Mercedes to launch ultra-posh electric EQS by 2020

Mercedes-Benz is planning to introduce an ultra-luxurious, pure-electric limousine to be sold under the EQ brand, and Autocar reports that it will be ready by 2020. At launch, it will take on the upcoming zero-emissions Jaguar XJ and next-generation electric Audi A8, according to large-cars project boss Michael Kelz.

However, unlike Jaguar and Audi, the new EQS will not be an additional variant of the S-Class, but a completely separate model altogether. “We will have an electric vehicle at the level of the S-Class, no doubt, but it will not be the S-Class,” Kelz said.

The company also trademarked a list of names under the EQ brand, including EQS, which will be the model name for the S-Class’s electric counterpart. “It will be a luxury, electric car, a top-of-the-line car,” added Kelz. The luxury saloon will sit in the new EQ electric range alongside EQA, EQB and EQC models, and it will use the new Modular Electric Architecture (MEA) – the platform will be shared across the EQ line-up of cars.

In terms of design, Kelz said the EQS will get “short overhangs front and rear thanks to the packaging under the floor and huge wheelbases.” He also said it’s more difficult to convert existing platforms of low-bodied combustion-engined vehicles to accommodate electric powertrains.

Apparently, Kelz had already seen a concept of the large electric sedan and said such a car could roll out from 2020. The latest for it to roll out is 2022, and according to the UK publication, Mercedes-Benz has already confirmed that it intends to have 20 electrified models in its range by then.

Recently, Daimler has invested €10 billion (RM47.32 billion) on the development of electric vehicles, up to 10 of which will be EVs built from the same platform. It will also develop larger batteries to provide an operating range of up to 700 km and a zero to 100 km/h sprint time of under five seconds. Exciting times ahead, no?

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