The Mercedes-Benz EQS500 4Matic Electric Art Line is the first model from the brand’s EQ line-up of electric vehicles (EVs) to be locally assembled (CKD) in Malaysia. Introduced in February this year, the variant retails at RM648,888 on-the-road without insurance and replaces the previous EQS450+ AMG Line that was fully imported (CBU) from Germany.
In this post, we’re bringing you a comprehensive gallery of the EQS500 with over 200 photos for you to browse through and compare with the EQS450+, which we have reviewed before and was previously priced at RM698,888.
Featuring two electric motors, the all-wheel drive EQS500 serves up a total system output of 449 PS (443 hp, or 330 kW) and 828 Nm of torque, significantly more than the rear-wheel drive EQS450+ that offers 333 PS (329 hp, or 245 kW) and 568 Nm. As a result, the EQS500 will accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds, which is faster than the EQS450+ that needs 6.2 seconds – both variants have an identical top speed of 210 km/h.
The CKD variant also has a slightly higher usable energy capacity from its lithium-ion battery at 108.4 kWh instead of 107.8 kWh (120 kWh gross), but it sacrifices some range in exchange for increased performance. On a full charge, the EQS500 provides up to 696 km of WLTP-rated range compared to the 782 km of the EQS450+.
As for charging times, the EQS500 needs 10 hours to get the battery from a 10-100% state of charge (SoC) with AC charging (Type 2 connection) at the max of 11 kW. With DC fast charging (CCS2 connection) at up to 200 kW, a 10-80% SoC can be achieved in just 31 minutes.
Aside from the differing electric powertrains, the EQS500 also comes with the Electric Art Line exterior instead of the AMG Line on the EQS450+ that sees less aggressive bumpers and more chrome trim elements on the exterior. The more conservative look is made complete by a set of 20-inch five-spoke light-alloy wheels in place of the EQS450+’s 21-inch AMG multi-spoke units.
In terms of specifications, the EQS500 gets almost all of the equipment present on the EQS450+, including adjustable Airmatic air suspension with selective damping, rear axle steering (up to 10 degrees) and the Dynamic Select system with selectable drive modes.
Similarly, the Electric Art interior of the EQS450+ is applied to the EQS500, with one revision being Nappa leather upholstery in black/space grey instead of black/Balao brown. A black fabric headliner, velour floor mats, anthracite line-structure lime wood trim elements, anthracite open-pored line structure lime wood centre console as well as 64-colour ambient lighting are all present.
A main highlight of the EQS’ interior is the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) Hyperscreen, which consists of three separate displays – a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 17.7-inch central OLED touchscreen and another 12.3-inch OLED touchscreen for the front passenger. The system includes Mercedes me connect services, over-the-air update support, augmented reality for navigation and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support on top of various media functions.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 500 4Matic CKD Malaysia spec sheet; click to enlarge
There’s also the MBUX High-End Rear Seat Entertainment System with two wireless headsets to keep rear passengers entertained as they enjoy the luxury of the Rear Seat Package Plus (electrically-adjustable rear seats with climate control and comfort armrest), wireless mobile device charging and a dedicated MBUX tablet.
Those at the front will also be pampered with powered Comfort seats that include heating, ventilation, massaging and memory functions. The MBUX Interior Assistant for both the front and rear as well as a Burmester 3D surround sound system add to the interior creature comforts.
Safety and driver assistance systems that are standard on the EQS500 include Driving Assistance Plus Package (includes AEB), Active Distance Assist Distronic (adaptive cruise control) with extended automatic restart in traffic jams, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Steering Assist (semi-autonomous driving), Pre-Safe (with impulse side support), evasive manoeuvre support, Active Parking Assist, a Parking Package with 360-degree camera and Urban Guard vehicle protection.
Following the introduction of the locally-assembled (CKD) Mercedes-Benz EQS500 4Matic in February this year, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) today launched the new Mercedes-AMG EQS53 4Matic+, which is the high-performance version of the carmaker’s fully electric sedan. The price of the fully-imported (CBU) EQS53 4Matic+ is RM798,888 on-the-road without insurance, which makes it RM150,000 more than the EQS500 4Matic.
