If you can afford the astronomical price tag, buyers of this electric car won’t ever have to worry about range anxiety.
German giant Mercedes has this week announced it has upped the already market-leading range of its flagship electric model – the EQS – so it can go even further on a single charge.
Buyers of the updated EQS will get an extra 51 miles of range – now a whopping 511 miles in total – thanks to a new bigger battery.
The Mercedes EQS has had an upgrade and now the longest range version can go a staggering 511 miles on a single charge, which is almost 100 miles more range than you’d need to drive from London to Edinburgh
To get the 511 miles you’ll need to buy the 450+ version. Prices are yet to be confirmed for this luxury car but the starting price will be at least what the EQS already starts from – £112,610
There are a number of range enhancing changes including a new 118kWh battery, improved regenerative braking and front motor disconnect on all-wheel-drive versions that helps conserve energy when the front motor isn’t needed
This means you can drive from London to Dundee without stopping to top-up.
Or, for those looking for a European alternative, travelling from Mercedes’ home in Stuttgart, Germany, to Nice on the French Riviera.
The price is yet to be revealed but starting price will be at least what the current model costs, which is an eye-watering £112,000.
It’s the monumental range that makes this update a real headliner.
Thanks to a new 118kWh battery (up from 108.4kWh) and clever new efficiency tech, the Mercedes EQS 450+ will be the first EV sold in Britain that claims to be able to smash the 500-mile barrier on a single charge.
It’s 511-mile claims is around 70 miles more than the Fisker Ocean, which has the second longest range of any electric car you can by in the UK.
Other changes Mercedes have introduced to maximise range include better energy recuperation from regenerative braking (up to 3m/s from 1.5m/s previously) and a heat pump as standard across all models.
The only exterior tweaks are a bolder black and chrome grille – a nod to the S-Class’s radiator – and a upright three-pointed Mercedes star of old
All-wheel-drive versions can also disconnect the front motor when not required to conserve energy.
Thanks to these features, range has increased by more than 11 per cent across the board.
The EQS 4Matic now offer 496 miles (up from 445) but it’s the single motor 450+ you want to splurge on if you want the chart-topping 511 miles.
Looks wise, there’s a couple of ‘status-conscious’ additions (to some trim levels) including a new radiator trim with chrome applications (mimics the S-Class radiator) and the traditional Mercedes-Benz upright three-pointed star on the bonnet.
The MBUX Hyperscreen – a digital display that spans across the whole cabin – is now standard on the EQS.
It’s made up on three displays merged into one piece of glass to create a screen strip that is over 141 centimetres wide.
The hyperscreen now comes as standard on the EQS range with the three screens blending almost seamlessly into one giant display
Rear passenger comfort has been improved with option of the Rear Comfort Plus and the Extended Rear Luxury Lounge Pack
Inside, there are subtle changes to rear comfort: the back seats can recline (36 degrees as standard or an additional two degrees with the optional Rear Comfort Plus package which also heats the neck and shoulders) and the Extended Rear Luxury Lounge Pack now comes with a special slanted footrest on the right side in the rear compartment.
For anyone who wants a very glamorous towing vehicle, the EQS will now be able to tow 1500kg (up from 750kg) – the same as the EQ SUVs.
Prices are yet to be confirmed, but expect them to be far from cheap as there certainly won’t be any movement on the starting price of £112,610.
