The S-Class has been the flagship model of the Mercedes-Benz line for decades, but in the move to electric cars it is about to at least share that top pedestal with the EQS.
On Saturday, the German automaker unveiled the interior of the Mercedes-Benz EQS electric sedan and provided new details about the car’s design, while confirming some new specifications.
The EQS is set to be a technological rolling tour de force, with an interior set to embarrass the Tesla Model S in mainstream status while possibly establishing a new benchmark against which vehicle interiors will be judged. In short, it can only become the W126 of this generation – the luxury car model for a generation.
In January, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the EQS Hyperscreen infotainment system, which consists of a 56-inch wide screen with three control zones, including one for the front passenger with seven profiles. The interior of the EQS will look familiar, albeit new, to those who have spent time in a recent Mercedes-Benz.
Mercedes-Benz EQS interior
The EQS panel flows to the door panels as if it were a perfect piece, with a thin strip of LED lighting. The intricately detailed metal turbine air vents are on both sides of the panel, while the central air vents above the touchscreen blend with the finish. The dashboard has a minimalist feel, but unlike a Tesla or other recent Mercedes-Benz models, everything looks integrated rather than attached.
Without a central tunnel or transmission box to pack, there are some creative packaging solutions, including a large open compartment under the center console for a pouch.
Leather-padded sports seats, shiny black piano plastic, real wood, metal speaker grilles and enough LED lighting for a five-person rave party add up to what is expected of a flagship luxury vehicle in 2021.
Certain bits, including the rear seat entertainment screens, door handles and door-mounted seat controls, appear to be shared with the new 2021 S-Class. It also means loading the 12.3-inch digital meter cluster and the 12.8-inch central touchscreen in EQS sedans without Hyperscreen, but that’s not a bad thing. Flagships can share.
Mercedes-Benz EQS interior
The Hyperscreen infotainment system operates with 8 CPU cores, 24 GB of ram and 12 actuators under the touchscreen to trigger tangible vibrations when a finger touches the screen. There are up to 350 sensors within the EQS that monitor its functions, the vehicle’s surroundings and passengers, including body movement and spoken language. There is also artificial intelligence on board. Mercedes-Benz said the EQS is capable of software updates over the air over the life of the vehicle.
The Burmester surround sound system available at the EQS will feature 15 speakers and 710 watts of power. The 2021 S-Class can be ordered with a Burmester audio system with twice the number of speakers (30) and more than twice the output power (1,750 watts), but works on gas.
We saw pictures of the EQS sedan and there won’t be many surprises when the covers are removed on April 15th. Mercedes-Benz confirmed the front design of the electric car’s cabin, which is extremely aerodynamic with a drag coefficient of 0.20, a coupé-like roof line and a smooth, uniform body design without sharp lines and creases. A shell-shaped hood overlaps the fenders, and the front will have a panel instead of a traditional grille to give the EQS a “face”, according to the head of external design, Robert Lesnik.
2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS teaser to debut on April 15, 2021
Using the new modular EVA platform, the EQS will be powered by a variety of lithium-ion batteries, of which the upper version of 108 kwh is already in production in Germany. With the large 108 kwh package, Mercedes said the EQS will have a range of more than 700 kilometers (just under 435 miles) in the European WLTP test cycle. This should translate into an EPA range rating of around 400 miles.
EQS owners will be able to choose how their luxury electric sedan sounds. Two standard sound landscapes will come as standard in the EQS dubbed Silver Waves and Vivid Flux, the first is considered to be sensual and clean, while the last is aimed at EV enthusiasts with a clear and synthetic sound. A third sound, called Roaring Pulse, will be a downloadable over-the-air update and is considered to be reminiscent of powerful machines.
The Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan will be launched on April 15 and is expected to arrive in the US in late 2021.