Sitting on the wheel of the futuristic new Mercedes-Benz EQS luxurious limousine feels much less like on the brink of drive and extra like making ready for lift-off.
Confronted with a panoramic hi-tech display screen, doing pre-flight checks for house journey appears way more acceptable on this all-electric craft.
Earlier than driving it on UK roads forward of first deliveries from February, I familiarised myself with the system on this outstanding masterpiece of engineering.
Merc masterpiece: The EQS luxurious electrical limousine is full of expertise and priced from £100,000
That is arguably the neatest and best new automotive ever to hit the highway. Certainly, this streamlined battery-powered Benz guarantees a spread of as much as 453 miles.
All of it issues as a result of this cutting-edge expertise will, over time, trickle down from the highest to most household automobiles.
Sky is the restrict
The brand new EQS is the primary Mercedes-Benz to be constructed on a bespoke platform for the agency’s giant luxurious and govt class electrical automobiles, and is the battery-powered sibling of the standard flagship S-Class limousine.
The EQS’s huge digital dashboard immediately made me consider the Airbus A380 ‘superjumbo’ cockpit.
Starship command: The EQS’s huge panoramic hi-tech digital dashboard appears to be like like one thing from a sci-fi movie
On the coronary heart of this spectacular machine, with its sensible however superbly appointed inside, is the hanging hyper-screen incorporating a number of shows beneath one cinematic unfold of curved glass stretching almost 5ft. The entrance passenger even has their very own 12in display screen.
Two important variations of the EQS can be found on the market at launch within the UK. The usual 333 horse-power EQS 450+ vary priced from £99,950 is available in three sports-oriented AMG Line variants (AMG Line, AMG Line Premium and AMG Line Premium Plus) and two traditional Luxurious variations (Luxurious and Unique Luxurious).
These all speed up from relaxation to 62mph in 6.2 seconds as much as a high velocity of 137mph.
Priced from £154,995 and arriving in April, there’s the extra highly effective 659 horse-power sports-performance Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic+ which accelerates to 62mph in simply 3.8 seconds as much as a high velocity of 155mph.
First impressions
I drove the EQS 450+ Unique Luxurious which prices from £113,995, however the hi-tech hyper-screen (an additional £7,995) takes the ultimate value as much as £121,990.
Powered by its 333 horsepower 245kW electrical motor, there are three important driving modes: Eco — if you happen to’re making an attempt to avoid wasting power; Consolation — for relaxed on a regular basis driving; and Sport — if you desire a extra thrilling drive. You may also tweak it your self with the Particular person setting.
Approaching the automotive with the fob in your hand or pocket, the EQS’s door handles emerge mechanically to greet you.
The brand new EQS can be important as a result of it the primary Mercedes-Benz to be constructed on a bespoke electrical platform – with a battery-powered SUV utilizing the identical structure being unveiled subsequent 12 months
The EQS will probably be produced on the model’s Stuttgart manufacturing unit. The truth is, will probably be manufactured on the identical meeting line because the petrol and diesel powered S-Class limo
Whereas the design is undoubtedly Mercedes-Benz, the EQS showcases simply how a lot effort the German model has gone to in a bid to make it streamlined to enhance efficiency – particularly to increase the automotive’s all-electric driving vary
Earlier than setting off, I arrange my private driver profile utilizing a fingerprint safety scanner.
After {that a} easy print-swipe remembers me each time I log in — permitting a lot of drivers to arrange the automotive to their very own seating place, driving preferences and music selections.
The automotive sweeps effortlessly alongside motorways and the graceful trip is aided by the self-levelling air suspension which raises the car for tough roads and lowers for larger aerodynamic efficiency at excessive velocity.
On nation roads and within the metropolis it is nimble — because of 10-degree rear axle steering which mixes with the entrance wheels to cut back the turning circle of this 5 metre-long automotive to simply 10.9 metres, much like many compact class automobiles.
The heads-up show retains your eyes centered on the highway and highlights velocity, the velocity restrict, satnav instructions and related warnings.
For passengers within the rear there’s lots of legroom and noise-insulating and infra-red reflecting privateness glass.
The non-obligatory Luxurious Lounge bundle (costing £3,995) brings a number of extras together with electrically-adjustable rear seats with therapeutic massage features, a consolation rear arm-rest, local weather management and wi-fi smartphone charging.
The rear boot is huge and the panoramic sliding sunroof lets the sunshine flood in.
A full cost on an 11 kW AC wall-box takes 10 hours, halved to five hours on a 22kW field, based on Mercedes-Benz bosses
The EQS has a 200 kW DC speedy charger. Which means it may be charged to 80% battery capability in round half-hour, and provides a 186 mile vary increase in quarter-hour
New Benz electrical car-owners profit from IONITY Limitless which gives free speedy charging for one 12 months in any respect IONITY stations
Seven magnificent EQS options
Hyperscreen
A £7,995 high-tech further that transforms the cockpit of your EQS into the bridge of the Starship Enterprise.
MBUX
Sensors within the Mercedes-Benz Person Expertise or MBUX system use synthetic intelligence to watch your time on the highway.
‘Hey, Mercedes’
Need to know tomorrow’s climate? Simply say, ‘Hey, Mercedes’ and the Alexa-style voice assistant will inform you.
Fingerprint Scanners
Fingerprint scanner logs you into your particular person personalised driver settings in addition to preferences.
Facial recognition can be an possibility.
SatNav
Not solely will it get you to your vacation spot, it will discover you very important charging factors en route.