First revealed in September 2021, the AMG EQS boasts the fully-variable AMG Performance 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system that consists of two electric motors – one on each axle – for a total system output of 658 PS (649 hp or 484 kW) and 950 Nm of torque.
With these figures, the electric vehicle (EV) will accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds and maxes out at 220 km/h. For comparison, the EQS500’s dual-motor setup only offers 449 PS (443 hp, or 330 kW) and 828 Nm, which enables a century sprint time of 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 210 km/h.
For even more performance, MBM specifies the AMG EQS with the AMG Dynamic Plus package that increases outputs to 761 PS (751 hp or 560 kW) and 1,020 Nm. You’ll need to be in Race Start mode as well as have a battery charge level of at least 75% for the power boost, which brings the 0-100 km/h time down to 3.4 seconds and bumps up the top speed to 250 km/h.
The electric motors are specific to the AMG EQS and have a more robust thermal solution for consistent performance, including a so-called “water lance” in the shaft of the rotor. There are also special ribs on the stator and a needle-shaped pin-fin structure on the inverter, both made of ceramics, while an additional transmission oil heat exchanger keeps the transmission at optimal temperatures during hard driving.
Drivers can tinker with the Dynamic Select system to alter the characteristics of the AWD powertrain, with Comfort serving to maximise efficiency, while Sport and Sport+ makes the car more rear-biased. The AMG EQS also comes with rear-wheel steering, beefier brakes and AMG Ride Control+, which combines air suspension with adaptive, electronically controlled dampers.
The electric motors are powered by a lithium-ion battery pack with a net energy capacity of 108.4 kWh (120 kWh gross), which is the same one found in the EQS500. As such, the charging times are identical, with AC charging (Type 2 connection) at up to 11 kW getting the battery from a 0-100% state of charge (SoC) in 11 hours and 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, DC fast charging (CCS2 connection) at up to 200 kW gets the unit from a 10 to 80% SoC in just 31 minutes. Fully charged, the AMG EQS delivers up to 571 km of WLTP-rated range, which is less than the EQS500’s 696 km.
Where the EQS500 is dressed in the Electric Art Line trim, the AMG EQS comes standard with the Mercedes-AMG exterior that looks like the AMG Line package but is model-specific with a Panamericana design on the black panel grille. It also gets a front splitter, flics and fins on the air intakes, air curtains on the front bumper, AMG side sill panels, a rear diffuser as well as a prominent rear spoiler. The wheels are 21-inch AMG cross-spoke light-alloys.
As for the rest of the kit list, the AMG EQS features Digital Light headlamps with Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus, the AMG Night package, red-painted brake calipers, a panoramic sliding sunroof, 64-colour ambient lighting, powered front seats with memory, ventilation and heating functions, Keyless-Go Comfort, Hands-Free Access and Easy-Pack tailgate.
You’ll also get an AMG interior consisting of the Performance steering wheel, illuminated door sills, carbon-fibre trim and centre console and floor mats, along with a Microcut microfibre roof liner and black/space grey Nappa leather upholstery.
For infotainment, there’s the expansive Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) Hyperscreen that consists of three separate displays – a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 17.7-inch central OLED touchscreen and another 12.3-inch OLED touchscreen for the front passenger. There’s no rear seat displays like in the EQS500, but you’ll still get a Burmester 3D surround sound ststem, a head-up display as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.
Safety and driver assistance systems that come standard are the Driving Assistant Plus package that includes Active Distance Assist Distronic with stop & go, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Steering Assist. Other supporting systems include Pre-Safe, Urban Guard, Parking Package with remote parking functions, a 360-degree camera, Active Parking Assist, Memory Parking Assist and tyre pressure monitoring.
Having previously confirmed that locally-assembled (CKD) EQ models would be coming our way, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) has now announced the first of these all-electric vehicles, with the EQS 500 4Matic being officially unveiled today at the company’s production facility in Pekan, Pahang, ahead of a mid-March market debut. Present at the event was the minister of international trade and industry Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.
