Mercedes teases with glimpse of EQS
Information coming in dribs and drabs indicates this electric vehicle will be impressive
We don't need to tell anyone that business as usual has gone out the window during these pandemic times. And so it is with new vehicle reveals, as automakers have preferred to release bits and pieces of information leading up to the full-blown unveiling.
This is true for the Mercedes-Benz EQS, the automaker's first model based on its modular electric-vehicle platform. A few weeks back it began with haunting, disembodied images of the all-new MBUX Hyperscreen, a futuristic curved display made up of three screens and running the width of the entire dashboard. Then images and details of the cabin were released.
Now we have most of the details of the mechanical underpinnings of the performance sedan. But we still don't have any idea what the exterior of the four-door “coupe” looks like, as the full vehicle won't be released until April 15 at its official world premiere. We'll have to leave that up to our imaginations, in part fuelled by the Vision EQS concept that the production model is based on, and some recently released EQ-brand camo exterior photos.
Here's what we know: The EQS will be one slippery customer, with Mercedes reporting a drag coefficient value of .020, which would set a new benchmark in aerodynamics for a production vehicle. It will also be a roadtrip friendly all-electric vehicle, with a reported WLTP range of 770 kilometres (take this with a grain of salt, Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure estimates are usually well off North American range estimates and real-world results), and an output of up to 385 kW (516 horsepower). Charging from 10 per cent to 80 per cent using DC fast-charging is said to take 31 minutes. The EQS can be charged up to 200 kW on a DC charger, and with the on-board charger up to 22 kW with an AC outlet.
Rear-wheel-drive and 4Matic all-wheel-drive versions will be produced, but at launch the sole version available in Canada will be the EQS 580 4Matic. The combined electrical consumption for that model is 20.0 kWh/100 km in city driving and 16.9 on the highway. The electric motors on the front and rear axles are permanently excited synchronous motors, with the rear axle getting a more powerful output thanks to sixphase operation.
The 4Matic model features a torque shift function that continuously distributes power between the front and rear axles, with the electric drivetrain (eATS) responding, according to Mercedes, much faster than a mechanical allwheel-drive system. Maximum torque for the 580 4Matic is reported to be 855 Nm (630 pound-feet).
Unlike some other automakers, Mercedes has brought all its battery-cell and battery-management-system production in house, and the EQS is the first vehicle to feature this new generation of higher density lithium-ion batteries. The modular platform holds two battery packs using a 400-volt architecture, with the larger of the two featuring usable energy of 107.8 kWh. Mercedes also reports that the new cell chemistry has seen a 10 per cent reduction of the required cobalt, resulting in a nickel, cobalt and manganese ratio of 8:1:1.
The battery management system is also designed to allow for over-the-air (OTA) updates, and the advanced thermal management can preheat or cool the battery while driving. This is a benefit when pulling up to a fast-charging station, as quicker charging times can be realized when the battery pack is at an optimal temperature.
That's part and parcel of what Mercedes calls Electric Intelligence, which also includes integration into the navigation system that plans the quickest route based on a number of factors, such as topography, ambient temperature, speed, and heating and cooling demands. It also takes into consideration real-time traffic congestion and charging station location, cost and availability.
That's it for now, but we'll soon know even more about this next-generation Mercedes electric vehicle — and what it actually looks like.