Therapeutic massage seats
A alternative of heat again massages to assuage your aching limbs on an extended journey.
Head-up Show
Augmented actuality head-up show retains your eyes centered firmly on to the highway forward whereas projecting velocity, velocity restrict, satnav instructions and warnings within the line of sight.
Sensors galore
Central to all of the brainpower on the screens and across the automotive is the Mercedes-Benz Person Expertise or MBUX.
It makes use of synthetic intelligence to boost driving — from the augmented actuality expertise within the navigation display screen to the clever voice management with speech recognition and the power to talk 27 languages.
As much as 350 sensors monitor the EQS’s features, recording distances, speeds and acceleration, lighting situations, precipitation and temperature.
Nonetheless, I did expertise ‘vary nervousness.’ A run to the Midlands from London initially confirmed sufficient cost, however heading again it appeared I wasn’t going to make it.
The factitious intelligence constructed into the system can present reminders, comparable to when a member of the family’s birthday is upcoming, and is hailed because the ‘brains and nervous system’ of the brand new electrical limousine
Pictures launched by Mercedes a fortnight forward of the EQS launch confirmed how spectacular and futuristic the cabin appears to be like, particularly lit up at night time
The huge cinema-like display screen has a built-in reactive gentle sensor, too, which mechanically adjusts the brightness of the show to the situations so the occupants can see it with out glare within the day or being dazzled at night time
Urgent the on-screen icon for a public charger, a menu revealed a listing of the closest charging factors.
Mercedes says charging with a 200kW DC speedy charger takes 31 minutes to 80 per cent, or quarter-hour to 186 miles. A full cost on an 11kW AC wall-box takes ten hours.
I used to be additionally impressed with the Alexa-like ‘Hey, Mercedes’ once I requested it to hold out duties. Perhaps the robots actually are taking on.
What’s it prefer to drive the brand new space-age luxurious limo from Mercedes-Benz? We discovered
The UK-bound EQS 450+ is powered by a 328 horsepower electrical motor which permits the automotive to speed up swiftly however easily from relaxation to 62mph in 6.2 seconds
So what’s it prefer to drive?
Sinking into the cossetting driver’s seat of the brand new EQS with its softly luxurious entrance head restraints, I pressed the beginning button and driving on large 22-inch wheels (20 inch is commonplace on the cheaper fashions) and glided silently on my manner.
The driving is simply a part of the general expertise. It’s fast, lithe, nimble, responsive and enjoyable. Nevertheless it’s additionally a technical tour de pressure. However being behind the wheel it’s nearly a cinematic expertise.
The EQS’s huge digital dashboard put me immediately in thoughts of the Airbus A380 ‘superjumbo’ airliner’s wonderful fly-by-wire cockpit, wherein I’ve been fortunate sufficient to take a seat in on an early check flight over the Gobi desert to Hong Kong, in addition to myself taking to the controls of British Airways’ personal extremely lifelike A380 simulator at Heathrow. So I’ve first-hand expertise.
And like bridge of the Starship Enterprise, the hi-tech dashboard on this space-age electrical Benz goes boldly the place no Merc has gone earlier than. In Star Trek phrases one may nearly inform Captain Kirk: ‘It’s a automotive Jim, however not as we all know it.’
I even programmed one of many multi-functional therapeutic massage possibility to 5 my again a heat work-out in transit.
All additionally accessible to the entrance passenger.
Absence of a standard engine and transmission tunnel means plenty of liberated inside house. The huge rear boot alone appears to be like lengthy, deep and comfy sufficient wherein to spend the night time in a sleeping bag.
On the monetary entrance, my 50-minute charging pit-stop, carried out with a swipe of my bank card, gave me a 40per cent (30kWh) cost from the BP Pulse/Polar machine costing £12.24 for between 120 miles and 168 miles of vary. Sufficient to get house and fairly seamless, although I wasn’t in a rush.
Mercedes says charging with a 200kW DC speedy charger takes 31 minutes to an 80% , or 186 miles in quarter-hour. A full cost on an 11kW AC wall-box takes 10 hours.
New Benz electrical car-owners profit from IONITY Limitless which gives free speedy charging for one 12 months in any respect IONITY stations. There’s additionally an all-inclusive free three 12 months subscription to a ‘Mercedes MeCharge’ card system which covers quite a lot of rival charging suppliers (after which it’s £89 a 12 months).
When you adapt your mind-set, you rapidly get the grasp of it – like switching your music assortment from vinyl to CDs after which to downloads.
However, Mr Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, what’s going to occur when demand for public charging factors rockets from new electrical automotive drivers– as a result of the motor business says provide shouldn’t be preserving tempo?
The 64-colour inside ambient lighting could appear a frippery. However the close to steady line across the cabin modifications color – and glows crimson both facet or in entrance – when signalling the path from which a hazard could also be rising.
There are three highly effective LED digital lights in every headlamp whose beam is refracted and directed by 1.3 million micro-mirrors.
Mockingly, in my EQS electrical automotive, I couldn’t cost my very own telephone because the automotive has solely the brand new USB-C sockets (on the idea presumably that house owners will all have the newest package). So I had to purchase an adapter en route. There’s additionally wi-fi inductive charging for telephones arrange for it.
With a size of 5216mm a width of 1926mm and a peak of 1512mm, the brand new EQS is 73mm shorter, 5mm wider and 9mm taller than the brand new long-wheelbase S-Class saloon
Whether or not you’re driving it your self, or being chauffeur-driven within the lap of govt luxurious within the again, the battery powered Benz guarantees a long-legged vary of as much as 477 miles between costs
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