Mercedes Tweaks The EQS By Including A Bigger Battery & A Star On The Hood

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When is a automotive not a automotive? When it’s a Mercedes — probably the most well-known manufacturers on this planet. Mercedes is greater than a automotive; it’s a image that implies these inside are deserving of particular recognition for his or her refinement, discernment, and abundance of disposable earnings.

The Mercedes EQS battery-electric sedan debuted three years in the past with a lower cost than the S Class sedan and about 430 miles of vary (WLTP). Usually, vehicles have a 7-year design cycle, which suggests the EQS is due for its second era introduction in about 4 years. It isn’t uncommon for it to get up to date halfway via the design cycle, and in reality the corporate has simply introduced new enhancements to the automotive — some minor and a few vital.

Rear seat passengers can now recline as much as 38 levels — two greater than earlier than — and expertise the sybaritic pleasure of a heated therapeutic massage. The complete-width MBUX Hyperscreen that spans your entire dashboard from door to door is now customary on all EQS sedans. Exterior, the corporate has seen match to breed the looks of a standard entrance grille. Apparently Mercedes clients favor that to the unique design which was clear and trendy and helped the automotive obtain a very low Cd of simply 0.20. By comparability, the smooth Lucid Air has a Cd of 0.21 and the Tesla Mannequin S has a Cd of 0.208.

Extra essential by far is the addition of the normal Mercedes three-pointed star mounted prominently on the hood. That will appear a little bit of foolishness to some, however we all know of people that traded a Mercedes for a BMW, Audi, or Lexus who later switched again to a Mercedes simply because seeing that star on the hood made them really feel they had been driving one thing particular — and let others realize it as effectively.

Mercedes EQS Technical Upgrades

Probably the most outstanding improve is a rise within the dimension of the battery from 108 kWh to 118 kWh. In keeping with Autocar, that helps enhance vary by 11%, so the twin motor EQS 450 4Matic now gives 496 miles, up from 445 miles, whereas the one motor 450+ now gives as much as 511 miles of vary. These figures are WLTP. The US EPA vary estimates are 340 miles and 352 miles, respectively. Improve them by 11% to get an thought what the 2025 EQS will probably be able to when it arrives in America close to the top of 2024. The larger battery options revised cells and battery chemistry, Mercedes says, with out providing additional particulars.

A battery improve isn’t the one factor chargeable for the prolonged vary estimates. All model of the EQS now use a warmth pump system that’s extra environment friendly and scavenges warmth from the drivetrain and traction battery. As well as, the entrance motor on twin motor fashions could be disconnected when not in use to eke out a bit extra effectivity. Lastly, the extent of regenerative braking has been doubled from 1.5/m per second to three/m per second. Since that change will imply the mechanical brakes received’t be used as steadily, Mercedes has devised a system to pump the brakes once in a while to maintain all of the transferring elements in working order.

In the meantime, each the EQS and EQE sedans can have their towing capability elevated from 750 to 1700 kg (3750 lb), bringing them in step with their SUV siblings. Mercedes has additionally upgraded the Automated Lane Change Degree 2 driver help function, though this can solely work on sure highways. The final bit of excellent information is that costs for the EQS will stay the identical regardless of the enhancements. Mercedes says all different fashions primarily based on the EVA 2 totally electrical architectures, such because the EQS SUV, EQE sedan, and EQE SUV, will even profit from many of those enhancements.

The Takeaway

My colleague Tina Casey did a report just lately on a research that predicts steady enhancements in automobile vary as engineers determine new and higher method to make batteries, inverters, electrical motors, and such. The upgrades to the Mercedes EQS are proof that prediction is correct. We are able to hardly wait to see what new wonders the EV revolution has in retailer.