Mercedes-Benz continues to push the boundaries with its EQS lineup, responding swiftly to market demands and customer feedback. For the 2024 change year, the EQS receives a significant update, offering enhanced range, comfort, and features.
The EQS now boasts an increased battery capacity, resulting in up to 82km of additional range. With a maximum range of 799km for the EQS 450 4MATIC and 822km for the EQS 450+, Mercedes-Benz reaffirms its commitment to providing long-distance electric driving capabilities.
Notably, towing capacity has been boosted for EQS and EQE sedans with 4MATIC, now capable of towing up to 1,700 kilograms, aligning them with SUV derivatives. Additionally, a new brake system function ensures the maintenance of brake components, optimising longevity and efficiency.
Externally, the EQS sports a redesigned radiator cover with chrome applications and an upright Mercedes star, blending avant-garde EQ aesthetics with iconic Mercedes-Benz symbolism. The interior receives upgrades too, with enhanced rear comfort features including a slanted footrest and a Rear Comfort Package Plus with executive seats.
Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz introduces the “Automatic Lane Change” function, offering intelligent driving assistance on two-lane highways. This feature enhances the driving experience, allowing for seamless lane changes within predefined parameters.
For enthusiasts seeking the pinnacle of luxury and performance, the EQS Manufaktur Selection offers exclusive features such as obsidian metallic paint, AMG Styling, and opulent Nappa leather upholstery. This special edition exemplifies Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to craftsmanship and customisation.
BRABUS is well known for enhancing the looks and performance of Mercedes-Benz models. Thus far, since it began business in 1977, it has doe impressive work with cars with combustion engines. But with the electric age round the corner, the company has also to prepare for the future and it has begun doing so.
Perhaps because its extensive experience is with combustion engines, it has not yet developed comprehensive expertise with electric powertrains so it is not focusing on that area yet. Instead, it is enhancing performance by further optimizing aerodynamic efficiency, which can also have a positive effect on performance.
BRABUS in fact has a listing in the Guinness Book of World Records related to aerodynamics. In 1985, it refined the bodywork of a W124 Mercedes-Benz sedan and brought its Cd down to 0.26. That was a world record at the time and is still a value achieved by only a few, far more modern cars today.
Its first effort in the 21st century is with the latest EQS from the Mercedes-EQ range. Already one of the most aerodynamic production cars in the world, BRABUS has been able to lower its Cd value (the measure of wind resistance) by 7.2%.
Confirmed in wind tunnel testing, the lower drag in turn reduces the driving resistance, which makes it possible to extend the range, which the more streamlined shape increases by 7% on average in the speed range between 100 and 140 km/h.
The refinement done on the EQS bodywork with components produced from carbonfibre (with exposed structure) give the sedan sporty looks that generate the ‘BRABUS 1-Second Wow Effect’. The bodywork components can have a glossy or matt sealed finish.
The BRABUS front spoiler gives the EQS an even more dynamic face. In addition, the carbonfibre lip reduces drag, and its raised outer edges also minimize front-axle lift by 100%. This naturally also improves the handling stability at high speeds.
The carbonfibre trim for the side air intakes in the front fascia also play a role in the more striking face and route the airflow even more purposefully to the radiators and front brakes. The designers also developed carbonfibre air deflection elements installed in front of the rear wheelarches. These add some sporty lines to the sides and positively influence the airflow.
The rear end is enhanced with a diffuser and a spoiler, both made from that same hi-tech composite material. It reduces aerodynamic lift at the rear by up to 40%.
The BRABUS Monoblock wheels have been tailor-made for the wheel wells of the EQS. They are available in numerous designs and diameters from 20 to 22 inches. With the Monoblock M wheels, there is a disc design that is aerodynamically favourable.
The BRABUS wheels not only benefit the looks but also enhance handling. This improvement can be further amplified with the plug-and-play BRABUS SportXtra module which is adapted to the air suspension. It lowers the ride height of the sedan on the front by 15 mm and on the rear axle by 29 mm. This ride-height lowering also plays an important role in the reduction of the drag coefficient.