As indicated in January, the EQS 500 takes over the electric flagship role from the EQS 450 + AMG Line, which arrived last July as a fully-imported model. Despite having more in the way of output, the CKD variant is RM50k cheaper than the 450+, rolling in at RM648,888 (on-the-road, without insurance) compared to the RM698,888 that was asked for the CBU model. According to MBM, the significant reduction is brought about by a change in specification as well as zero sales tax from going the CKD route.
As its numerical designation suggests, the dual-motor, all-wheel drive EQS 500 has 449 PS (443 hp, or 330 kW) and 828 Nm in the way of output, significantly more than the 333 PS (329 hp, or 245 kW) and 568 Nm available on the rear-wheel drive EQS 450+. This offers the new variant a 0-100 km/h time of 4.8 seconds, getting it to the century mark faster than the 450+, which manages the same sprint in 6.2 seconds. Top speed is similar to the 450+ at 210 km/h.
The EQS 500 has the same 396 volt lithium-ion battery as found on the EQS 450+, but with a slightly higher usable energy capacity of 108.4 kWh, compared to the 107.8 kWh (120 kWh gross) on the 450+. This has no bearing on charging times, which are similar, with AC charging (Type 2 connection) at up to 11 kW getting the battery from a 10-100% state of charge (SoC) in 10 hours. Meanwhile, DC fast charging (CCS2 connection) at up to 200 kW gets the unit from a 10 to 80% SoC in just 31 minutes.
The higher output – and similar battery capacity – means that some sacrifice is made in terms of operating range, with the EQS 500 offering up to 696 km of WLTP-rated travel distance on a single charge compared to the 782 km offered by the EQS 450+.
Specification-wise, the EQS 500 continues with almost all of the equipment present on the 450+, including adjustable Airmatic air suspension with selective damping, rear axle steering (up to 10 degrees) and Dynamic Select.
It does however replace the AMG Line kit of the CBU version with an Electric Art line exterior. This brings about more chrome trim elements and introduces a new 20-inch five-spoke alloy wheel design in place of the 450+’s 21-inch multi-spoke AMG unit.
Otherwise, the list remains pretty much the same. The Electric Art interior found on the 450+ continues on, with the main change being that of the upholstery, the Nappa leather now presented in a black/space grey scheme compared to the black/Balao brown on the CBU car.
As before, there’s black fabric headliner, velour floor mats, anthracite line-structure lime wood trim elements and an anthracite open-pored line structure lime wood centre console as well as 64-colour ambient lighting.
Likewise, the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) Hyperscreen display, which measures 141 cm wide and consists of three separate displays – a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 17.7-inch central OLED touchscreen and another 12.3-inch OLED touchscreen for the front passenger.
The MBUX system features Mercedes me connect services, over-the-air update support, augmented reality for navigation and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support on top of various media functions. Like on the 450+, there’s also MBUX Interior Assistant for both the front and rear as well as a Burmester 3D surround sound system.
Elsewhere, the Comfort seats continue, with those at the front being powered and equipped with heating, ventilation and memory functions. At the back, a Rear Seat Package Plus offers electrically-adjustable seats, luxury head restraints (also for the front seats), seat climate control and a comfort armrest. The rear also gets wireless mobile device charging and an MBUX tablet.
As standard, the EQS comes with Driving Assistance Plus Package (includes AEB), Active Distance Assist Distronic (adaptive cruise control), Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Steering Assist (semi-autonomous driving), Pre-Safe (with impulse side support), evasive manoeuvre support, Active Parking Assist, a Parking Package with 360-degree camera and Urban Guard vehicle protection.
Launched in Malaysia in July this year, the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ is priced at RM698,888 on-the-road without insurance including incentives in the form of import and excise duty exemptions which are waived for electric vehicles in Malaysia.
Here, the EQS 450+ is the sole variant currently available for the German marque’s flagship EV in the country, and brings a lithium-ion battery rated at 107.8 kWh of usable battery capacity, or 120 kWh gross capacity.
