The flagship all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQS is getting a little brother on the same platform.
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQE is due in Australia in the second half of 2022.
Our models will be sourced from the soon-to-be climate-neutral Bremen, Germany plant instead of the EQE’s other plant in Beijing, China.
It’ll be available at first only in two variants: the EQE 350, and an as-yet unspecified model that’ll feature dual-motor all-wheel drive.
The EQE 350 has a 90kWh lithium-ion battery and a rear-mounted electric motor with 215kW of power.
Electric range for the EQE line-up is 545-660km on the WLTP cycle, while power consumption is 19.3-15.7kWh.
You can charge it using DC fast-charging (up to 170kW) or single-phase or three-phase AC, with an optional AC charging capacity of up to 22kW.
Mercedes-Benz says cobalt content is less than 10 per cent, with the rest of the optimised active material consisting of nickel and manganese.
Bi-directional charging will be possible in Japan.
The EQE measures 4946mm long, 1961mm wide and 1512mm tall, or around 50mm shorter and 65mm wider than a CLS albeit on a 181mm longer (3120mm) wheelbase.
That gives it an interior 80mm longer than that of an E-Class, with the EQE also offering 27mm more front shoulder room.
The four-link front and multi-link rear suspension is related to that in the S-Class, while both rear-axle steering and Airmatic air suspension with adaptive damping is optional.
The turning circle is reduced from 12.5 to 10.7 metres with rear-axle steering, while the air suspension can lower the EQE by 20mm at high speeds in the Sport drive mode.
The EQE features ‘one-bow’ exterior styling, with a curvaceous body, short overhangs, a sloped bonnet, and a short rear deck.
19-, 20- and 21-inch alloy wheels will be available, with LED headlights standard and Mercedes-Benz’s novel Digital Light optional.
The ‘Black Panel’ front end will be available with a three-dimensional star pattern, while the EQE will come with either Electric Art Line or AMG Line appearance packages.
There’s no front boot, with the bonnet opened only at the servicing department for maintenance like replacing the interior air filter.
Down back, the aerials are concealed and the rear camera is hidden behidn the Mercedes logo, while the full-width LED tail lights have 3D helix graphics.
The company hasn’t confirmed the drag coefficient, though it says the EQE’s shorter overhangs and standard steel suspension put it at a “slight conceptual disadvantage”, suggesting it mightn’t match the EQS’s 0.20 figure.
Unlike the EQS with which it shares the Electric Vehicle Architecture, the EQE is a conventional booted sedan. Boot space is 430L.
Like its bigger brother, however, it offers the optional 141cm-wide MBUX Hyperscreen.
It features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 17.7-inch central touchscreen, and a 12.3-inch passenger-side touchscreen all found under a shared glass cover with a metal-look perimeter and ambient lighting below for a floating look.
Models without the Hyperscreen feature a slightly different centre console and a dash design more reminiscent of the new S-Class.
The EQE uses the latest generation of MBUX, with a zero-layer design promising less scrolling through sub-menus, as well as integrated Spotify and Apple Music.
There are three available ‘sound experiences’ to give the car an ‘engine’ sound, while the satellite navigation includes ‘Electric Intelligence’ to react dynamically to traffic jams and your remaining battery capacity.
The Attention Assist analyses your eyelid movements to detect microsleep, while the ambient lighting can change colours to match drive modes or safety system warnings.
Standard safety equipment on all EQE models includes adaptive cruise control, active steering assist, traffic sign recognition, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, evasive steering assist and autonomous emergency braking with front cross-traffic assist.
Options include an Acoustic Comfort Package, with laminated glass on the front side windows and additional insulation, as well as a panoramic sunroof, 15-speaker, 710W Burmester sound system, automatic comfort doors, and Energizing Package Plus with heated and ventilated, multi-contour front seats.
An available Level 2 autonomous driving feature, Memory Parking Assist, can remember your regular parking locations and automatically drive the car into position.
The car also has the hardware for the Level 4 Intelligent Parking Pilot, which serves as an automated valet service.
