Mercedes-Benz S560e plug-in hybrid to be launched in Malaysia – all-electric EQC SUV to be previewed

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) has teased the upcoming debut of two EQ-based models in the country on its Facebook page, with the cars set to be introduced later this week. The first is an EQ Power offering, the Mercedes-Benz S 560 e, the plug-in hybrid version of the facelifted W222 S-Class.

The variant made its debut in Frankfurt back in 2017, and speculation had been rife about whether it would make its way in last year when the S-Class facelift was launched in August – there was however no sign of the S 560 e or even mention of it as being in the pipeline at that point. That – and the quietening of its EQ push – made it feel as if MBM was easing back on its electrification plans, which of course isn’t the case, what with the advent of the upcoming debutants.

The S 560 e’s hybrid drive system combines a 3.0 litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine offering 362 hp (367 PS) and 500 Nm and an electric motor – housed within the nine-speed 9G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission – with a rated output of 121 hp (90 kW) and 440 Nm.

Performance-wise, the car has an all-electric range of around 50 km, courtesy of an increased capacity 13.5 kWh lithium-ion battery which features 37 Ah lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt (Li-NMC) cells instead of the previous 22 Ah lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePo) units. The unit, built by Daimler subsidiary Deutsche Accumotive, is also smaller than its predecessor, aiding an increase in available boot space.

The car features a water-cooled onboard charger with a capacity of 7.4 kW, and the battery can be charged from 10% to 100% SoC (status of charge) in around 1.5 hours with a Mercedes Wallbox at full power. With a conventional domestic power socket, charging to full takes around five hours.

The other model that will be unveiled is from the EQ stable, the all-electric EQC SUV. Series production of the N293 only started last month, so the reveal here is very much a teaser – a market introduction here probably won’t happen until next year at the earliest, based on projections elsewhere (China gets its market launch at year end, the US early next year).

Closer to home, Thailand has stated plans to launch the SUV towards the end of this year, and it was previously reported that the EQC was being considered for local assembly in the Kingdom as part of the automaker’s electric expansion plans, so should that happen, the EQC might eventually come via the ASEAN route at some point in the future.

The EQC, which shares the same underpinnings as the GLC, will likely be shown in EQC 400 4Matic form, although it remains to be seen what trim level the show car will have (the teaser image shows a non-AMG Line model, also the case for the S 560 e).

Powertrain wise, the SUV features an electric drivetrain on each axle – the front motor drives the SUV along during low loads and whilst cruising, while the rear motor kicks in when performance and high power output is called for.

Together, the asynchronous motors offer 300 kW (or 402 hp) and 760 Nm in output, and give the EQC a 0-100 km/h time of 5.1 seconds and an electronically-limited 180 km/h top speed. An 80 kWh lithium-ion battery provides the juice for both electric motors and gives the SUV an operating range of more than 450 km, based on a NEDC test cycle.

Like the battery in the S 560 e, the EQC’s modular battery is also built by Deutsche Accumotive. The 650 kg unit features 384 cells (two modules with 48 cells each and four with 72 cells each) and has a maximum voltage of 408 volts and a nominal capacity of 210 Ah.

Also, like the S-Class PHEV, it’s equipped with a water-cooled 7.4 kW onboard charger. With a Wallbox or via public AC charging at 7.4 kW, 16A per phase, it takes around 11 hours to get the battery from 10% to 100%,

However, via DC rapid charging – accomplished via CCS (Combined Charging Systems) in Europe and the USA, CHAdeMO in Japan or GB/T in China – the charging time drops phenomenally. With a 400 volt supply voltage and a current output of around 300 amps, the battery can be juiced up from 10% to 80% SOC in around 40 minutes through the DC route.

More on the Mercedes-Benz S 560 e and EQC when both are officially revealed later this week.

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