This article is reproduced from the public account of autocarweekly
Author: Hu Laquan
If Tesla is the Thanos of the new energy industry, traditional car companies are the Avengers. If “traditional” luxury brands are the Avengers, then the most appropriate identity for Mercedes-Benz after the EQ brand night is the Thor with Stormbreaker: With one swing, it goes straight for the head.
On the banks of the Huangpu River in Shanghai, the focus of everyone at the EQ brand night of Mercedes-Benz was naturally on the EQS, the brand’s flagship electric car, slowly driving onto the stage.
Unexpectedly, or perhaps as expected, Mercedes-Benz EQS, built on the new pure electric platform EVA, is actually the first large luxury electric car in the market to use a native pure electric platform. Next door, BMW is still hesitating between “pure electric platform” and “common platform”, while Audi and Porsche’s e-tron GT, which share the J1 platform, have just been unveiled and the truly pure electric platform PPE is still in the conceptual stage.
Mercedes-Benz, while behind, arrived first, and right from the start it is a brand flagship, not an SUV to take a large market share.
A pure electric platform and flagship positioning — can you imagine how much resources are invested in the EQS? — “S” is representative of the century-old essence of Mercedes-Benz’s legendary letters. In order to live up to the name of “S” for the electrified EQS, Mercedes-Benz has given it a whopping 107.8 kWh battery pack, with a full electric range of 800 km under the CLTC standard. Corresponding to the battery capacity is a maximum fast charging power of 200 kW. If you have no concept of this level of performance, you might want to take a look at another set of data provided by Mercedes-Benz: in just 15 minutes of charging, the EQS can increase its range by 300 km. The maximum power output of the motor is 385 kW, and it can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.3 seconds. There will even be more powerful AMG versions to come.
Mercedes-Benz EQS is obviously aimed at those who demand top-notch electric power performance in today’s world.
Actually, there is no need for so much data to back it up. Just a glance at the EQS and it’s hard not to be impressed by its unconventional yet not strange appearance.On the EQS, there is no longer a traditional three-box sedan layout, nor is it similar to the popular coupe or fastback designs of recent years. Mercedes-Benz has extended the A-pillar and C-pillar significantly towards the front and rear of the car, causing the front hood and rear trunk to become short sections, creating a very unique “bow-shaped design”. This unique design not only expands the spatial vision but also provides a more aerodynamic profile. In fact, the EQS’s drag coefficient is only Cd 0.20, a number that sets a new record for production cars, and half of the credit for its long range can be attributed to this design.
If the dual-screens in the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class surprised you, then you better hold on tight when you enter the EQS. The MBUX Hyperscreen, comprising of three large size seamlessly connected screens, forms a curved OLED screen that is over 1.4 meters wide. The front row passengers are completely immersed in a high-resolution visual world, with only two turbine-shaped vents seamlessly integrated on either side, reminding you that Mercedes-Benz’s exquisite craftsmanship has not changed. This atmosphere, which blends mechanical beauty with futuristic vibes, is what Mercedes-Benz refers to as “pioneer luxury”.
For a high-end flagship like the EQS, there is no need to list out the luxurious technological advancements such as frameless automatic doors, rear-wheel steering with up to 10 degrees of rotation, in-car 24G RAM memory that outperforms most computers, comprehensive autonomous driving assistance systems, and many more. While other car models’ manuals may need a whole page to describe them, they are ordinary features found on the EQS configuration sheet that shines like the stars.
For Mercedes-Benz, materialism has now grown into spiritual abundance, where one’s enlightenment cannot be expressed merely by words but by wise utilization of time. The EQS is equipped with a newly upgraded intelligent personalization system that can activate lighting, sound effects, massages, aroma, and other functions to help you relax and enjoy your leisure time.
It is obvious that the EQS is the masterpiece that Mercedes-Benz has put tremendous effort into creating in recent years, but it is also evident that not everyone can afford an EQS, including potential Mercedes customers. Therefore, the two all-electric SUV models, EQA and EQB, have also made their appearance in China alongside the flagship EQS.EQA is Mercedes-Benz’s first compact pure electric vehicle, targeting the younger generation in new urban areas. In the same class, it is the first to have a pure electric range of over 500 km, and is equipped with a full-time four-wheel-drive system composed of front and rear dual motors. It also supports a maximum charging power of up to 100 kW, and can be charged from 10% to 80% in just 45 minutes using a DC fast charger.
The dual 10.25-inch screens in the car may seem simple compared to the revolutionary EQS, but they are still futuristic in the market. Following the EQC, the younger EQA will be produced as the second pure electric vehicle by Beijing Benz.
We are already somewhat familiar with the previously released EQA, but the global debut of EQB is a completely new face.
As expected, EQA is aimed at the younger new generation, while EQB is a seven-seater pure electric SUV targeting family users with a focus on practicality. In addition to the large space and flexibility brought by the seven seats, EQB’s main features are similar to EQA, such as a pure electric range of 500 km and front and rear full-time four-wheel-drive. EQA and EQB form a two-pronged approach, with one being a commuting expert shuttling through urban buildings and the other being a worry-free space for full loads.
If Mercedes-Benz had some reservations about making electric cars before, the debut of the EQS is a completely different story: it is violent and precise, noble and wild.
The shock that EQS brings us is not just as a model, but it represents the infinite possibilities of Mercedes-Benz’s EVA pure electric platform with its revolutionary body shape, powerful electric performance, full intelligent configuration, and sci-fi interior design. When EQS is presented before us, we realize that Mercedes-Benz is just as skillful, unique, and benchmark-setting in making electric cars as it is in making traditional cars.
“Whether we can” is no longer a question, and for Mercedes-Benz, the rest is whether “we want to” or not.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.