipation…

Over the air software updates promise to deliver ongoing improvements and refinements – and possibly iron out some of the inevitable bugs that could inflict a car dripping with so much tech.

The EQS also plans to step up the EV offering.

Key to the promised efficiency of the EQS is the lowest drag coefficient of any car on the market – 0.20. While not all EQS variants will boast that, the most efficient – yet to be named – model will.

Mercedes-Benz has registered nine model names for the EQS with IP Australia: EQS350, EQS400, EQS420, EQS450, EQS500, EQS520, EQS550, EQS560 and EQS600. While all model designations won’t be used initially, it appears Benz will offer at least three variants globally, each stepping up the level of performance.

We’ll bring you full details of the EQS over coming weeks.