As with its other models, BRABUS offers numerous refinement options for the interior of the EQS, enabling customers to personalize extensively. The range of options includes scuff plates with backlit BRABUS logo, whose colours change in sync with the ambient lighting; BRABUS aluminium or carbonfibre pedals; high-quality floormats and a velour mat for the boot. The latter two sport the logo of the tuner and feature leather edging.
For those who do not like the bother of having to park their cars in a carpark, hotels usually have valets to do the job. But valets may no longer have to do it either as cars will be able to park themselves after the owner has exited. Perhaps the first cars to be able to do so will be from Mercedes-Benz which has developed and begun to demonstrate the capability.
Working with a technology supplier, the German carmaker has developed automated valet parking technology which it calls INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT. The technology is available in the EQS BEV sedan as well as the latest S-Class sold in European markets. In order to enable the car to drive and park itself, it also requires an intelligent infrastructure installed in the parking area.
Sensors installed at the building communicate with the car and guide its manoeuvring through the parking area. This will allow the car to operate in highly automated mode and without a driver, and has the possibility of additional capabilities such as automated EV charging, car wash and vehicle servicing or maintenance where vehicles move in and out of service areas on their own
The automated parking process makes use of a smartphone app and the driver has to first position the car in a designated drop-off area. When activated, the sensor system in the carpark checks whether a suitable space is available or was already reserved for the vehicle. If so, the Automated Valet Parking infrastructure confirms the hand-over of the vehicle for the driver in the app, and the car will depart on its own. It will then be guided with the help of the infrastructure to the designated space.
When the driver requires the car, a request can be sent with the app and the car will be guided to the pick-up area. This will certainly be convenient for owners as it will be unnecessary to walk around the carpark and, for those who may be forgetful, waste time searching for the place where they parked it.
Automated parking technology, which could one day be as common as cruise control, benefits drivers by easing the burden of the parking experience. It may even be possible for carpark operators to cram more cars onto a floor as the spaces can be narrower since there is no need to allow wide gaps for doors to be opened.
“Low-speed manoeuvres are part of the holistic opportunity for automated technology,” said Dr. Kay Stepper, Senior Vice-President of automated driving and driver assistance for Bosch in North America. “Automated technology in the specific use case automated valet parking gets consumers comfortable with how automated technology works and how it can benefit them.”
Engineering teams have been working over the past few years to further develop automated valet parking and support specific testing and deployments around the world. The technology was recently demonstrated at a hotel in Los Angeles, California.
“The demonstration at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown showcases how automated valet parking will operate in a working hotel environment where both automated and non-automated vehicles operate alongside pedestrian traffic,” said Dr. Stepper. “This allows us to dive into the dynamics of local deployments with the use of a highly-connected EQS from Mercedes-EQ to demonstrate how automated technology continues to move forward.”
“Our vision is that getting time back is a key component of the luxury experience our customers are looking for. The EQS gives you time back by driving itself in traffic jams on highways, but with INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT, it may also be able to park itself,” added Dr. Philipp Skogstad, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America. “INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT is a feature that together with the required infrastructure enables an automated valet service that gives customers even more comfort and relief in everyday life.”
Electrification of product lines has picked up speed in recent years, partly because of tougher regulations in Europe. With the future clearly being electric, many companies are preparing their future zero emission product ranges to cover as many segments as possible, from bottom to top. Even Rolls-Royce and Bentley have plans to offer all-electric models eventually and are certainly developing them now.
But Mercedes-EQ (the EV brand for Mercedes-Benz) is ready with its luxury limousine that runs only on electricity with a flagship model designated the EQS. This is the first model to be based on the modular architecture for luxury and executive-class electric vehicles and will initially be available in two variants – EQS 450+ and EQS 580 4MATIC. These will be the S-Class of the electric range, the beginning of a carbon-neutral new car fleet that will be completed over the coming 20 years.
With the need for minimum air resistance to overcome, it’s not surprising that the designers have brought the CD value down to 0.202, even with a large form that the EQS has. It’s the most aerodynamic production car in the world now, and this superior efficiency benefits many aspects – operating range, quietness and stability at high speeds.
