Road test:

AKE a close look at Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 car and there’s a symbol just behind the cockpit that’s very important to Mercedes-Benz.

It’s the logo of EQ – a subcompany created by Mercedes to spearhead the German car maker’s electrification programme.

And it’s technology that is making its way from the five time world champion’s hybrid race car to everyday Mercedes’ models.

EQ, apparently, stands for Electric Intelligence and is derived from the brand’s values of emotion and intelligence.

It’s a name that is going to be applied to every Mercedes car that uses battery-electric power and the EQ line up has already arrived in the UK in the shape of the latest CLS

450 and S 500 models which have EQ Boost mild hybrid powertrains.

We have just tried out the EQ system in the new CLS – and it’s impressive.

The CLS 450 is powered by the latest Mercedes 3.0litre straight six petrol engine hooked up to a 48-volt electrical system comprising a starter/generator and a lithium ion battery.

The electronic assist cuts in only when needed and does so unnoticeably under acceleration. It adds some 22 extra horsepower and gives the CLS 450 a total power output of

367hp resulting in a lively 0 to 60 acceleration time of 4.8 seconds and a top