This can be recharged via AC via a Type 2 connection at up to 11 kW that brings a 10-100% state of charge in 10 hours, or with DC fast charging via a CCS2 connection at up to 200 kW, with which the EQS can be recharged from 10-80% state of charge in 31 minutes.
With a WLTP-rated energy consumption as low as 15.7 kWh per 100 km, the EQS does a maximum range of 782 km on a single charge. Motive power is by a single, water-cooled drive motor for the rear wheels that produces 333 PS and 565 Nm of torque, enabling the 2.48-tonne EV to achieve the 0-100 km/h sprint in 6.2 seconds on its way to a top speed of 210 km/h.
Inside, the EQS is just as distinctive as its exterior, with an interior that features the MBUX Hyperscreen display that consists of three separate displays across its 141 cm width. The instrument cluster measures 12.3 inches across, as does the OLED touchscreen for the front passenger, while the starring central OLED touchscreen is an even larger 17.7 inches. Even more visual flair comes with 64-colour ambient lighting.
Mobile device integration comes courtesy of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as part of the MBUX setup that comes with a range of Mercedes me connect services, OTA update support, augmented reality for navigation and more. There’s a fingerprint scanner for the driver to log their profile, too.
Infotainment is augmented on the audio front by a Burmester High End 3D surround sound system, while the rear passengers get a dedicated MBUX High-End Rear Seat Entertainment System which includes two wireless headsets.
The luxury of abundance extends to the safety equipment list as well, which on the EQS includes Driving Assistance Plus Package (with AEB), Active Distance Assist Distronic (adaptive cruise control), Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Steering Assist (semi-autonomous driving), Pre-Safe (with impulse side support), evasive manoeuvre support, Active Parking Assist, Parking Package with 360-degree camera and Urban Guard vehicle protection.
Is this the best fully electric vehicle on sale right now? The Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ is certainly a strong contender, though it isn’t perfect; watch the video review here as our man Hafriz Shah explores the German manufacturer’s fully electric flagship on video, here.
The Mercedes-Benz EQS was launched last week and is yet another electric vehicle that enters the Malaysian market. Available in a sole EQS 450+ AMG variant, the asking price for the brand’s flagship EV sedan is RM698,888 on-the-road without insurance, inclusive of sales tax and current EV incentives.
Mercedes-Benz EVs are relatively new to our market, with the first being the EQA that was launched earlier in March this year. During the EQS’ introduction, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia also revealed the EQB and EQC, both of which will receive official pricing in the coming months.
With more EVs bearing the three-pointed star coming our way, we posed the question of reliability to MBM president and CEO Sagree Sardien as well as head of sales and marketing Michael Jopp in a group interview following the presentation of the trio of EQ models last Friday.
“First of all, we are very confident. If you go back to the first generation of hybrids, we are now at least three generations advanced. The battery management on the new generation [of EV batteries] is developed in-house, so I would say there’s also a lot more effort gone into them and making sure that these cars function,” said Jopp, who added that over-the-air (OTA) software updates will further improve the performance and reliability of EQ models.
“We’ve probably tested these EQs more intensively than any of the cars that we have launched before. We need to get more first-hand experience because typically, in many cases actually, you [the media] get to drive the cars earlier than we do,” he continued.
Indeed, in the days before the EQS was presented, MBM general manager of pricing and product management Christian Grimberg as well as manager of product management (EQ, SUV, AMG and fleet) Florian Neff took a camouflaged unit on a long-distance trip up and down Peninsular Malaysia from Kuala Lumpur to Penang to Johor Bahru and back to KL, covering a distance of 1,693 km for evaluation purposes. The EQS 450+ has a WLTP-rated range of 782 km on a single charge.
The EQS also comes with a 10-year/250,000-km warranty for its EV battery — this is following Mercedes-Benz’s global warranty standard – which is the highest among all EVs currently sold in Malaysia that typically maxes out at five years/160,000 km. Even after that period, the assurance is the 107.8-kWh lithium-ion battery will still be able to hold a 70% charge.
