Mercedes-Benz has been trickling out tidbits of information about its upcoming EQS flagship electric sedan for a while now, but in the early hours of Sunday, it pulled the curtains on its dazzling cabin. And no doubt, the piece de resistance of the interior is the available, dash-spanning MBUX Hyperscreen infotainment display.
The MBUX Hyperscreen is almost 5-foot long
There are two choices when it comes to the dash, the most impressive being the optional Hyperscreen, a massive 56-inch (1.41 m) wide curved display that stretches almost from pillar to pillar, seemingly merging three screens under a common bonded and scratch-resistant glass cover. The driver display (screen diagonal: 12.3 inch), OLED central display (17.7 inch) and OLED front passenger display (12.3 inch) appear as one visual unit.
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There are a total of 12 actuators located under the touchscreen surfaces of the MBUX Hyperscreen offering intuitive touch operation with haptic and force feedback. If a finger touches certain spots on the screens, they execute a tangible vibration in the cover plate. When not in use, the Hyperscreen can display various backgrounds that work in tandem with the ambient lighting spread across the cabin.
A simpler, alternative dashboard layout
If that’s all too much or you just can’t stomach the price Mercedes plans to ask for the Hyperscreen (they haven’t talked money yet, but we all know what to expect here), there will also be a more conventional option, similar to what’s offered on the S-Class.
This layout includes a 12.3-inch floating display for the instrument panel and a large, 12.8-inch tablet-like screen incorporated in the center console for the infotainment system, with the rest of the dashboard face covered in various available trims such as wood and metal finishes. You also get the option of two different seats for the front, the standard comfort and the extra sport seats with integrated headrests as part of the AMG Line package.
‘Hey Mercedes’ Digital assistant and biometric authentication
Regardless of which dash you prefer, you will get the next generation MBUX software that includes a digital assistant that will respond to you when you say “Hey Mercedes”. The system is supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI) offering a range of features, from explaining vehicle functions and helping, for example, when asked how to connect a smartphone via Bluetooth, to triggering specific ambient lighting and screen animations based on your mood. It’s worth noting that the hardware specifications of the MBUX include 8 CPU cores, 24 GB RAM and 46.4 GB per second RAM memory bandwidth.
The EQS comes equipped with face recognition cameras in the driver display that are used for a wide range of assistance and comfort functions. These include biometric authentication, ATTENTION ASSIST fatigue warning and adjusting the exterior mirrors to the pre-set position. Also on board as standard: a fingerprint scanner for driver authentication.
What else did Mercedes talk about?
Plenty more, if not as eye-catching as the displays. For example, we’re told that the EQS gets a HEPA filter that keeps all fine dust, micro particles, pollen and other substances outside of the vehicle, and a 710-watt, 15-speaker Burmester surround sound system that’s also responsible for reproducing a driving sound in the cabin.
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We’re also told that the car features a special “Power Nap” program to be used during a break, which has three phases – falling asleep, staying asleep, waking up. In the first mode, it moves the driver’s seat into a rest position, closing the side windows and roller blinds, activating the ionization of the fresh and recirculating air and adjusting the ambient lighting accordingly. Soothing sounds and the depiction of a starry sky on the central display support falling asleep. Waking up is accompanied by a “pleasantly activating soundscape, appropriate fragrance as well as a briefly active, subtle massage and seat ventilation”. Finally, the seat is raised again and the roller blind in the roof liner is opened.
Anything else we know about the EV?
While Mercedes is keeping many technical details close to its chest, we know that the soap-bar shaped EQS has an extremely aerodynamic body being the first production car with a Cd value starting from 0.20.
The electric equivalent of the S-Class will be offered with a variety of battery packs, the biggest of which will have a capacity of 108 kWh allowing for a driving range in excess of 700 km (435 miles) in the WLTP cycle. In the EPA cycle, we expect this version to achieve well over 300 miles. It also features a Plug & Charge capability, which will enable the EQS to communicate with charging stations via the charging cable.
Full reveal on April 15
We’ll know everything about Mercedes’ new EQS that’s aiming directly for the Tesla Model S on April 15 ahead of an expected market launch in North America later this summer.
