- Design preview of a Mercedes EV luxury sedan
- Part of Mercedes’s EQ sub-brand
- 469 horsepower, 560 lb-ft of torque
- 0-60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds
- 435 miles range based on European standard
Mercedes-Benz has already unveiled the first model in its EQ sub-brand of EVs, the 2020 EQC crossover. But there are more to come. To give buyers a preview of what a full-size battery-powered luxury sedan might look like, it rolled out this futuristic concept, the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS. With the concept’s imposing size, high level of luxury, and intricate detailing, it’s not hard to see the Vision EQS as the S-class of the brand’s EQ lineup.
229 points of light
The design features an expansive wheelbase, huge wheels, and ultra-short overhangs. Interestingly, a 2-tone paint scheme is employed, which makes the car look even longer. The most notable aspect of the exterior design, however, is the lighting.
Not only does the Vision EQS have an illuminated Mercedes-Benz logo in the grille, the entire grille—itself composed of 3-pointed stars—also is illuminated. The rear taillights similarly are comprised of a constellation of 3-pointed-stars. In total, there are 229 light-up stars around the whole car. A thin band of light wraps around the entire car at shoulder level, dividing the dark-painted upper section from the silver lower body. Digital headlights incorporate twin holographic lenses, which allow for highly variable beam patterns—they’re said to preview lighting modules for future production cars.
The interior architecture also is claimed to preview that of the brand’s upcoming models. The dash slopes down seamlessly into the full-length center console, which floats above the flat floor. More light strips encircle the cabin and also appear on the sides of the seats and the console, and junior-sized touchscreens that mirror the central screen are located on the door armrests.
The materials are extreme-green: Mercedes’s Dinamica microfiber, made from recycled PET bottles, is paired with a headliner material made from recycled ocean-plastic waste. The Nappa-leather-like upholstery material also is manmade.
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EQS power and range
Beneath all the glitz, the Mercedes Vision EQS mechanicals include an underfloor battery pack, two electric motors, and all-wheel drive. The front and rear motors combine for 469 horsepower and 560 lb-ft of torque, enough to send the EQS to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The battery pack of approximately 100 kWh provides a range of 435 miles on the European test cycle.
The company describes the Vision EQS as “a clear statement for the continuation of driver-controlled vehicles.” Autonomous driving takes a figurative back seat here. The Vision EQS is said to be capable of relatively modest Level 3 autonomy (its systems able to provide a high level of support for a human driver on highways), although Mercedes says that higher levels of autonomy could be introduced in the future.
How closely a future electric Benz flagship hews to this concept is something we’ll have to wait to see.