Related to S-Class but different too
Although the EQS is a close relative of the new S-Class, it is built on an all-electric architecture. This completely new concept made a rigorous Purpose Design possible: with its one-bow lines and cab-forward design with fastback, the EQS is clearly distinguishable from vehicles with combustion engines even at first glance. The design philosophy employs generously sculpted surfaces, reduced joints and seamless transitions between surfaces.
The front is combined into a ‘Black Panel’ unit with innovative headlights connected by a light band and the deep black radiator grille (Black Panel) to form the distinctive ‘face’. The exclusive look of the Black Panel radiator grille with central Mercedes star can be enhanced still further: as an optional extra they are also available with a three-dimensional star pattern. The design picks up on the original star of the Daimler-Motorengesellschaft company, which was registered as a trademark in 1911.
770 kms range, up to 560 kW of power
Being an EV, much interest will naturally be on the powertrain. With claimed ranges up to 770 kms and an output of up to 385 kW (524 ps), the powertrain of the EQS provides appropriate performance levels that would be expected of a model as the same level as the S-Class. A performance version with up to 560 kW (762 ps) is being planned. Torque levels are 568 Nm and 855 Nm and peak torque can be expected from takeoff, as is the characteristic of electric motors. All EQS models will have an electric powertrain (eATS) at the rear axle, while the versions with 4MATIC also have an eATS at the front axle.
The EQS marks the launch of a new generation of batteries with significantly higher energy density. The larger of the two batteries has a usable energy content of 107.8 kWh. Recharging with a power supply of up to 200 kW at fast charging stations with direct current can provide 300 kms of range within 15 minutes. At home or at public charging stations, the EQS can be charged with up to 22 kW AC using the on-board charger.
The huge MBUX hyperscreen
Having dedicated architecture has enabled the interior designers to package the cabin with new approaches that are not constrained by traditional structures used for models with combustion engines. The advanced appearance has the MBUX Hyperscreen as the absolute highlight in the interior. This large, curved screen unit sweeps almost from A-pillar to A-pillar, with three screens under a cover glass appearing to merge into one.
With adaptive software, MBUX adapts completely to its user and makes personalized suggestions for numerous infotainment, comfort and vehicle functions. With the zero layer, the most important applications are always offered on the top level within the field of vision, according to situation and context.
A new feature of the EQS is a visualization in the MBUX showing whether the available battery capacity is sufficient to return to the starting point without charging. Charging stations along the route that have been added manually are given preference in the route calculation. Proposed charging stations can be excluded. The estimated charging costs per charging stop are calculated.
Navigation with Electric Intelligence plans the fastest and most convenient route, including charging stops, based on numerous factors and reacts dynamically to traffic jams or a change in driving style, for example.
Over-The-Air updates
The EQS is the first Mercedes to offer the option of activating completely new vehicle functions via over-the- air updates (OTA) in many functional areas. Available from launch will be two special driving programs for young drivers and service staff, some little games and the demo program ‘The Best or Nothing’.
This means that, following the purchase and the initial new-car configuration, some of the features of the EQS can be adapted according to personal preferences. It will also be possible to unlock the rear axle steering with the larger steering angle of ten degrees. In addition to the classic purchase of individual functions, subscriptions, temporary activations and free test phases are also planned.
Exceptionally intelligent car
As an exceptionally intelligent car, the EQS has up to 350 sensors, depending on the equipment installed. These record distances, speeds and accelerations, lighting conditions, precipitation and temperatures, seat occupancy as well as the driver’s blink of an eye or the passengers’ speech. This wealth of information is processed by control units that, controlled by algorithms, make decisions at lightning speed. So they are the ‘brain’, so to speak. The new EQS can expand its capabilities based on new experiences, because it is highly capable of learning thanks to artificial intelligence (AI).
The sensors also monitor the vehicle’s surroundings, with parking systems can help the driver with maneuvering in many areas. The driver can park and unpark the car via smartphone using Remote Parking Assist. With the pre-installation for the INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT, the EQS is prepared for Automated Valet Parking (AVP, SAE level 4).
