Mercedes Benz EQS exterior revealed - meet Stuttgart's first EV luxury sedan
2021 Mercedes Benz EQS debuts ‘sensual purity’ design language, 770 km range from 107.8 kwh battery
Mercedes Benz EQS 450+
single permanent magnet synchronous motor, rear wheel drive
245 kW (333 PS) / 568 Nm (418 lb ft), WLTP combined energy consumption 20.4-15.7kWh/100 km, range not stated
90 kWh nickel, manganese cobalt (NMC) modular battery, pouch cell design with 400V architecture, 200 kW DC fast charging
Mercedes Benz EQS 580 4MATIC
front and rear permanent magnet synchronous motors, all wheel drive
385 kW (523 PS) / 855 Nm (630 lb ft), WLTP combined energy consumption 21.8-17.4 kWh/100 km, range up to 770 km (478 miles)
107.8 kWh NMC modular battery, hard case cell design with 400V architecture, 200 kW DC fast charging
The Mercedes Benz EQS is an important vehicle for the Stuttgart automaker. 120 years after the trademark ‘Mercedes’ was registered by Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft in 1901, we now have an all-electric sedan that is designed to ensure not only that the company remains the king of luxury motoring, but also the relevance and profitability in a world of strict emissions legislation, and dwindling resources.
We’ve already covered the technical details, interior and Hyperscreen quite recently, so let’s look at what Mercedes-Benz has revealed today.
Exterior Design
It’s nice to finally be able to put a face to the EQS name. Designing such a flagship vehicle must be rather difficult, and on the whole, Gorden Wagener and his team must be congratulated. The EQS is a balance of progressive style and refined, familiar luxury. It’s a vehicle that has to outline the brand’s future direction, while still appealing to the S-Class buyer.
There are some odd angles however; soft, sloping front and rear are a result of function over form no doubt. With a drag coefficient of 0.2 cd, Mercedes Benz claims the EQS is the slipperiest sedan in the world.
Mercedes Benz states that the design philosophy behind the EQS can be defined as ‘Sensual Purity’ and that this is realised through clear, uncomplicated surfaces, curves and surface-emphasising modelling. It’s certainly not a fussy design, but will it appeal to buyers looking for a certain level of aggression and sportiness? Perhaps we’ll have to wait for an AMG version to find out.
The short front end and cab-forward look is almost the antithesis of the long-hooded luxo-barge look we’ve come to expect from this segment over the last few decades. The front end is handsome, if considerably more restrained than the EQS concept car. The black ‘grille’ on the front of the EQS is available with a Mercedes star pattern, if customers choose the AMG Line Exterior or Electric Art Exterior.
Frameless, coupé-like doors and a high, arched beltline draw the eye down the body to the rear of the EQS. Flush doorhandles aid aerodynamics, and provide a clean side profile view. The glasshouse is accentuated with chrome, and a two tone paint scheme is available.
Broad, generous surfaces, reduced join in body panels create an almost seamless transition between glass and bodywork at the rear. The rear tail light assembly is a broad, futuristic swoop of red, accentuating the width and hinting of the power within the EQS. 19-22 inch wheels are available, and the three exterior package inclusions are listed below:
Our favourite view of the EQS sedan
In our eyes, the most attractive angle of the EQS is a slightly raised and offset front three quarter view. The body is made of aluminium to keep weight down, and the front hood (bonnet) is of a clamshell design. Frunk fans will be disappointed to learn there’s no front storage compartment, but there’s ample space in the passenger compartment and rear trunk, with 610 litres of cargo capacity.
At 5.2 metres long with a 3.2 metre wheelbase — 106mm longer than the W223 S-Class — the EQS is a big car. The EQS 450 weighs in at 2480 kg (5467 lb), while the EQS 580 is 2585 kg (5,698 lb).
Mercedes Benz is expected to release an AMG performance variant of the EQS in the future, as well as a cheaper version with a smaller battery capacity. Europe, the UK and North America should see the EQS launch in the second half of 2021, while it’s expected that Mercedes-Benz Australia will bring the EQS down under in December 2021/January 2022.
You can read more of our coverage on the technical aspects of the EQS here, and view more galleries below:
2021 Mercedes Benz EQS exterior gallery
2021 Mercedes Benz EQS interior gallery