“I can say, to further exude this confidence, you would have seen in Michael’s slides when he put it up, that’s why in EQS, we go up to, on the battery, 10 years or 250,000 km [warranty] because we are convinced on this next generation of battery that most certainly, hopefully we do not have the issues we have experienced in the past,” said Sardien.
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is continuing its electric vehicle offensive with the launch of the EQS, which arrives a few months after the introduction of EQA in March this year, and joined by the EQC and EQB that are also making their local debut today. The brand’s flagship EV sedan made its global debut back in April 2021 and is the first model to be built on the modular Electric Vehicle Architecture (EVA) platform, which is also used for the EQS SUV, EQE and EQE SUV.
We’re getting the EQS in a sole EQS 450+ AMG Line variant, which retails at RM698,888 on-the-road without insurance. The asking price is with sales tax and current EV incentives factored in, the latter in the form of import and excise duties being waived for the model that comes fully imported (CBU) from Germany. A four-year, unlimited-mileage vehicle warranty comes standard, and the EV battery is covered for 10 years or 250,000 km, whichever comes first.
For the money, you’re getting an EV with a WLTP-rated range of 782 km courtesy of a 396-volt lithium-ion battery with a usable energy capacity of 107.8 kWh (120 kWh gross). The EQS supports AC charging (Type 2 connection) up to 11 kW and will get from a 10-100% state of charge (SoC) in ten hours.
MBM throws in a five-metre-long Type 2 to Type 2 charging cable with each purchase for use with a wallbox or public charging stations. However, if time is of a concern, there’s also DC fast charging (CCS2 connection) support up to 200 kW, whereby a 10-80% SoC is reached in just 31 minutes.
Said battery powers a single, water-cooled electric motor, which Mercedes-Benz says features a so-called water lance in the shaft of the rotor that cools it from the inside. The electric motor drives the rear wheels and is rated at 333 PS (329 hp or 245 kW) and 565 Nm of torque, which is enough to get the 2.48-tonne vehicle from a rest to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds – the top speed is 210 km/h.
As for electricity consumption, the WLTP-rated figure is as low as 15.7 kWh/100 km. Drivers will have several recuperation modes to choose from, including a DAuto option that can bring the car to a standstill without using the brake pedal (one-pedal driving). The levels of recuperation and a gliding function are selectable via shift paddles on the steering wheel.
Measuring in at 5,216 mm long, 1,926 mm wide, 1,512 mm tall and with a wheelbase of 3,210 mm, the EQS occupies a slightly smaller footprint than current S-Class. It also looks properly futuristic thanks to EQ-specific cues like the Black Panel front grille with a three-dimensional star pattern as well as full-width, 3D helix taillights at the rear. For our market, we get the top-of-the-line Digital Light LED headlamps that are connected by a light band running just ahead of the bonnet.
These items are set upon a fastback-like body that is styled in Sensual Purity fashion so it carves through the air with as little resistance as possible, with the carmaker claiming the world’s lowest drag coefficient of 0.20. Other highlights include frameless doors, retractable door handles and a set of 21-inch AMG multi-spoke light-alloy wheels.
On the mention of the brand’s in-house performance division, the EQS we get comes standard with the AMG Line package, which adds on a more aggressive front bumper featuring an A-wing profile and prominent corner inlets. The rear also gets a more expressive bumper with a subtle diffuser-like element, vertical corner outlets and slats below the rear reflectors.
While the exterior gets the AMG Line treatment, the EQS’ interior is treated to the Electric Art package instead. This means you get a comprehensive 64-colour ambient lighting system and a round, three-spoke steering wheel instead of a flat-bottomed unit.
As the flagship model, the EQS is dressed to impressed, with standard items being black/Balao brown Nappa leather upholstery, a black fabric headliner, velour floor mats, anthracite line-structure lime wood trim in most places and an anthracite open-pored line structure lime wood centre console.