With the optional DRIVE PILOT, the EQS will be able to drive in conditionally automated mode at up to 60 km/h where traffic density is high or in tailbacks on suitable motorway sections, initially in Germany. By relieving the pressure on the driver, the system enables him or her to undertake secondary activities1 such as browsing on the internet or dealing with emails in the In-Car Office, and so gain extra time.
The flagship of the Mercedes-Benz range – the S-Class – finally goes fully electric as the third member of the EQ family of 100% electric vehicles. With the EQE business saloon and the SUV variants of the EQS and EQE, further models based on the new architecture will follow.
The EQS will allow customers in the luxury segment to benefit fully from all the advantages of an all-electric architecture with respect to space and design. This new generation of electric vehicles in the luxury and executive segment is based on a custom-developed architecture, which is scalable in every aspect and can be used across model series. The wheelbase and track as well as all other system components, especially the batteries, are variable thanks to the modular design.
770-km range
The vehicle concept is thus optimised to meet every requirement of a future-oriented, battery-electric model family. A range of up to 770 kms is claimed and applying every trick in the book to bring wind resistance down, the EQS sets a new world record in aerodynamics for production cars with a value of 0.202 Cd.
The electric powertrain, which has an output of up to 385 kW (a variant with a higher output is also mentioned), is positioned at the rear axle, while the versions with 4MATIC also have a second powertrain at the front axle. Maximum torque will be 568 Nm in the EQS 450+, and 855 Nm in the EQS 580 4MATIC, and a maximum speed of 210 km/h will be programmed as the limit.
High energy content in battery packs
The EQS marks the launch of a new generation of batteries with significantly higher energy density. The larger of the two lithium-ion batteries has a usable energy content of up to 107.8 kWh. That is around 26% more than the EQC. A major advance in sustainability has been achieved in the cell chemistry: the proportion of cobalt has been reduced to 10% while the optimised active material consists of nickel, cobalt and manganese in a ratio of 8:1:1.
The battery pack can also be preheated or cooled while driving to be at the optimum temperature temperature window at a fast-charging station, which enables faster charging at 200 kW. At home or at public charging stations, the EQS can also be charged with up to 22 kW with AC using the on-board charger. A 15-minute charge is said to be good providing a range of up to 300 kms.
The EQS will also allow bidirectional charging in Japan, ie charging in both directions. In addition, there are various intelligent charging programs that can be activated automatically depending on the location, and functions such as particularly battery-saving charging.
10-year ‘Performance Promise’
Mercedes-Benz is ensuring that the original battery packs are of a very high quality, with extensive testing before installation. A ‘Performance Promise’ is made through battery certificate for customers which covers loss of capacity of the battery pack. It will be valid for 10 years or up to 250,000 kms.
Navigation with Electric Intelligence means what it says. When a destination is chosen, the system plans the fastest and most convenient route, including charging stops, based on numerous factors and reacts dynamically to traffic jams or a change in driving style. Of course, this will be market-dependent as real-time traffic information and weather reports will be necessary to compute the route.
The new EQS model will be launched in Europe in August this year.
The EQ range of Mercedes-Benz cars is not just about a new range of all-electric vehicles but will also bring much new and more advanced technologies, especially since the platforms can be entirely new and not adapted from conventional vehicles with internal combustion engines. This gives designers and engineers a truly ‘clean sheet’ or perhaps ‘hard disk’ from which to develop new models.
A new technology which will be one of the major highlights for the EQS flagship model is the new MBUX Hyperscreen, a visually impressive display panel which extends almost the entire width of the interior. In addition to its sheer size, the large, curved screen panel, running from the left to the right A-pillar, guarantees a ‘wow’ effect.
Adaptable to users
Artificial intelligence (AI) and learn-capable software enables the control and display concept to adapt to its user and make personalized suggestions for a variety of functions from infotainment, to comfort and even vehicle functions. 8 CPU cores, 24-gigabyte RAM and 46.4GB per second RAM memory bandwidth are some of the MBUX technical specifications.
