Mercedes-Benz unveils new flagship EQS electric sedan to take on Tesla

Mercedes-Benz thinks its new EQS sedan will redefine the all-electric luxurious motor vehicle phase as it competes versus Tesla and a developing range of rising start-ups and legacy automakers.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS, unveiled Thursday, marks a new era for the German automaker as it pivots to EVs. The automobile will be component of its big S-Course car relatives when it arrives in U.S. showrooms in the fall.

“The EQS is built to exceed the expectations of even our most discerning clients,” explained Mercedes-Benz and Daimler CEO Ola Kaellenius in a 63-web page press release for the vehicle. “Which is just what a Mercedes has to do to make the letter ‘S’ in its name. Since we you should not award that letter lightly.”

Most notably, the interior of the auto looks like a cockpit out of a futuristic spacecraft a lot more than a car or truck. It has screens across practically the overall dashboard of the car. In whole, it options 3 screens beneath a one 56-inch curved glass surface, including a passenger display screen that will not be seen to the driver.

The automaker did not release pricing for the EQS, having said that market experts hope it to easily major $100,000. The commencing selling price on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Course ranges among $94,000 and $160,000. Its Mercedes-Maybach S versions can top $200,000.

“They begun at the top rated,” Jessica Caldwell, govt director of insights at Edmunds.com. “This is related to what we’ve observed with some of the other automakers. It is really their most highly-priced motor vehicle that is going to arrive out initially.”

The price tag array for Tesla’s Design S huge sedan ranges from around $79,990 to $149,990, like a new substantial-close performance product, Model S Plaid.

2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS EV

Mercedes-Benz

Anti-Tesla

The inside of the EQS is fundamentally the opposite of Tesla versions that feature modern simplistic interiors. Some Tesla styles have just one particular big display screen in the heart of the instrument panel that controls almost all facets of the automobile.

The EQS “is going to have to have a hallmark to stand out. I feel giving persons that pretty futuristic come to feel that you are truly driving something distinct will be interesting for some prospective buyers,” Caldwell reported. “But I believe the simplistic style for Tesla has produced a ton of folks really joyful.”

The exterior of the EQS attributes a very similar design to its regular S-Course siblings, but a little bit a lot more aggressive with regards to the entrance of the automobile. A special “Version A single” unveiled by the business capabilities a two-tone black and silver paint position throughout the overall automobile.

2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS EV

Mercedes-Benz

The car is the first EV on a new car or truck platform for Mercedes-Benz. It also attributes a fresh technology of batteries with appreciably bigger vitality density, which allows for far more vary.

The first products arriving to the U.S. will present up to 516 horsepower and 611 pound-foot of torque. The all-electrical range of the automobiles is envisioned to be about 478 miles (770 kilometers).

For tech, the automobile attributes a suite of basic safety and convenience features, together with a new driver-assist process that can manage the speed and braking of the car as well as support in other functions this kind of as switching lanes or preserving the automobile in its lane. The system is extra driver-controlled than other programs from Tesla and Basic Motors.

The EQS also will include an available augmented truth method, such as head-up screen, that initiatives 3-dimensional graphics these as arrows onto the screens to exhibit drivers wherever to go.

2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS EV

Mercedes-Benz

EVs

The EQS is element of Mercedes-Benz’s “Ambition 2039” initiative that incorporates more than 50 percent the automobiles it sells to aspect electrical travel techniques, including entirely electric cars and plug-in hybrids.

Mercedes-Benz is in a race with other legacy automakers to launch new EVs to catch up with sector-chief Tesla, which accounted for a vast majority of all-electric powered gross sales in the U.S. They are also anticipating a host of new opponents this sort of as Lucid, which designs to start a luxurious EV later this 12 months.

“I consider Mercedes Benz is likely to do a great position on EVs,” reported Brian Moody, executive editor at Autotrader. He reported they ought to be a formidable competitor to Tesla, which he characteristics to genuinely demonstrating the vehicle industry “what persons actually required when it will come to electric powered vehicles.”

“They didn’t want some financial state box,” he mentioned. “They want a performance auto, with lots of luxury and they’ll spend for it.”

2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS EV

Mercedes-Benz