New Mercedes-Benz EQS – Supremely Elegant Luxury EV.
Mercedes-Benz EQS – Supremely Elegant Luxury EV.
The new Mercedes-Benz EQS is dedicated entirely to providing a luxurious driving experience with zero emissions. The EQS is the new flagship EV from the prestigious German brand, and it showcases a brand-new MEA platform that will also be used in future Mercedes-Benz EV’s. The purposeful exterior design of the EQS is breathtakingly elegant, and the ‘one-bow design’ is complimented by flush door handles that graciously illuminate in the dark, tail lamps in a 3D helix design, stylish alloy wheels, and light bands front and rear that exude refined modernity. The EQS is the most aerodynamic car ever produced by Mercedes-Benz with a drag coefficient of just 0.20, and that plays a big role in the overall coherent look of the car. Measuring in at over 5.2-metres in length, there is no denying that the EQS commands an imposing presence on the road, while its wide stance adds a dash of sportiness when viewed head-on.
Outstanding Driving Range.
The EQS is powered by a water-cooled electric synchronous motor which sends power to the rear wheels (2WD) via a single-speed reduction transmission, with the 4MATIC (4WD) drivetrain consisting of two permanent-synchronous electric motors which supply power to all four driving wheels when required. The high-voltage Lithium-ion battery is located between the front and rear axles in the vehicle floor, and this does not intrude into the passenger compartment, thereby maximising space and comfort for occupants. Thanks to new cell technologies and intelligent energy management, the EQS achieves a range of up to 761km in real-world driving. The 108.4kWh battery can be charged at a maximum rate of 200kW, so it can be topped up from 10-80% in as little as 31 minutes. A 7.4kW domestic wallbox will provide a 10-100% charge in 15 hours and 30 minutes. Mercedes-Benz offers three levels of regenerative braking in the EQS, accessible via steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The most aggressive setting (Strong Recuperation) offers a true one-pedal driving experience, while the middle setting (Normal Recuperation) finds the perfect blend between too much regeneration and not enough. The third option is to go for no regeneration at all, but I feel that most drivers will keep the middle setting on due to its ideal performance.
Sumptuous & Spacious Cabin.
The EQS does have one of the best (if not THE best) interiors of any car on the market. Swaths of aluminium and wood envelop the driver and passengers, with some piano black elements located throughout the luxurious cabin. The EQS boasts impressive levels of headroom and legroom in the front compartment, and a second row that feels super-spacious. The seats in this car are truly sumptuous in every respect. They are crafted in high-quality super-soft leather, and they contour perfectly to the body, with ample back support and supreme levels of bolstering. The sloping roofline at the rear of the car does impede slightly on second-row headroom, but tall rear seat passengers will still feel comfortable due to the relatively low position of the rear bench. Directly in front of the driver is a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel that is crystal clear, easy to read, and is able to display a wide variety of information. Practically everything else is operated via a large, portrait-oriented touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard. The touchscreen system includes augmented reality satellite-navigation that shows direction arrows on a live camera feed, along with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring. Also standard is a voice control system that is designed to recognise natural commands for easier everyday use. The EQS has an electrically-operated tailgate door rather than a boot, and this provides easy access to a large 650-litres of luggage space behind the split-folding rear seats. A concealed storage area under the boot floor is the ideal place to house the charging cables so that they are kept out of harm’s way.
Test Car.
My test car was a Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ with an AMG Line exterior that truly complimented the Graphite Grey metallic paintwork, while the Electric Art interior with Macchiato Beige/Space Grey Nappa Leather highlighted the immense comfort on offer to all occupants. Optional extras fitted to my test car included 21” AMG multi-spoke aerodynamically-optimised alloy wheels, Active Ambient Lighting, an Air Balance Package, Climatised Front Seats, integrated dashcam, Premium Plus Package, and a radiator grille with Mercedes-Benz pattern, along with an ingenious MBUX Hyperscreen that encapsulates the most advanced display ever created by Mercedes-Benz. The new Hyperscreen spans almost the entire width of the instrument panel and it consists of an LCD driver display, and a central media and passenger display, in state-of-the-art OLED technology. In the EQS, the home-screen has been completely re-imagined: now you can perform 80% of the most frequent interactions directly, without switching apps. The system reacts based on the situation, learns from your decisions and makes anticipatory offers. Drivers can maximise the technological functionality of their EQS with the practical and versatile functions of ‘Mercedes me connect’ connected services. The stunning Hyperscreen conceals a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in front of the driver, a 17.7-inch OLED touchscreen display as the main interface of the infotainment system, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen that passengers can use to play games or control the audio. With 333bhp and 565Nm of torque on offer, the EQS 450+ can complete a 0-100km/h sprint in just 6.2-seconds, and it can reach a maximum speed of 210km/h (where permitted). For a vehicle that weighs 2.5 tonnes, the performance on offer is impressive, and the car feels totally safe and secure due to its solid stance and low centre-of-gravity. The car is particularly relaxing on a motorway, where you rarely have to do anything other than keep an eye on the road ahead, and your hands on the wheel, while city driving will provide drivers with the potential to achieve maximum battery range due to the usual stop-start driving associated with urban areas. Rear-wheel steering technology is standard on all EQS variants, and it makes the 5.2-metre long car surprisingly easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces and enhances high-speed stability. The rear wheels can turn by up to 4.5-degrees in EQS 450+ guise, and by up to 10-degrees on higher-spec models. This provides the EQS 450+ with an incredible turning circle of just 11.9-metres.
Verdict & Pricing.
The magnificent Mercedes-Benz EQS oozes premium quality, supreme luxury, refined performance, a fantastic real-world range, and outright desirability. Pricing for the EQS 450+ starts at €135,245 in rear-wheel drive format, with a 4MATIC all-wheel drive (360bhp) available from €140,104. Additional variants consist of an EQS 500 4MATIC with 449bhp and a Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC with 658bhp, priced at €151,240 and €186,710 respectively. The EQS offers a wide range of individualisation options for the exterior and interior design. In addition to various design and equipment lines and packages, this also includes design elements and innovative features with which buyers can turn the new EQS into their very own, personalised EQS.
Visit www.mercedes-benz.ie for further information.
