New Mercedes EQS revealed: German car manufacturer's first all-electric luxo-barge

The company's inaugural fossil-fuel-free luxury sedan is here, and it seems the designers have surpassed themselves

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Mercedes-Benz has launched the EQS, its first all-electric luxury sedan, and the company is positioning it as the most aerodynamic production car in the world.

Its looks certainly suggest this is the case, with the design being what can only be described as sleek and curvaceous. Small cues aside, there is clear blue water between the EQS and its brand siblings.

There is nothing old school here at all. The EQS is a car with modernity as its very core. It has the air of a concept car, but one where the designers have just about kept a grip on reality.

“Fusing technology, design, functionality and connectivity, the EQS delights both drivers and passengers,” Mercedes says, which is a mission statement and a half, even by the standards of traditionally less-than-shy car manufacturers.

Der neue EQS: In Japan wird mit dem EQS auch bidirektionales Laden möglich sein, also Laden in beide Richtungen. Der dortige Ladestandard CHAdeMO („Charge de Move“, deutsch: Bewegung durch Ladung) unterstützt bidirektionales Laden. Das ist die Voraussetzung für Anwendungen wie V2G („Vehicle-to-Grid“, deutsch: vom Fahrzeug ins Netz) und V2H („Vehicle-to-Home“, deutsch: vom Fahrzeug ins Haus). 

The new EQS: In Japan, the EQS will also allow bidirectional charging. The CHAdeMO (“Charge de Move“) charging standard there supports charging in both directions. This is the prerequisite for V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) and V2H (Vehicle-to-Home) applications.
You can get a full battery after half an hour connected to a fast charger.

Mercedes has clearly put a bit of effort in here – the EQS will be the flagship of the German marque's fleet when it finally hits the world's roads, so there is some anticipation ahead of its arrival. The first models on the market will be the 450+ and the 580 4Matic, and they form a spearhead in Mercedes' bid to offer a carbon-neutral fleet within 20 years.

Power-wise, both models have a top speed of 210 kilometres an hour. There is a considerable difference when it comes to acceleration though, as the 450 can reach a ton from a standing start in 6.2 seconds, while the 580 crushes that with its 4.3 seconds rating.

You can juice both up in just under half an hour at a rapid charging station, and Mercedes says drivers can get up to 770km out of a full battery.

Inside, the cabin appears distinctly plush, palatial even. The seating and layout is all very Starship Enterprise, while the infotainment system is the same as the new S-Class, so you get a 12-inch driver’s display and a 13-inch portrait touchscreen. However, you can also pay extra for the new Hyperscreen system, which, basically, is a large piece of glass with three built-in screens.

No firm date has been set for a UAE launch yet, though summer this year is a good bet. There is no word on price yet either, but reports suggest figures of around $110,000 for a base model.

Mercedes-Benz unveils the new EQS

Mercedes-Benz unveils the new EQS