Mercedes-Benz EQS 2022: 770km of range, coming to Australia in December

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Mercedes-Benz has finally revealed the production version of the EQS which is expected to make its way to Australian customers by December 2021.

While local specifications are yet to be confirmed Mercedes-Benz has revealed some important details on its first electric entry into the S-Class lineage which includes the GLS large SUV and S-Class sedan.

What is the performance and range of the EQS?

Available globally in a choice of two grades known as EQS 450+ and EQS 580 4MATIC, this all-electric sedan boasts some seriously impressive numbers across the board.

The EQS 450+ kicks off the range with a rear-wheel-drive layout developing 245kW of power and 568 of torque, enough to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds.

Adding a motor at the front increases the combined outputs significantly to 385kW/855Nm, which trims that acceleration time to just 4.3 seconds, with both topping out at a top speed of 210km/h.

But it seems the best is yet to come, with Mercedes hinting at a 560kW ‘performance version’ that will also certainly wear an AMG badge and provide some ferocious figures.

Mercedes-Benz has achieved an astonishing 770km of range (WLTP) thanks largely to the huge battery that has 107.8kWh of usable energy. For reference, that is almost twice the size of the battery in the Hyundai Kona Electric. 

That range figure is one of the highest of the market and almost bests the Tesla Model S Plaid+ that has a yet to be tested range claim of 837km.

Once that battery runs out the EQS can be recharged at speeds of up to 200kW using DC charging, enough to add up to 300km of range in 15 minutes according to WLTP testing.

Most however will plug their EQS at home through AC charging, which can be recharged at a rate of 22kW via the use of a Mercedes-Benz installed wallbox or a third party equivalent. 

What is the 2022 EQS like inside?

The EQS is the vehicle that is rumoured to replace the S-Class itself, a car that has represented the pinnacle of Mercedes-Benz for decades. So to say the interior needs to make an impression is an understatement.

Perhaps unsurprisingly then, Mercedes-Benz has chosen to debut it’s 55-inch wide MBUX Hyperscreen in the EQS, which interweaves a series of large individual screens from the driver’s side to the passenger side to provide a complete experience.

The upgraded MBUX is more than just a screen, integrating a new operating system with artificial intelligence-based learning function that adapts both the home screen and attempts to predict your needs in advance.

For example, if you regularly call a friend on the way home from work at a certain time or day it will send you a prompt to do so at the start of your drive. 

Additionally, if you regularly trigger the EQS to raise its suspension at a particular address, the GPS system will note the location and the MBUX system will offer you the suggestion to raise the car when you arrive. 

Mercedes-Benz has also increased refinement with the naturally near-silent EV motors double insulated with rubber mounts matched with a foam mat covering the exterior of the unit. 

Throughout the cabin, a slew of acoustic foams and soft materials are used to keep the space near silent and to reduce vibration during rough commutes.

Even getting into the car is an event in itself with the optional ‘Comfort Doors’ which automatically pop out the door handles and fully open the doors as you approach. 

Additionally, the rear doors can be opened and closed using the MBUX system to let people in and out of the EQS. Buyers shouldn’t be concerned that the doors will inevitably get dinged as Mercedes-Benz has fitted sensors to stop the door opening if it detects an object in the way.

Tell me more about the design of the 2022 EQS?

The finished production design of the EQS is quite different from the concept image we first saw last year, with the overall design cutting a far more conventional figure.

Mercedes-Benz has kept the two-tone paint job which now sports a headlight system that uses two main lights on each side and a single LED light running across the top of the black grille, which can be inlaid with a Mercedes star-shaped pattern as an optional extra.

A similar effect is continued at the rear with a single continuous tail light that features a unique pattern representing an illuminated 3D helix within the housing.

With driving range at the front of mind, engineers have shaped the EQS to have a drag coefficient of just 0.20, making the luxury sedan the most aerodynamic car in the world. For context, the incredibly beautiful Audi e-tron GT has a drag coefficient of 0.24.

This is thanks partly to the EV drivetrain requiring less air to cool itself down allowing designers to remove intakes along with extensive wind tunnel development on every area including the specialised wheels that range from 19 to 21-inch sizes.

At the time of writing, no Australian pricing information has yet been released but we expect it will emerge closer to the launch date in December this year.