FRANKFURT, Germany – Mercedes-Benz no stranger to sub-brands: AMG, Maybach and even Smart show a new side of what a Benz can be. The birth of a sub-brand first needed to set a tone, something that later models could improve on over the years. Mercedes‘the newest sub-brand, EQ, is being widely adopted for a new, exciting update crop. tramstarts with sedan EQS last year.
With its “single-bow” cabin design and advanced electric powertrain, EQS has worked to define what this all-new updated Mercedes EV might look like. Now, the next model, the Mercedes-Benz EQE, has the ultimate mission of rounding up the EQ list, taking the traits that make the EQS unique among Mercedes sedans and turning them into These building blocks make up the new electric era of three-pointed star patterns. Step inside the upcoming EQE sedan, play the role of E-Class to EQS’ S-Classand you can’t help but notice their EQ similarities.
Some of these are small, like the one in front of the driver’s front door. While the hoods on both models can technically be opened, there’s little reason to be if you’re not a mechanic (and one who’s highly specialized in that), so Mercedes added an open faucet to pour liquid into the washing machine. Companies ahead [fasciae?]The taillights and extendable door handles all tie the EQE and EQS together, visually.
One key difference between the EQS and its S-Class brethren before it is an all-new electric vehicle platform called the EPA2. The EPA2 will be used in at least four production models – the EQS and EQE sedans as well as SUV versions of both, EQS SUV and EQE SUVs. Think of them as a family that decided to wear the right sweaters for a holiday photo shoot, while others, like EQB originates from GLB, like an uncle who doesn’t get notified about what to wear this year. He’s still family, just from, you know, on the other side.
But back to the EPA2 models. Considering the lineage of the EQS and EQE, it’s no surprise that the EQE driving experience shares so much with the EQS. Although I have not personally controlled the EQS yet, due to the EQS’s rating and AMG EQS here Automatic log and elsewhere, it is clear that there are more similarities between E and S than differences. When SUV versions of these models launch in the near future, their height and weight differences will change the feel of the EVA2 platform on the road, but the two EQ sedans are definitely relatives. .
Despite its similarities, the EQE offers its own unique features. For example, it has a real trunk, instead of an EQS sedan-y hatchback. The EQE’s 122.9-inch wheelbase is also 3.5 inches shorter than the EQS’, and while that means it has a smaller rear seat, Mercedes hasn’t provided exact specs to know. how much from S to E. EQS has plenty of leg room. However, so shaving off a few inches won’t matter much. Headroom is similarly slashed compared to the standard sedan due to the quick roofline, but I feel comfortable enough sitting there (I’m 5’9″), and it can feel special. ventilation with optional panoramic sunroof.
The shorter wheelbase also has a smaller capacity, 90.6 kilowatts the battery compared to the 107.8 kWh unit in the EQS. While official range numbers for the US limited edition are not yet available, Mercedes says the EQE will go up to 410 miles on the European WLTP scale, just like mid-300s use. EPAnumber of. That’s pretty much what the EQS does, but we also found it could easily exceed its EPA figures by 20 miles.
EQE offers smooth, quiet, smooth acceleration like anything you’ll see on this side of the car. quantum stable atomic mirror, which, at this point, is probably superfluous since that’s basically what’s written about every electric car. That is the nature of the silent beast. During my time with the rear-wheel drive EQE 350, the first version of the EQE coming to the US, there was clearly not enough power in the 215 kW rear engine delivering 288 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. pound-feet to actually mount a passenger to the seat cushion. For that, you’ll have to wait for the dual-engine EQE 500 or the promised AMG version. However, the EQE 350 is more than that both on the city streets of Frankfurt, Germany, where the test drive took place, and at Autobahn speed through the nearby countryside.
Like EQS, EQE shines with three levels of recovery brake: strong (aka D-), normal (D) and not (D+) which you adjust using the paddles behind the steering wheel. These variations should be understandable to those who have driven a new EV recently, but the new smart recovery setting that uses front-facing sensors to avoid hitting obstacles, called D Auto, is something unique. Play with these different levels of regen braking – set the car to D+ for pure Autobahn and then switch to smart single-pedal mode (D Auto or D-, depending on your preference) in the city city – which completely underestimates the aspect of EV enjoyment, and really should be an automatic feature of any new model. ‘s electric car Volkswagen The group, especially Porsche Taycanlook at things differently.
The EQE also offers a rear-wheel drive option (as in the EQS), where the rear wheel can rotate up to 10 degrees to allow for tighter swerving – the industry standard is 3 to 5 degrees. With it, the spins shrink to just 35 feet compared to 41 without it. It’s a little trick that makes EQE feel at home in small driving cities Smart ForTwo Still a reasonable choice.
The EQE’s four-link front and multi-link rear suspension are adapted from the new S-Class and offer Airmatic air suspension with adaptive dampers. German roads aren’t notorious for potholes, but that shouldn’t rule out the system’s ability to make you feel like you’re too good to feel bumps in the road.
We haven’t talked much about the interior yet, but here again, it’s largely a mirror image of the EQS. The top of the dashboard is a bit high, which reduces visibility in a way that’s not always interesting but not to the point of making the car immobile. The optional MBUX Hyperscreen is available here, combining three separate screens (one for the driver, one for the infotainment, one for the front passenger) behind a 56-inch curved glass. You shouldn’t discount the standard infotainment option – sans Hyperscreen – as the screen-replacement wood paneling is beautiful, completely at home with its plush interior. It should also be noted that the standard system is in fact an all-new, vertical version of the MBUX found elsewhere only in the S-Class and SL. So a downgrade perhaps, but still more upmarket by Mercedes standards.
Below that standard screen is an unusual touch control icon bar that turns off various functions: drive mode, camera view, vehicle settings, audio controls, etc. A small version More of this is on the center console behind the cup holder with Hyperscreen. The weird thing about either version of the bar is that the whole thing is “clickable”. The feeling of the entire bar moving when any individual “button” is pressed is odd. Unlike the touch-sensitive, tactile surfaces on some other cars, this setup works well. It’s just weird to use at first.
Overall, the EQE is a welcome addition to the EQ sub-brand. As more models become involved, the EQ line will evolve into a large, complex, battery-powered lineup. There are only two for now, and they’ve definitely set the stage for what’s to come. Pricing for the EQE will be announced later this year, but it should be around $70,000 when it arrives in US showrooms in late 2022.
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