The EQS brings together the arguments that Mercedes uses in its luxury limousines , such as the S-Class, with the most innovative resources in the use of electricity as propulsion energy in a car , although the architecture of its premiere platform, the EVA2 , not 800 volts, but 400. And it does so by adding innovative elements to the cocktail such as its MBUX Hyperscreen with augmented reality, its spectacular HUD, unlimited ambient lighting, the possibilities of its optional Digital Light headlights…
For the EQS 450+ version the price is 117,125 euros; for the EQS 580 4Matic, 146,625 euros , both from the launch range. The first one is rear-wheel drive and its permanent magnet synchronous motor hasa power of 333 hp with a torque of 568 Nm, while in the EQS 580 4Matic a shaft motor is used and both add a combined power of 523 hp and 855 Nm .
AMG version for next year
In the EQS 53 4Matic+ its two engines reach 658 hp, although with the optional AMG Dynamic Plus package it could reach 761 hp thanks to the boost function. Its commercialization will begin in the spring of 2022.
In all cases, they admit recharging with powers of up to 200 kW with direct current -they guarantee going from 10 to 80 percent of the battery capacity in 31 minutes-, while its on-board charger standard is a three-phase 11 kW . However, as of December thisit will be replaced by a 22 kW unit in units sold thereafter.
In Spain, the batteries of all the EQS will have a total capacity of 107.8 kWh -initially, some 90 kWh were also planned. The maintenance of 70 percent of its charge is guaranteed by Mercedes after 10 years or 250,000 km.
With these lithium-ion batteries, the EQS will be able to achieve, in the case of the propulsion version and 353 hp, a range of between 631 and 741 km according to the WLTP standard ; between 580 and 661 in the case of the EQS 580 4Matic+ and 590 km in the case of the 53 4Matic+ developed by AMG.
The AMG exterior line will be the common denominator of all EQS-the “star-shaped” radiator grille is the most differentiating element-, while the Elctric Art Line is incorporated as standard in the interior with comfort seats with four levels of lumbar support.
This EQS 580 4Matic that we have been able to drive has been in charge of verifying that the electric flagship of Mercedes is at the level that can be assumed. It is, for example, what its chassis provides in which the steering of the rear axle is standard and, truly, makes maneuvers as agile as anyone could expect from a 5.22 m car. Thus, the turn of up to 4.5º in the opposite direction of the front ones means that the turning diameter between walls is only 11.9 m. However, andvia remote update, it will be possible for these rear wheels to rotate up to 10º , which is even reduced by one more meter. Driving at a higher speed -from 60 km/h-, the wheels turn in the same direction as the front ones and, therefore, stability is enhanced, very high at the rates that can occur on a motorway because the effect is a “virtual” increase in wheelbase, on the other hand, of 3.21 m.
In addition, the air suspension with adjustable damping is also factory-fitted on the EQS . This, apart from allowing the height of the bodywork to be varied, also makes it comfortable even in the Sport setting, so that when we travel in the Comfort this electric practically becomes aflying carpet of instantaneous reactions to the accelerator . It especially feels this way because the aerodynamic noise is very well controlled and the one that is most heard in the extremely spacious cabin is the rolling noise – it has 265/40 R21 tires – without it becoming a source of discomfort.
In this passenger compartment of the Mercedes EQS 580 the MBUX Hyperscreen deserves a special mention.This concatenation of screens from door to door is standard in this version , 11.3” for the instrumentation, 17.7” for the central one and 12.3” for the one in front of the passenger-the last two, ULED-, all under the same tempered glass. The information is abundant and the navigation between the screen is fast and very intuitive. Apart from the fact that the instrumentation has six preset scenarios, in these the information can be configured at will, just like in the head up display that gives the impression of projecting the information on the road. On the central touch screen, which also responds to voice commands after the “hey Mercedes”, there are specific functions related to electrification, such as those that allow you to see the autonomy, consumption by periods of time, define the charging options, see how they produce the energy flows…
In this function we can verify that in the starts and at low speed it is the rear motor that pushes,for if we continue accelerating smoothly to become about 40 km / h in the forward the one that pulls. Obviously, with higher acceleration, both work in unison.
Although the EQS is a heavy car – the version with a single engine reaches 2,480 kilos, the one with two, 105 kg more -, it is also very aerodynamic in view of its low Cx of 0.20, the lowest among cars. of production. In any case, it is very efficient because on our route, combining the city with peripheral high-capacity roads and the highway at legal speeds, the average consumption that we registered was a formidable 21.2 kWh/100 km.This, taken to autonomy, could mean doing 500 km at a traffic driving pace.
By means of the paddles on the steering wheel, on the other hand, with a considerable number of controls on their spokes -they are all capacitive, like the few that are located on the central armrest-, regenerative braking can be adjusted at various levels : one of them in the one in which the car runs by inertia, another intermediate one and a third one in which the motors carry out a greater retention when accelerating is stopped.
In short, a superlative car from many points of view and that is destined to mark a before and after among luxury sedans.
