After much teasing, including showing us its incredible 56-inch Hyperscreen digital dashboard, Mercedes has finally given us a proper look at its new luxury EV, the EQS.
The first of a new generation of electric cars that will use the same bespoke EV platform, the EQS is a battery-powered alternative to Merc’s conventional luxury flagship, the S-class. It goes on sale this autumn when it will battle the Tesla Model S, Audi e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan.
The slippery body has a drag factor of just 0.2Cd, and takes cues from the stunning 2019 Vision EQS show car, though it lacks the concept’s sensuous curves.
Mercedes hinted that an AMG version with 715 hp is in the works, but initially buyers will face a simple choice between the single-motor, rear-wheel drive EQS 450, and bi-motor, all-wheel drive EQS 580 4Matic.
The EQS 450 is fairly meek: it serves up 329 hp and 419 lb ft of torque, which is enough for zero to 62mph in a middling 6.2 seconds. If you feel the need for more muscle, the EQS 580 delivers 516 hp and a more serious 630 lb ft, dropping the 0-62mph time to 4.3 seconds.
Both cars are fitted with a 107.8 kWh battery, which Mercedes says gives the lighter, EQS 450 an impressive 479-mile range. It didn’t reveal a range figure for the EQS 580, though you can guarantee it will be less. And there’s talk of a smaller 90 kWh battery being available for customers who don’t need to cover big distances.
The EQS features Plug & Charge functionality, which means you can simply connect the cable and the car sorts out the rest, saving you the faff of messing around with accounts and phone apps. Find a suitably quick charger to make use of the 200 kW charging potential and you can add 186 miles of range in 15 minutes.
But this is a Mercedes flagship, so you’re probably wondering about the gadgets. Much of the tech we were introduced to on the S-class last year, including an optional head-up display with augmented reality instructions, and four-wheel steering with an extreme 10-degrees of angle for incredible in-town manoeuvrability.
There’s also Merc’s Drive Pilot autonomous tech, which enables you to take your hands off the wheel indefinitely. And the doors will actually open when you approach them. Climb in and press the brake pedal and the door closes behind you.
But the real wow feature is probably the Hyperscreen dashboard we saw back in March. What looks at first glance like one huge 56-inch display is actually three separate displays covered by one piece of glass. The centre screen has haptic feedback to make it safer and easier for the driver to operate, while the passenger gets their own screen for browsing the internet or watching movies.
If you want it, you’ll have to pay extra – in standard form the EQS comes with the 12.8-inch portrait display infotainment system from the S-class. Mercedes hasn’t revealed how much the Hyperscreen kit will cost, and won’t reveal prices for the two EQS models until closer to the autumn on-sale date. But they’ll be higher than for an equivalent petrol or diesel S-class, which suggests an £80,000 starting point.
Keyword: Mercedes’ EQS Tesla-fighter can do 479 miles on a charge