The Mercedes-Benz EQ family is expanding at a rapid pace.
Not only did the company confirm its long-rumoured EQE sedan, it also teased a prototype of an EQS SUV and announced an EQE SUV will also join the range.
While current EQ models use modified versions of internal combustion engine platforms, the EQE sedan and SUV and EQS sedan and SUV will all use Mercedes-Benz’s new Electric Vehicle Architecture.
The company shared a video showing the two EQS models, plus the EQE sedan.
While heavily camouflaged, the EQE prototype (above) appears to share similar cab-forward exterior styling to the larger EQS, or what Mercedes refers to as “one-bow”, coupe-like styling.
The EQS SUV has a conventional, upright SUV silhouette and looks similar in size to the internal combustion engine-powered GLS SUV.
The EQS sedan, which has already been teased by Mercedes, will be the first of the new EVA-based models to launch when it debuts next year. It’s currently in the final stages of testing.
We’ve seen from previous spy photographs and teasers that its styling resembles that of the 2019 Vision EQS concept car, with a swoopy, cab-forward body design and a sweeping, fastback silhouette that incorporates a liftback.
Mercedes has confirmed it’ll have up to 700km of range under the stricter WLTP measures, just like the concept car.
If it adheres closely to the concept in other respects, it’ll also have a 100kWh lithium-ion battery and a 0-100km/h time of 4.5 seconds.
Mercedes promises it’ll be just as luxurious as the S-Class, which it’ll be built alongside at the company’s Sindelfingen plant in Germany.
It’ll be one big car, too. The concept measured 5295mm long on a 3260mm wheelbase and with a total width of 2077mm, longer and wider than even a long-wheelbase S-Class.
Mercedes-Benz is aiming to have electrified vehicles, including plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles, account for more than half its sales by 2030 and to have a CO2-neutral fleet by 2039.
While the EQ range may be expanding vertically, new and more affordable models are also on their way.
The GLA-based EQA begins production this year, the GLB-based EQB follows next year, and a new platform architecture for smaller EVs is due in 2025.
Mercedes-Benz isn’t alone in rolling out a fleet of luxury electric vehicles. BMW will soon introduce its iX3 and iNext SUVs, with i4 and i7 passenger cars in the works based on corresponding ICE-powered models.
Audi will begin production of its shapely E-Tron GT next year, based on the Porsche Taycan’s J1 platform.
The two brands are also co-developing the new PPE platform that’ll be used for new sedan and SUV models. Currently, it uses a modified ICE platform for its E-Tron SUV (MLB evo) and is rolling out smaller EVs like the Q4 E-Tron on the MEB platform shared with brands like Volkswagen and Skoda.