Comfort seats are part of kit list too, with those at the front being powered and equipped with heating, ventilation and memory functions. Rear passengers aren’t forgotten either, as they get to enjoy all the benefits of Rear Seat Package Plus, including electrically adjustable seats, luxury head restraints (also for the front seats), seat climate control, a comfort armrest, a wireless charger and an MBUX rear tablet.
No shortage of tech either, as the Malaysian-spec EQS comes with the attention-grabbing MBUX Hyperscreen display, which measures 141 cm wide and consists of three separate displays: a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 17.7-inch central OLED touchscreen and another 12.3-inch OLED touchscreen for the front passenger.
The Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) in the EQS comes with host of Mercedes me connect services, over-the-air update support, augmented reality for navigation and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support on top of various media functions. Owners will also be able to log in to their driver profile by way of a fingerprint scanner, and if the front passenger is not occupied, the dedicated screen shows animated three-pointed stars instead.
The system is accompanied by the MBUX Interior Assistant for both the front and rear as well as a Burmester 3D surround sound system, while rear passengers are treated to the MBUX High-End Rear Seat Entertainment System that comes with two wireless headsets.
Click to enlarge
Still not enough tech for you? Well, the EQS also comes with adjustable Airmatic air suspension with selective damping, rear axle steering (up to 10 degrees), Dynamic Select, four-zone Thermotronic climate control, Keyless-Go (including the extended Comfort package), an Easy-Pack tailgate, another wireless charger at the front, a head-up display, interior soundscapes and an acoustic presence indicator that generates sounds to alert those outside at speeds of up to 30 km/h.
We’re not done yet, as safety and driver assists are plentiful as well. As standard, the EQS comes with Driving Assistance Plus Package (includes AEB), Active Distance Assist Distronic (adaptive cruise control), Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Steering Assist (semi-autonomous driving), Pre-Safe (with impulse side support), evasive manoeuvre support, Active Parking Assist, Parking Package with 360-degree camera and Urban Guard vehicle protection.
The EQS’ equipment list is certainly a long one, and at RM698,888 thanks to EV incentives, it’s slightly more affordable than the S 580 e that sells for RM708,888. Which one would you have if you had to put some money down? The plug-in hybrid in a shape of conventional sedan or the fully electric model that looks unlike anything else on our roads today? Or will you be waiting for something from the other German team? Sound off in the comments below.
GALLERY: 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ AMG Line
GALLERY: 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ AMG Line official photos
Mercedes-Benz has officially unveiled its new flagship all-electric sedan, the EQS. First previewed by the Vision EQS way back in September 2019, the EQS is the first model to be built on the company’s modular Electric Vehicle Architecture (EVA) platform, which is set to underpin other models such as the EQS SUV, EQE and EQE SUV.
The EQS, essentially the S-Class of electric vehicles, measures in at 5,216 mm long, 1,926 mm wide and 1,512 mm tall, which sits it between the standard and long-wheel base versions of the S-Class in terms of size.
At point of introduction, two variant forms will be available, the rear-wheel drive EQS 450+ and the EQS 580 4Matic, the latter coming in all-wheel drive guise. Further down the road, the automaker has now confirmed that at least one high-performance Mercedes-AMG version is coming later in the year.
In terms of performance specifications, the EQS 450+, which features a single rear motor electric powertrain (eATS), has 245 kW (333 PS) and 568 Nm of torque, and this is good enough to get it to 100 km/h from standstill in 6.2 seconds, all the way to an electronically-limited 210 km/h top speed.
Meanwhile, the twin motor EQS 580 has 385 kW (523 PS) and 855 Nm in the way of output, and as expected, the 0-100 km/h sprint time is much quicker, at 4.3 seconds, although it’s top speed is capped identically to the lower variant. While the automaker didn’t provide any info on the AMG variant that is in the pipeline, it did provide an intimation of how much power it would have, and that’s 560 kW (761 PS), so the century sprint will be a much faster affair.
