Range master: Mercedes EQS gains huge 926km range, faster charging, AI-powered software and trick steer-by-wire tech to give it the edge over the BMW i7

The pioneering all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQS limousine has gone under the knife, receiving smoother styling and significant upgrades designed to boost its competitiveness against the Genesis Electrified G80 and the soon-to-be-facelifted BMW i7.

The big news is the Mercedes EQS, which was first launched back in 2021, switches to powerful 800-volt electrics, unlocking faster charging and higher levels of efficiency, allowing the rear-wheel-drive version to cover up to 926km on a charge.

That range is 13 per cent more than the car it replaces and would see it instantly become the longest-range EV in Australia, overtaking the 805km the latest BMW iX3 can cover before it needs plugging in.

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Now capable of charging at up to 350kW, 320km of range can be added in little more than 10 minutes.

Featuring new motors, a two-speed gearbox on the rear axle and larger batteries that have ‘optimised cell chemistry’, the EQS comes with the choice of four different powertrains.

The EQS 400 gets a single e-motor that produces 270kW and 505Nm and is combined with a 112kWh battery, which provides for an 817km range.

A bigger 122kWh battery is available on the 300kW EQS 450+, which delivers the maximum 926km on a single charge, while the 350kW EQS 500 4MATIC and the fastest 430kW EQS 580 4MATIC, meanwhile, travel an impressive 876km before needing to be plugged in.

Towing capacity for the entry model is 1600kg – twice as much as before – while the 4MATIC models can still haul up to 1700kg.

Loaded with the car-maker’s latest tech, the EQS is the first Benz to be fitted with the brand’s advanced steer-by-wire technology, which cuts lock-to-lock rotation to just 170 degrees – less than half a turn of the wheel – eliminating the need for hand-over-hand steering and allowing drivers to keep their grip fixed on the wheel. The idea is to improve both comfort and safety.

The lack of a physical connection eliminates vibrations being transmitted through the steering wheel, further boosting refinement.

Another benefit of the technology is that it deletes a traditional steering rack, freeing up space for a larger front-mounted electric motor and reducing development complexity for left- and right-hand-drive vehicles.

More than one million kilometres of real-world testing have already been carried out.

On the move, boosting efficiency is the EQS’s tweaked styling, which slashes the drag coefficient to 0.20Cd, making it one of the slipperiest cars of all time, while under braking, the big Benz can claw back up to 385kW of energy.

Other new tech includes a pair of brighter headlamps that not only use 50 per cent less energy, but can project light up to 600m.

The innovation continues with the EQS adopting both supercomputers and AI-powered software connected to the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud.

The same powerful cloud-based tech even extends to the Airmatic suspension, which knows where speed bumps and potholes are and pre-arms the dampers for what lies ahead, delivering a smoother ride.

Benz’s MB.Drive Parking Assist uses up to 27 sensors to detect more spaces effectively and can even park diagonally. The auto-parking system now works at speeds of up to 5km/h, 60 per cent faster than before.

As before, the EQS still features its massive MBUX Hyperscreen, which measures 55 inches.

Helping distinguish the heavily overhauled EQS from the current limousine, the new Benz sports an illuminated star, features star-shaped graphics within its lamps, and a grille with yet more backlit stars.

Luxurious additions include seatbelts that are heated up to 44°C, while in the rear there are now two 13.1-inch displays for enhanced second-row entertainment.

Fresh options include open-pore poplar wood trim and the choice of up to 125 paint hues.

Pricing and specifications for the Australian EQS line-up have yet to be revealed, but the heavily overhauled limousine is expected to land here in the fourth quarter (October to December) this year.

Currently, the base EQS 4MATIC is priced from $219,000 plus on-road costs, with the fastest EQS 53 AMG costing $327,075 plus on-roads.

It’s thought Mercedes-AMG will replace the EQS 53 in the near future.