Mercedes unveils electric liftback EQS with 770 km range

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Mercedes has unveiled the EQS, the car manufacturer’s preliminary all-electric top model. The liftback is the first Mercedes model to be developed on an electric platform and not use a converted petrol platform.

The EQS will first be delivered in two variants, both of which will have a battery with a net capacity of 107.8 kWh. The 450+ has a single electric motor on the rear axle, the 580 4Matic gets a second motor on the front axle. The 450+ model will probably get that WLTP range of 770 kilometers, as it is lighter than the four-wheel drive model due to the single electric motor. Mercedes does not yet report what the range of the 580 4Matic will be.

With the two electric motors, the 580 4Matic has a peak power of 385 kW or 523.4 hp and a maximum torque of 855 Nm. This allows the car to accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 4.3 seconds. The 450+ model delivers 245kW or 333.1hp and 568Nm and has an acceleration time of 6.2 seconds. Both models have a maximum top speed of 210 km/h. Mercedes also talks about a performance version that will have a power of 560kW or 762hp. Presumably this will be an AMG model.

The electric car can quickly charge with a maximum of 200 kW, which is relatively high for a 400 V battery system. This means that the car should be able to charge up to 300 kilometers of range in 15 minutes, or up to 280 kilometers with the 580 4Matic model. Charging from 10 to 80 percent takes 31 minutes with 200kW DC. With AC power, the EQS can charge up to 22kW if the user chooses the optional, more powerful on-board charger. As standard, the EQS can handle 11kW AC charging. Fully charging from ten percent takes 10 hours with the 11kW charger, and 5 hours with the 22kW charger.

The EQS supports bi-directional charging, allowing the car to power other devices or feed energy back into the grid. This bi-directional charging is only available in Japan; Mercedes does not give a reason for this. The EQS software supports multiple charging programs such as battery-saving charging. Mercedes also says that the cobalt content of the cathodes has been reduced to ten percent about the battery of the EQS.

Mercedes previously showed the interior of the EQS. Optionally, the EQS gets the MBUX Hyperscreen, a dashboard screen that consists of three panels with a total size of 56″ or more than 142 centimeters. With this system, the passenger gets their own 12.3-inch OLED screen with which he or she can operate the car and entertainment can view. Mercedes dims this screen when the cameras see the driver looking at it, for safety reasons. The MBUX Hyperscreen gets more safety features, such as a micro-sleep alert. A camera in the driver display analyzes the blinking of the driver’s eyes and warns the driver if he or she begins to fall asleep.

The navigation can plan routes along charging stops, if the range is insufficient, even while driving. If the range is too small to reach a destination, for example due to traffic jams or driving behaviour, the navigation system can adjust the route to allow loading on the way. The MBUX infotainment system also shows whether the driver can drive back to the starting point of the journey with the available battery capacity. MBUX also calculates the estimated charging costs per charging stop. With paddles behind the wheel, the driver can choose between three levels of recovery. In the highest recuperation mode, up to 290kW of power can be recovered and the car can brake to a standstill without using the brake pedal.

The EQS is the first Mercedes car to be equipped with new functions via ota updates. Mercedes is also working on the online purchase of subscriptions, temporary activations and free tests of functions. An example of a function that can be ordered later is the improvement of the rear axle steering. After payment, the rear wheels can turn with a larger steering angle of 10 degrees. This results in a smaller turning circle of 10.9 metres. The standard steering angle is 4.5 degrees and the EQS has a turning circle of 11.9 meters.

Furthermore, the EQS has a HEPA interior filter, up to 350 sensors, air suspension, LED headlights with 1.3 million micro-mirrors, a parking assistant and a ‘highly automated’ driving function. This optional Drive Pilot driving function means that drivers can drive ‘highly automated’ at up to 60 km/h ‘in high traffic or in traffic jams on suitable highways’. Mercedes claims that this driving function allows drivers to surf the Internet or handle e-mails. For now, due to legislation, this feature is only available in Germany.

The Mercedes EQS is 5,216 meters long, 1,926 meters wide and 1,512 meters high. The track width at the front is 1,667 meters, at the rear it is 1,682 meters. Depending on the version, the empty weight is 2480kg to 2585kg. The EQS has no luggage space at the front of the car. In the back there is room for 610 liters, with the rear seats folded down this becomes 1770 liters. The Cw value of the EQS is at least 0.20; Mercedes claims this is a record for a production car. That low Cw value is only possible for the 450+ model and the 19″ AMG rims that will be available from the end of 2021. According to Autoweek, the EQS will be on the market this summer; Mercedes will announce prices later.

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