Operating range on a single charge is touted as being up to 770 km, based on a WLTP cycle, but it isn’t stated if both variants will achieve the same range. There are two battery sizes, 90 kWh and 107.8 kWh, with either ten or 12 cell modules depending on the capacity, and electrical consumption is rated at 15.7 to 20.4 kWh per 100 km for the EQS 450+ and 17.4 to 21.8 kWh per 100 km on the EQS 580 (WLTP).
The lithium-ion battery, which sits under the floor of the car in a a crash-protected area embedded in the body shell structure, is built on a 400-volt architecture and is claimed to offer higher energy density and better charging performance, the latter through intelligent thermal management.
Highlights include a low cobalt content for the unit as well as management software that can be updated over the air (OTA) to ensure the energy management system remains up to date throughout the life cycle. The unit itself is covered with a 10-year/250,000 km warranty.
As for charging, the EQS ships as standard with an 11 kW onboard AC charger, but can be specified with a 22 kW unit. The car is also compatible with up to 200 kW of DC fast charging, which can provide up to an additional 300 km of range in just 15 minutes.
Cars sold in Europe and the US will receive the CCS system (Combined Charging System), which allows charging with direct and alternating current via the same connection. Vehicles intended for China (GB/T plug standard) will have a separate charging socket for DC charging, as will Japan (CHAdeMO standard), with a twin charging socket combining the separate AC and DC charging sockets under one charging flap. For the Japanese market, the EQS will also feature bidirectional charging (charging in both directions).
The car also gets a new Plug & Charge function, which automates the charging and billing process the instant you plug your car in, a feature that will be available in Europe via the Ionity network at launch. With Ionity Unlimited, all European Mercedes me Charge customers will be able to use the fast charging network free of charge for one year.
The EQS will also offer a Navigation with Electric Intelligence function, which plots the fastest and most convenient route with charging stops. The latest version takes into account the energy demand of the route, including the topography and even the ambient temperature, along with live traffic information and changes in the driving style.
Also new is an indicator of whether a drive to the destination and back is possible without charging, preference for manually-added charging stations, the ability to exclude charging stations, calculation of expected charging costs and a prompt to activate Eco driving functions if there is a risk of not making the destination or the charging station with the remaining range.
Elsewhere, the battery can be topped up on the move through kinetic energy recuperation, which is adjustable via the steering wheel paddles and optimised via an EQ Assistant. In regular drive mode, the car will decelerate at a rate of 5 m/s2 when lifting off the throttle (2 m/s2 through the mechanical brakes) until it comes to a complete stop, feeding up to 290 kW back to the battery.
The all-wheel drive model features a Torque Shift function that provides variable torque distribution with a quicker response compared to a mechanical system, monitoring the torque split 10,000 times a minute, ensuring that the most efficient motor is used at any given moment, improving range.
Design highlights for the highly aerodynamic exterior – which the automaker says has the world’s lowest drag coefficient of 0.20 – include a one-bow, cab-forward shape with a high-arched beltline and fastback styling, with plenty of generously sculpted surfaces, reduced joints and seamless transitions, reducing the number of visible panel gaps on the car.
The front end is shaped by Digital Light headlamps connected by a light band and a Black Panel radiator grille, which can further be dressed with a three-dimensional star pattern as an option. Other unique visual cues include frameless doors, retractable door handles and a distinctive rear light cluster, with a novel lighting element shaped in the form of a 3D helix.
Much attention has been paid to NVH levels with the inclusion of optimised door structures and seals for the doors and the six side windows. To further aid refinement, the EQS is also fitted with acoustic glass windows, a specially-shaped A-pillar trim strip, a triple-layer inverter cover, elastomer bearings on the front and rear axles, acoustic tailgate dividers and acoustic foam on the body-in-white.
Three exterior trim levels are available for the car, a standard exterior, an AMG Line exterior and an Electric Art exterior. Among other things, the AMG Line route adds on a specific front bumper and a rear apron, while the Electric Art path offers plenty of graphite grey metallic cues. As is the case with its high-end models, the EQS will be offered in Edition 1 guise in its first year of production, with limited examples coming dressed in a two-tone silver/black finish, as seen in the photos here.
