Mercedes updates EQS with more range and added luxury

Mercedes-Benz has revealed a series of updates for its flagship EQS saloon including a new front-end design and larger battery.

The EQS already has the longest ranges of any production EV but a new battery upgrades the car’s capacity from 108.4kWh to 118kWh and brings new cell chemistry. That adds an extra 51 miles of range. The larger unit and changes to the car’s braking recuperation mean the EQS 450+ can now cover more than 490 miles on a single charge.

And because the high level of energy recuperation means the friction brakes aren’t used much, Mercedes has introduced a new system to periodically apply the brakes – gently, we presume – to keep them in optimum condition.

Externally, the updated model gets the option of a new front end design. This replaces the smooth black panel and its integrated three-pointed star with a traditional grille-style finish. The chrome-plated slats are flush fitted but intended to mimic the radiator grille on combustion engined cars. The design, exclusive to Business Line models, also adds an upright bonnet badge to the EQS for the first time.

Inside, the rival to the BMW i7 now comes with the three-display Hyperscreen as standard, offering a 141cm-wide screen array that covers virtually the entire dashboard. A heat pump to improve efficiency is also added to the standard equipment list.

In the rear, the electrically adjustable seats now recline even further – 36 degrees – and have thicker backrest padding for added comfort. Opt for the Extended Rear Luxury Lounge Pack and there’s even more – an extra couple of degrees of reclining, a slanted footrest and the ability to fold the front passenger seat forward out of the way. Rear passengers also get neck and shoulder heating in the rear, as well as pneumatic adjustment of the seat depth.