Like the S-Class, the EQS is designed for space and comfort. With no need for a large engine, the EQS has a tapered hood, reminiscent of cab-forward designs most popular in the 1990s. It also has a slightly tapered back. And that, the Mercedes designers claim, has helped make the EQS the most aerodynamically efficient factory-produced passenger car in the world.
To make it slip through the air even more smoothly, the body of the EQS automatically lowers slightly at speeds over 120 kilometers per hour, and then slightly more at speeds over 160 kilometers per hour.
The car can drive approximately 480 miles against a charge according to estimates with European testing standards. (Test methods used by U.S. agencies typically yield lower range estimates.)
Like the S-Class, the EQS is intended to be a showcase for Mercedes’ most advanced technologies. For example, the doors work automatically, as with some Tesla models. The door handles extend automatically as the driver approaches and as the driver approaches, the doors open. The door can also close itself if the driver applies the brakes. The driver can also operate the passenger doors to allow others to get in and out of the car.
For customers who prefer a more traditional look, the EQS will also be available with a rectangular central touchscreen with the rest of the dashboard covered in wood, leather or other materials.
The EQS has a special Power Nap program to help drivers sleep during a rest break. It automatically puts the driver’s seat in a rest position, closes the windows and the sunshade over the glass roof. The interior lighting and temperature are also adjusted to create a calming atmosphere. Relaxing sounds come from the stereo and images of a starry sky appear on the dashboard screens. After a while, the car starts a wake-up routine that includes special stimulating scents and a gentle massage. Finally, the backrest is raised and the sunshade above the head opens.
The EQS also offers four-wheel steering, a feature also available on the S-Class sedan. At low speeds, the rear wheels turn slightly opposite to the front wheels. This allows a large vehicle to turn around in a much smaller space than it otherwise would. At higher speeds, the rear wheels can turn in the same direction as the front for smoother lane changes.
The EQS will initially be offered in two versions, the rear-wheel drive EQS 450+ with 329 hp and the EQS 580 with all-wheel drive with 516 hp. Mercedes has not disclosed prices for the EQS, but it is expected to exceed $ 100,000. . Prices for the gasoline-powered S-Class start at just under $ 100,000. The EQS will go on sale in the US in the fall of this year.