Australia has a new long-distance electric vehicle champion, with the comprehensively overhauled Mercedes-Benz EQS arriving with an official 810km range.
On sale from September 10, the new Mercedes-Benz EQS 400 Sedan is priced from $184,900 plus on-road costs and introduces an almost wholesale technical makeover including an 800-volt electrical architecture, 350kW DC charging, a two-speed transmission and optional steer-by-wire steering.
The latter comes with one of the new EQS’s most obvious talking points – a flattened aircraft-style steering yoke – although Australian buyers will have to spend an additional $7500 to get it.
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Beneath the EQS 400 is a 112kWh usable battery that delivers an 810km WLTP range, making the Mercedes-Benz the longest-range new EV currently offered in Australia, pipping the BMW iX3.
That’s still short of the extraordinary 926km available from the EQS 450+ in overseas markets, but Mercedes-Benz Australia has so far confirmed only the rear-wheel-drive EQS 400 for local sale.
Its new rear-mounted electric motor produces 270kW and 505Nm, enough for the big luxury limousine to reach 100km/h in 6.2 seconds.
Mercedes-Benz says more than a quarter of the EQS’s components have been newly developed, updated or refined as part of an overhaul that goes considerably deeper than a conventional facelift.
Central to the changes is the switch to an 800-volt electrical architecture, lifting maximum DC charging power to 350kW.
Mercedes-Benz claims that, under optimum conditions, about 320km of WLTP range can be added in approximately 10 minutes. At 400-volt charging stations the EQS can accept up to 175kW.
The larger-capacity battery uses silicon oxide blended with graphite to store more energy without requiring additional physical space.
There’s also a new Mercedes-developed electric drive unit and, unusually for an EV, a two-speed transmission on the rear axle.
First gear is intended to provide strong acceleration from rest before the taller second ratio takes over at higher speeds to improve efficiency, range and cruising comfort.
Maximum regenerative braking power has also climbed to 385kW.
Another headline addition is Mercedes-Benz’s new steer-by-wire system, claimed to be the first offered in a German-manufactured series-production vehicle.
It removes the conventional mechanical connection between the steering wheel and front wheels, replacing it with electronic control.
The system is paired with a flattened yoke-style steering wheel that opens up the driver’s view of the instrument display and is claimed to make getting in and out easier.
It also works with up to 10 degrees of rear-wheel steering to improve low-speed manoeuvrability while aiding stability at higher speeds.
But steer-by-wire is not standard on the Australian EQS 400. The package costs $7500, while the standard car retains conventional electromechanical steering and a traditional steering wheel.
Mercedes-Benz says its familiar rocker and roller steering-wheel controls have also returned in response to customer feedback.
The exterior has been substantially revised as Mercedes attempts to give the EQS more of the visual presence of its S-Class limousine ICE sibling.
Changes include a reshaped bonnet with pronounced power domes, a redesigned front apron and an illuminated star-pattern grille with chrome accents.
At the rear there is a new full-width light strip incorporating helix elements and a redesigned bumper.
Standard exterior equipment includes 21-inch aerodynamic alloy wheels, DIGITAL LIGHT headlights and a panoramic sliding sunroof.
Inside, the EQS adopts Mercedes-Benz’s latest MB.OS operating system, which enables over-the-air software updates and supports the latest AI-enabled MBUX Virtual Assistant.
The familiar MBUX Hyperscreen remains, combining three displays beneath a single glass surface spanning more than 55 inches.
Standard Australian equipment includes heated and electrically adjustable rear seats, wireless phone charging, HEPA air filtration, an Acoustic Comfort Package and a 15-speaker, 710-watt Burmester 3D surround-sound system with Dolby Atmos.
New-generation DIGITAL LIGHT headlights use micro-LED technology and are claimed to produce a lighting field about 40 per cent larger while consuming up to 50 per cent less energy. Ultra Range high beam can illuminate up to 600 metres ahead.
The latest driver-assistance system draws information from 27 sensors, while standard AIRMATIC air suspension can use cloud-connected Car-to-X information to anticipate some road conditions and prepare the suspension before reaching features such as speed bumps.
Despite the styling changes, aerodynamic efficiency remains a major EQS strength, with Mercedes-Benz claiming a drag coefficient as low as 0.20Cd.
Beyond the steer-by-wire package, Australian buyers can add a $6000 AMG Line or $6900 Comfort Plus Package.
The Comfort Plus Package includes massaging front seats, Seat Heating Plus, a heated steering wheel, heated front seatbelts, powered front and rear comfort doors and additional laminated safety glass.
The post Mercedes-Benz EQS becomes Australia’s longest-range EV: 810km flagship gets $184,900 price, 350kW charging and steering yoke appeared first on EV Central.
