Mercedes-Benz EQS EV limousine… the wraps are off
Mercedes-Benz revealed more than just the aerodynamic exterior of its new EQS in Germany overnight. The long-awaited official presentation of the luxury EV limousine also included a lot of fresh information on its innovative under-the-skin tech. And there was also confirmation a high-performance version of the EQS is being developed, one that will likely wear an AMG badge.
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First things first. The digital premiere provided a first glimpse of the EQS undisguised, one of six new Mercedes-EQ EVs coming soon. Mercedes-Benz orchestrated a long build-up with carefully timed press releases, but the slow strip-tease always showed the car wearing camouflage cladding. Now that thin veil has been removed, and the true form of the world’s most aerodynamic production can at last be plainly seen.
Low-drag queen
With its claimed 0.20 Cd (co-efficient of drag), the EQS is significantly more slippery than anything else on the market. The previous best was 0.22 Cd, and it belonged to two other Mercedes-Benz models, the new S-Class and the sedan version of the much smaller A-Class.
It’s no accident the EQS doesn’t look at all like the S-Class, its equivalent in the conventional Mercedes-Benz line-up. Its cab-forward proportions and fastback tail are good for aerodynamics. The short-bonnet shape also sends a visual message that the EQS isn’t another ICE-powered Mercedes-Benz, which is exactly what the design team was asked to deliver.
Read our virtual test ride in the new Mercedes-EQ EQS.
The clamshell bonnet isn’t designed to be opened by the owner. It’s only to be lifted by service technicians for maintenance work, such as replacing the cabin air filter. There’s a flap on the left wing to enable refilling the screen washer reservoir.
Not every version of the EQS will be able to make the 0.20 Cd claim. This value only applies when the car is fitted with a specific low-drag 19-inch AMG wheel and tyre package that will only become available late in 2021. In the meantime there will be a choice of 19-, 20- and 22-inch wheels. Though their design is aero, apparently none is quite as good as the AMG wheel.
The car’s solid black-panel grille is one of the more obvious aero details, but most of the results of Mercedes-Benz’s wind-tunnel work in hidden beneath the EQS. The car’s flat-bottomed underfloor battery pack is a natural advantage over an ICE-powered vehicle, but the engineers went further by enclosing the rear suspension and adding small spoilers to manage airflow around the wheels.
More on motors and batteries
There will be two versions of the EQS when it goes on sale in Europe from June. The 450+ has a single electric motor driving its rear wheels. The 580 has dual motors and is naturally all-wheel drive. Both have a 400-volt battery pack with a usable capacity of 108kWh.
Mercedes-Benz also used the presentation to announce it has a high-performance version of the EQS under development. “Up to 560kW” is promised, a high number that strongly indicates it’ll wear an AMG badge. No timing for its launch was mentioned.
It’s certain Mercedes-Benz also plans to produce the EQS with more than three powertrain versions, mirroring its strategy with the S-Class. The company has already said a smaller 90kWh battery pack is coming. In Australia Mercedes-Benz has trademarked more names than it will ever use for the EQS, but it at least shows the possibilities; they include EQS350, EQS400, EQS420, EQS450, EQS500, EQS520, EQS550, EQS560 and EQS600.
It’s not known for sure how many motor and battery pack versions will be in production by the time the EV reaches Australia in December or early 2022. Even less clear is which of them will be offered here.
Let’s take a look at what is known about the first versions of the EQS to go into production…
The 450+ is the one with the big 770km driving range, as announced earlier this month. Its motor produces maximums of 245kW and 568Nm, enough to push the almost 2.5-tonne car 0-100km/h in 6.2 seconds.
The two motors of the slightly heavier 580 delivers together deliver 385kW and 855Nm. It’s much quicker; 0-100km/h in 4.3 seconds. Both versions are limited to a top speed of 210km/h.
Mercedes-Benz has developed an innovative electric motor specifically for the rear axle of the EQS (we’ll be covering this, and the vehicle’s other innovations, soon). A different motor will be used in the front axle of the 4matic-badged all-wheel-drive versions.
Another fresh detail on the launch drivetrains is their strong regenerative braking ability. Maximum recuperation in the single-motor 480+ is 186kW, but only in conditions where there’s enough traction to avoid wheel lock-up. The dual-motor 580, on the other hand, can return up to a whopping 290kW to its battery pack via regenerative braking.
The EQS also features impressive DC fast charging ability. Both launch versions can take up to 200kW. At this optimum rate, the 450+ can add 300km of driving range in 15 minutes, and the 580 is only a little slower.
There’s a standard 11kW on-board charger for connection to a wallbox. A 22kW charger will be an option in Europe. Possibly Australia, too.
Mercedes-Benz is confident that the EQS’s battery packs will be long lived. They’re covered by a 10-year/250,000km guarantee to retain 70 percent of their capacity.
Pay to play OTA updates
The EQS will be the first Mercedes-Benz to offer new functions via OTA (over the air) updates delivered through the latest MBUX operating system and enormous 141-centimetre Hyperscreen that sprawls across the dash. A limited package of functions will come standard. It includes stuff like a program that modifies the way the EQS drives to make it safer for a beginner driver, plus some games.
But Mercedes-Benz also sees OTA tech as an opportunity to generate revenue. Here’s an example. The EQS comes standard with electric rear-wheel steering. It can turn the wheels through 4.5 degrees, tightening the large turning circle of this long car.
Even tighter turning is available with the optional 10 degree rear-steer. The hardware is identical, but there will be a charge to unlock it via an OTA update. There will also be charges to add to the EQS’s repertoire of driving sounds, and more.
High IQ sat-nav
The navigation system of the EQS will be smarter than the average EV’s. In fact, it’ll be able to look into the future, according to Mercedes-Benz.
When a destination is punched into the navigation system, the EQS take multiple factors into account when calculating driving range; route, topography, ambient temperature, heating and cooling requirements, traffic and charger availability.
If a charging is needed to make the journey, the system will plan stops in a way that minimises total travel time. For example, it might lengthen the route to include a visit to a DC fast charger instead of a low-power charger on a shorter route. The car will also pre-prepare the battery pack to optimise the charge rate it can accept from the charging point.
It’s tech that has the potential to make long-distance driving in the EQS less complicated and stressful than other EVs. Expect it to also appear in the future models – at least three are confirmed – built on Mercedes-Benz’s new EVA platform.
The sat-nav is part of an explosion of tech and gadgets in the new EQS, which uses up to 350 sensors to monitor the driver, the road and even your luggage.
