The Mercedes EQS is the latest electric vehicle from the prestigious luxury automaker and is sure to bring some much needed competition to Tesla.

The latest sub-brand under the Mercedes umbrella, Mercedes EQ, is focused on creating pure electric vehicles. This will of course now include electrified SUVs like the EQB, which recently debuted online.

As the 2022 EQS indicates, the Mercedes-EQ lineup will also include at least one sedan. The S at the end of the name means that the brand will be the equivalent of the legendary Mercedes S-Class in terms of luxury and positioning in the model hierarchy. Two models will be available for the U.S. market: the EQS 450+ and the more powerful EQS 580 4MATIC.

The arrival of the EQS has been known for some time. The Vision EQS concept gave us a preview of it.

Mercedes has stripped away some of the more extreme design touches of the one-off, such as the light matrix front grille, the rectangular steering wheel, and the array of small illuminated Mercedes Star logos that serve as taillights, but the EQS's production car It is easy to see the connection.

Mercedes has confirmed that the EQS will be available in the U.S. this fall in two different powertrain versions.

First, the rear-wheel drive EQS 450+ will start at $102,310 and the all-wheel drive EQS 580 4MATIC will start at $119,110. It will also be available in Europe later this year, with prices starting at €106,374 and €135,529.

What the EQS and the 1990s Dodge Intrepid have in common. Believe it or not, it's a big one: both have what is called a cab-forward design, where the passenger compartment is more toward the front of the vehicle than usual. It flows into the rear end of the fastback.

Mercedes calls this design philosophy "sensual purity," and its focus on seamless aerodynamics results in a smooth body with a drag coefficient of 0.20 The EQS body is undeniably sleek, but it is also egg-shaped from certain angles.

Mercedes was forced to make certain concessions with the interior of the EQS Vision. However, the cabin remains the center of attention.

In the EQS 450, there are three separate screens behind a single glass cover. One is for the main instrumentation, another for the MBUX infotainment system, and a 12.3-inch OLED display for the passenger.

The AWD EQS 580, on the other hand, will feature an MBUX HyperScreen that integrates three displays under a single 56-inch sheet of curved glass. This spans almost the entire length of the dashboard.

An on-board camera monitors the driver's line of sight and ensures that the driver's gaze does not stray to the right. If they do, the system automatically dims the screen to prevent the driver from looking at it.

However, many hyperscreen features, including the ability to play games such as Tetris and Sudoku, appear to be locked behind an annual subscription fee. The first year is free, but after that one must pay 89 euros (about $105) per year.

Similarly, Mercedes has announced that rear wheel steering angle will be electronically limited.

The switch from gas to electric will not change the fact that the EQS is a Mercedes vehicle. It is loaded with the advanced driver assistance and safety technology expected of a car bearing the three-pointed star.

One of the most interesting driving aids is Active Brake Assist with Cross Traffic Function. It monitors the risk of collision with vehicles ahead, vehicles coming from the opposite direction, and intersecting vehicles, and automatically applies the brakes if necessary.

It also looks out for pedestrians crossing when the EQS driver tries to turn at an intersection. The standard PRE-SAFE impulse side feature detects an unavoidable side collision and automatically inflates the driver or front passenger side bolsters (depending on who is likely to be affected) to move the occupants and slightly increase the distance to the oncoming vehicle.

The foundation of the EQS is an entirely new electric platform. According to Mercedes specifications, both the EQS 450+ and EQS 580 4MATIC draw power from a 107.8 kWh battery pack. The biggest difference is in the power output and drivetrain layout: the EQS 450+ produces 329 hp (245 kW) and 406 lb-ft of torque via an electric powertrain (eATS) mounted on the rear axle.

The EQS 580 4MATIC, as the name suggests, is a more powerful all-wheel drive model. The eATS is connected to both axles and transmits 516 hp (385 kW) and 611 lb-ft of torque to the road through all four wheels.

According to WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure) test results, the EQS (here we assume the EQS 450+) can travel approximately 478 miles (770 km) when driven with restraint. It is capable of.

Charging the EQS with a 9.6 kW wall charger takes all night, 11.25 hours to be exact. With a DC fast charge of up to 200 kW, it can charge an EQS 450+ for 186 miles (300 km) and an EQS 580 4MATIC for 174 miles (280 km) in 15 minutes. Both EQS sedans require 31 minutes to fully charge.

Mercedes calculated other important numbers during the development of the EQS and determined that its large, battery-powered luxury barge could put the "Express" in "Executive Express."

The EQS 450+ can reach 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and has a top speed of 130 mph. Its more aggressive sibling has the same top end, but requires only 4.1 seconds for the speedometer to register 60 mph.

This is just the beginning of the scorching heat of EQS's emission-free tires. Surprisingly, Mercedes commented on future products (unusual for an automaker) and stated that they "plan a performance version with up to 630 hp."

The Mercedes EQS plans to be more than a luxury people mover. The German automaker is also apparently working with its in-house performance team, AMG, to develop a powered-up version.

According to Motor1, the Mercedes EQS AMG could produce over 600 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque. The test model, which was driven around the Nürburgring in Germany, appeared to be slightly lower and wider than the base EQS. Mercedes is expected to reveal more details about the EQS AMG later this year.

Expect to see more Mercedes EQ models in the next decade, including another sedan. Christoph Starzynski, vice president of electric vehicle architecture, said, "By as early as 2030, Mercedes wants to have electric powertrains in more than half of the cars it sells. [With the EQE business sedan and the EQS and EQE SUV variants, further models based on the new architecture will follow soon."

.