The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS is a counterpunch to Tesla’s hold on the premium electrified sedan segment and takes a clean sheet, all-out approach to claiming the lead. The automaker claims a 478-mile range, and the new machine will hit dealer lots this fall.
Unapologetically imposing yet elegantly discreet, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has served as the standard-bearer for premium luxury sedans since the 1960s. Despite dominating the segment, which is often marked by high-tech advancements mixed with traditional design elements, the relevance of old-guard internal combustion flagships have been waning in the face of a certain emergent EV brand.
Tesla finally turned a corner in 2018 when U.S. sales bested Mercedes-Benz after years of making inroads at the country club. Following this epic shift, it was only a matter of time before Mercedes-Benz fired back with a salvo of their own.
Combining the carmaker’s “EQ” moniker for electric vehicles with the “S” from S-Class, the EQS is Mercedes-Benz’s first purpose-built EV under its EQ sub-brand, and it couldn’t hit the scene a moment too soon. Though visually it might not appear dissimilar from the latest S-Class, the EQS’ origins date back to 2013 with the initial conception of the wild Vision F 015.
The jellybean-shaped Vision F 015 concept featured a remarkably simplified “1 bow” design. “We figured this pure and iconic line coming from the grille, stretching across the body, had a simplicity and beauty that checked all our boxes,” said Mercedes-Benz design chief Sylvain Wehnert. The team wanted any bystander who saw the radical vehicle to say “Yes, this is a Mercedes.”
Unlike startups Tesla, Lucid and Rivian, who are unencumbered by the past and can write their story from scratch, brand recognition and tradition are crucial to a legacy carmaker like Mercedes-Benz.
Though very similar to an S-Class’s exterior footprint, the EQS sits a tad taller due to the lithium-ion battery packs tucked beneath the floorboards. Though it bears some resemblance to both the Vision F 015 and the company’s AMG GT sedan, the EQS still manages to feel fresh, combining new details with current Mercedes-Benz design cues like headlamp and taillamp shapes and not-so-subtle details like the triple-pointed star encrusted front grille.
The so-called Black Panel surface embeds the brand logo across the nose, interrupting the otherwise smooth surface with the iconic graphic reference. Complementing the subsurface theme are the LED taillamps, which form a spiral-like helix beneath a clear lens. Emulating the coils of an Edison bulb, the design cleverly adds a sense of depth without disturbing the airflow that contributes to a stunningly low drag coefficient of .20, which makes it the most aerodynamically efficient production car in history.
Two models will be available in the U.S.: the EQS 450+ with a single rear motor producing 329 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, and a 580 4Matic version that drives both axles with a total of 516 hp and 611 lb-ft. Both models utilize a single-speed transmission that yields estimated zero-to-60 mph times of 5.5 and 4.1 seconds, respectively. Driving dynamics are aided by a standard four-wheel steering and air suspension system.
The units that drive front and rear motors and are rated at a Tesla-beating 478 miles (actually, 770 kilometers) of range, based on the European WLTP test standard. Though the EPA number is expected to be lower, most likely in the 420 to 430-mile range if the differences between other EVs rated by these two agencies are a guide. Expect the headline-grabbing figure to be key to the EQS’ success, however, adding another salvo to the range war that is only bound to further escalate.
Also aiding the EQS’ promise are quick recharge times: from 10 to 80% capacity in only 35 minutes with DC Fast Charging, or 10 to 100% in 11.25 hours using a 240-volt charger. The 107.8 kilowatt-hour batteries, developed in-house, use a management system that offers over-the-air updates, and will be warrantied for 10 years or up to 150,000 miles.
Unlike the S-Class’s lavish dash-to-axle ratio that harkens back to old school rear-wheel-drive luxury cars, the EQS features a taut cab-forward design that appears to have more in common with futuristic concept cars.
Not that the styling is bold— in the flesh, the EQS looks more flush than flashy. But the new sedan does conform to Mercedes-Benz’s current design language while mixing in just enough “newness” to move the conversation forward.
The commitment to the cause is serious: Mercedes eschewed the usual EV forward trunk under the smooth, uninterrupted clamshell hood, instead filling the forward section of the car with cabin filters and moving the firewall forward to allow more passenger volume in the cabin. The reimagined front end also uses a small, slide-out tray for the windshield wiper fluid refill slot just behind the front wheel.
The filters are another forward-thinking element, especially in a post-coronavirus world. The available HEPA filtration system relays interior and exterior air quality via the multimedia system, while keeping viruses and particulate matter outside.
Entering the EQS offers a distinct sense of occasion. The door sweeps open by itself from a quick tap on the handle. Once inside, and the door seals shut by pressing the brake pedal or grabbing the door release handle. While carmakers like Rolls-Royce already have self-shutting doors, Mercedes-Benz’s open-and-shut system is the first of its kind. In order to pass safety regulations, the mechanism incorporates sensors that will abort the action if an obstacle is detected.
With its high door sills and wraparound design, the EQS cabin feels sleeker than its S-Class counterpart, leaning more towards a “sporty coupe” than a conventional full-size luxury sedan. While the interior is stuffed with sturdy, beautifully designed details worthy of an S-Class, the optional MBUX Hyperscreen offers the twist of futuristic shock and awe.
Incorporating three OLED screens beneath a 56-inch curved glass surface that spans the dash, the 12.3-inch instrument cluster, 17.7-inch central touchscreen and 12.3-inch passenger display form an impressive simultaneous sweep of visual information and graphical decoration that speaks to the EQS’ future-friendly mission.
Mercedes-Benz says the EQS will hit U.S. showrooms this fall, followed by a smaller EQE sedan and SUV versions of both models. As for where the new electric ubersedan will fit in compared with the gas-powered S-Class, it seems Mercedes-Benz is aiming for parity between the two. While pricing is not final, pricing is expected to start somewhere near the same $104,450 MSRP as the tried-and-true S-Class, according to Mercedes.
