It has been a long while since we last saw Mercedes’s EQS electric flagship during testing and the changes compared to the last sighting are astounding.
For starters, this is the first time a Mercedes EQS prototype shows the world its final production body, revealing significant differences to the next-generation S-Class.
While the latter will continue as a four-door sedan, the EQS adopts a five-door fastback body style much like the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT, its main competitors. The all-electric powertrain has enabled Mercedes-Benz designers to be more daring and the proportions of the EQS show it.
The body is very flat at the front and features a short bonnet, a sloping coupe-like roofline, and a wide tail. The wheelbase appears to be generous to allow for a roomy interior. The C-pillar probably won’t remain this massive, though; we believe there’s a third lateral window there covered by the camouflage tape.
Seen from the front, the grille is much flatter than on the 2020 S-Class and has a different shape as well. It’s flanked by sleek headlights that seem similar to the CLS — unless the camouflage is playing with us. The headlights appear to be the finished items, unlike the taillights which are still temporary.
Other details that the photos reveal include the frameless doors and the fact that Mercedes-Benz is testing two types of door handles: normal and retractable ones. We can also see the car with the front wraparound hood and the massive tailgate open. Unfortunately, the interior remains a mystery for now.
The Mercedes EQS is expected to set new standards in electromobility and autonomous driving when it launches sometime in 2021. It’s expected to ride on Daimler’s new EV-exclusive Modular Electric Architecture (MEA). Reports claim the EQS will feature two electric motors, one on each axle, with power levels of the base model projected to exceed those of the 400 hp EQC crossover. Rumor has it Mercedes is also cooking an AMG version with more than 600 hp.
The battery pack will give it a driving range of more than 310 miles (500 kilometers). As with the next-generation S-Class, the EQS electric flagship will get the same active suspension that works with a 48-volt system and stereo camera that scans the road ahead.