With the new zero-layer feature, the user no longer has to scroll through sub-menus or give voice commands as the most important applications are always available in a situational and contextual way at the top of the driver’s field of vision. This alleviates the driver from needing to make numerous operating steps. The MBUX Hyperscreen not only benefits the driver as it is also an attentive assistant for the front passenger, who has their own display and operating area.
The Hyperscreen is the latest advancement of the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) which has greatly simplified the operation of the latest Mercedes-Benz models. It was introduced with the A-Class in 2018, and there are now more than 1.8 million Mercedes-Benz passenger cars on the road equipped with MBUX worldwide. A few months ago, the second generation of this learn-capable system debuted in the new S-Class, and Mercedes is now taking another big step forward in the form of the new EQS and the optionally available MBUX Hyperscreen.
“With our MBUX Hyperscreen, a design vision becomes reality,” said Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Daimler Group. “We merge technology with design in a fascinating way that offers the customer unprecedented ease of use. We love the simplicity we created with a new level of MBUX.”
“The MBUX Hyperscreen is both the brain and nervous system of the car,” explained Sajjad Khan, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG and CTO. “The MBUX Hyperscreen continually gets to know the customer better and delivers a tailored, personalized infotainment and operating offerings without the occupant needing to click or scroll anywhere.”
Electrifying appearance, emotional visualization
Surrounded by a continuous plastic front frame painted in Silver Shadow, the MBUX Hyperscreen is an example of digital/analogue design fusion. Several displays appear to blend seamlessly, resulting in an impressive, curved screen band, while analogue air vents are integrated into this large digital surface to connect the digital and physical world. The integrated ambient lighting installed in the lower part of the MBUX Hyperscreen makes the display unit appear to float on the instrument panel.
The front passenger also has a personal display and operating area to help make road trips more enjoyable and entertaining. The passenger display allows for individualized content with up to 7 profiles. If the passenger seat is not occupied, the screen becomes a digital decorative part. In this case, animated stars (ie the Mercedes-Benz pattern) are displayed.
The bright and clear display uses OLED technology for the central and front passenger sections. This technology features individual image pixels that are self-luminous; image pixels, when they are not used, remain switched off, which means that they appear deep black. The active OLED pixels radiate with a high colour brilliance, resulting in high contrast values, regardless of the angle of view and light conditions. All of the graphics are styled in a new blue/orange colour scheme throughout. The classic cockpit display with two circular instruments has been refreshed with an all-new digital look.
Several displays appear to merge seamlessly, resulting in an impressive 141-centimetre wide and curved screen band. The area that passengers can experience is 2,432.11 sq. cm. The large glass cover display is curved three-dimensionally in the molding process at temperatures of approximately 650°C. This process allows a distortion-free view of the display unit across the entire width of the vehicle, irrespective of the display cover radius.
Thanks to its clear design, the MBUX Hyperscreen is intuitive and easy to operate. One example of this is the EV display, important functions of the electric drive such as boost or recuperation are visualized in a new way, with a spatially moving clasp, making it tangible for the user. A lens-shaped object moves between these clamps, which follows gravity and thus is able to impressively depict the g-Force.
Personalized suggestions
Infotainment systems offer numerous and extensive functions, typically with several operating steps often required to control them. In order to reduce these interactive steps even further, with the aid of artificial intelligence, Mercedes-Benz has developed a user interface with context-sensitive awareness.
Mercedes-Benz researched the usage behaviour of the first MBUX generation, and learned that most of the use cases fall in the Navigation, Radio/Media and Phone categories. Therefore, the navigation application is always at the centre of the screen unit with full functionality for ease of use. Over 20 further functions – from the active massage program to a birthday reminder, and suggestions for a to-do list – are automatically offered with the aid of artificial intelligence, if they are relevant to the customer.
“With MBUX, our goal was to create the most desirable automotive infotainment system. We have transferred the bipolarity of our design philosophy Sensual Purity to MBUX – that is, on the one hand the sensual beauty and on the other the ‘wow effect’ of the uniquely intuitive operation. We have invented a new interface that brings design and technology together. The MBUX Hyperscreen was born as a digital piece of art, a futuristic, luxurious sculpture and also a huge technological challenge,” said Wagener.