As standard, the EQS rides on 19-inch aerodynamically-optimised multi-spoke black wheels, and the AMG Line specification changes this to an AMG five-spoke unit, available in 19- or 20-inch versions. Meanwhile, the Electric Art spec comes equipped with a 20-inch five-spoke unit, finished in black. Also mentioned are 21-inch options.
Besides Airmatic air suspension with continuously adjustable damping ADS+, the EQS comes fitted with a rear-axle steering as standard. As seen on the S-Class, this offers a steering angle of up to 4.5 degrees, but a steering angle of up to ten degrees can be ordered or subsequently activated – at cost – by an OTA upgrade. The latter enables a turning circle of 10.9 metres for the EQS, giving the five metre-long vehicle a turning circle of a compact class car.
Moving on to the EQS’ interior, which was revealed earlier, there are eight colour coordinated trim schemes available for the car, and all digital graphics are now presented in a new colourway of blue/orange throughout. In terms of seating, the Electric Art design and equipment line includes comfort seats, while the AMG Line interior sees sports front seats being fitted.
Visual highlights are of course led by the new MBUX Hyperscreen display, which measures 141 cm wide and consists of a 12.3-inch instrument display, a 17.7-inch central OLED touchscreen and another 12.3-inch OLED screen for the passenger, which can offer viewing independent of the main screen on the move.
The dominating screen is not actually standard fit, as it turns out – the base model comes without the MBUX Hyperscreen, and as such has a slightly different centre console, which features a soft armrest in the rear section and is visually interrupted before being transitioned into the floating central display.
Also available aside from the MBUX system, which has eight CPU cores and 24 GB of RAM, are two 11.6-inch rear displays and a full-fledged rear tablet, which can also be used outside the vehicle with Android apps installed.
Audio aspects are handled by a 15-speaker, 710-watt Burmester surround sound system, which also provides the avenue for interior driving sound programmes to be presented, seeing as electric drive is inherently quiet. Two soundscapes, Silver Waves and Vivid Flux, are available. The first is said to be sensuous and clean sound aimed at EV enthusiasts, while the latter is crystalline and synthetic. These can be switched on or off via the central display.
Optional equipment available for the car includes a larger, augmented reality high-res head-up display. a panoramic sunroof and electrically-powered automatic opening and closing front/rear doors. The latter can, among other things, fully open the driver’s door automatically when the driver approaches the car and closes it when the brake pedal is depressed. Obstacle detection prevents any unnecessary mishaps.
There’s also Active Ambient Lighting, which allows the driver to experience which electric driving mode the EQS is currently in, staged with the assistance of around 190 LED lighting units. Also on, a HEPA filter, which comes as part of the optional Energizing Air Control Plus package.
The air filtration system offers a volume of nearly 10 litres, cleaning the incoming outside air at a very high filtration level, removing up to 99.65% of particulate matter. The unit also has around 600 grams of activated charcoal to neutralise odours, and the adsorption area is equivalent to about 150 football fields.
As is to be expected, the EQS comes equipped with the latest generation of driver assistance systems, including numerous driver support functions. The kit list includes Active Distance Assist Distronic, Active Steering Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Change Assist, and there’s even a microsleep warning feature now for Attention Assist. This is done by analysing the driver’s eyelid movements through a camera on the driver’s display via the MBUX Hyperscreen and calls attention if it detects anomalies.
The EQS will also come equipped with the automaker’s Drive Pilot system, which from the first half of 2022 will allow for Level 3 semi-autonomous driving on selected highway sections in Germany at speeds of up to 60 km/h. The system, which builds on the surround sensors of the Driving Assistance Package and adds on lidar, an additional camera in the rear windscreen and microphones for detecting the presence of emergency services.
Working with high-definition maps offering precise road information, Drive Pilot will allow the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel and perform other tasks like browsing the Internet. If need be – such as when the selected section ends, or if traffic congestion eases – the system will prompt the driver to retake control within ten seconds, failing which the car will come to a complete stop and notify emergency services.
