It’d feature a subtly updated front-end design, however the facelifted 2026 Mercedes-Benz EQS hides big changes underneath.
The German automaker’s flagship electric limousine has been revealed with a brand new 800-volt electrical architecture – up from 400V – and latest electric motors.
It also uses a bigger 122kWh battery (up from a usable 118kWh) which is claimed to supply a 925km WLTP range figure – a rise of 13 per cent – and employs silicon-oxide anodes to enhance density.
That can set a brand new record for an electrical vehicle (EV) in Australia, beating the 900km WLTP range quoted for the upcoming BMW i3 mid-size electric sedan, and the 805km range of the upcoming BMW iX3 50 xDrive mid-size electric SUV.
Globally, just one EV has the BMWs and the Mercedes-Benz beat on this measure, and that’s the Lucid Air. In Grand Touring guise, it has as much as 960km of range on the WLTP cycle. Lucid Motors has yet to launch in Australia.
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Pricing and specifications for the Australian EQS lineup have yet to be confirmed and it’s unclear whether the upgraded 925km EQS450+ variant can be offered when the updated limousine range arrives here within the fourth quarter (October to December) of this 12 months.
In Europe, the 2026 EQS lineup will include the rear-wheel drive EQS400, the rear-drive EQS450+, the all-wheel drive EQS500 4Matic (which is able to likely replace the present 450+ 4Matic), and the EQS580 4Matic, a spread for which is yet to be announced.
Currently in Australia, the EQS450 4Matic is priced at $219,900 before on-road costs, while the EQS53 AMG 4Matic is priced at $327,075 plus on-roads – a substitute for which has yet to be revealed.
Mercedes-Benz says greater than 25 per cent of components in the newest EQS are newly developed, updated, or refined.
Chief amongst them is the brand new 800V electrical architecture borrowed from the newest CLA small sedan and GLC mid-size SUV, which increases the utmost DC fast-charge rate to 350kW, enabling the addition of 320km of range in as little as 10 minutes (claimed).
Other fresh technologies include a brand new two-speed rear-axle transmission and latest, in-house-developed electric motors which can be claimed to be more compact and robust.
The refreshed EQS can also be claimed to mark the primary time a German automaker has brought steer-by-wire technology to a series-production vehicle, and it’s accompanied by an F1-style steering yoke affording the driving force an unobstructed view of the instrument cluster and the flexibility to perform U-turns without moving their hands from the tiller.
With no mechanical connection between the front wheels and the steering wheel, the brand new electronic steering system employs actuators and a pc to transmit steering inputs to the wheels.
Available as an option as an alternative of the normal electromechanical setup, the brand new digital steering system is claimed to have undergone over a million kilometres of testing on private and non-private roads, and to feature two different built-in redundancy systems within the event of an issue.
Mercedes-Benz says that within the unlikely event of an entire failure, vehicle control can be maintained by the 10-degree rear-axle steering system and targeted wheel-specific braking interventions via the steadiness control system.
Full specs are yet to be detailed, however the flagship EQS580 4Matic produces outputs of 430kW of power and 800Nm of torque from its two electric motors, with the rear unit incorporating a two-speed gearbox – the primary gear to handle initial acceleration and the second to deliver efficiency at highway speeds.
Regenerative braking power is up 33 per cent to 385kW, and Mercedes-Benz says it may possibly be used as an alternative of traditional friction braking in 99 per cent of driving situations. Meantime, towing capacities have increased to 1600kg for rear-wheel drive variants and 1700kg for all-wheel drives.
The primary update to the EQS since its 2022 launch brings design enhancements including a brand new front-end design, a ‘powerdome’ bonnet, a redesigned rear bumper with chrome trim, and revised lighting elements.
With a drag coefficient of as little as 0.20Cd, the EQS was already one of the aerodynamic cars on the road, but Mercedes-Benz says optimised exterior mirrors and other tweaks improve airflow even further, lowering drag to extend range and reduce noise.
No fewer than 125 exterior paint colors can be available, including a brand new Sparkling Black hue containing glass particles.
Inside, the big 55-inch MBUX Hyperscreen stays standard – incorporating 12.3-inch displays for the driving force and front passenger, flanking a 17.7-inch infotainment screen within the centre – but a brand new operating system employs artificial intelligence (AI) software from the likes of ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing and Google Gemini to power a virtual assistant with various personalities.
It also enables cloud-based suspension adjustment by communicating with other Mercedes-Benz cars to discover road hazards like potholes and speed bumps after which routinely adjust the dampers before the vehicle reaches them.
Latest navigation functions include a 3D map of the vehicle’s surroundings, and trip planning that calculates range based on a wide range of aspects including wind.
Other headline features for the newest EQS include the choice of heated front seatbelts that will be turned as much as 44 degrees and, for rear-seat occupants, a pair of 13.1-inch screens with integrated cameras for video conferencing, plus belt bags that inflate within the event of a collision.
Mercedes-Benz says an upgraded Digital Light headlight system creates a high-resolution field 40 per cent larger than before, while using as much as 50 per cent less energy, and the Ultra Range high-beam function can penetrate as much as 600 metres ahead.
Finally, more computer processing power and as much as 27 sensors are said to permit the MB.Drive Parking Assist system to detect spaces more effectively, enable diagonal parking, and park the vehicle routinely at as much as 5km/h – around 60 per cent faster than before.
This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
