+2022 Mercedes EQS Running against the wind.
HAS THE FUTURE ARRIVED? SILLY QUESTION, I KNOW, AS TODAY
simply is yesterday’s future. But I mean, has the world of Aldous Huxley, Alvin
Toffler, and even Faith Popcorn arrived? Certainly, when it comes to automotive motivation, it may seem so since there are now far more hybrid, electric, and at least partially self-driving cars on the roads worldwide than ever before. The dialogue around e-cars often divides people along aural issues. “Yes, I like the acceleration, but I miss the sound of a healthy internal combustion engine” (ICE, ice baby!). That discussion invariably takes me back to what must have been a frequent conversation among two groups of enthusiasts at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries: “Yes, the automobile is interesting but I miss the dynamic sounds of when the hoofs meet the roadway, the occasional whinny, and even that great new-horse smell.” Apparently even the most outmoded technology can have its adherents, and then there are the Luddites who prefer the way things always have been (or even as they used to be). But clearly as we move toward a petroleum-free future (as they aren’t making any more dinosaurs), what exactly are the alternatives? The best option today is electrification, and exhibit A is the 2022 Mercedes EQS. Mercedes may not be the first carmaker of the modern era to join the electron club but it certainly jumped in with both feet in creating this EQ all-electric sub-brand (EQ, for “electric intelligence”) and the EQS is the S-Class electric car that tops their e-car spectrum. As befits any car with the pedigree of a Mercedes S, the EQS has a myriad creature comforts and a big velvet bag full of electronic wizardry. To start, the car doesn’t look like a traditional Mercedes. The “coefficient of drag” (or CD)
— the measurement of how much wind resistance a car experiences while underway — is crucial in order to efficiently slice through the air to achieve a longer range. The EQS was sculpted in order to minimize the CD so the look resembling a smooth jellybean is truly a form-follows-function concept. With a CD value of .20, it reportedly is the “slipperiest” series production car in the world. And not only does that provide for a longer range on a battery that doesn’t have to be bigger to achieve it, but it also provides for a quieter ride since there’s less wind interference. Inside the cabin, the future is readily apparent, starting with the 56-inch dashboard screen. That’s right — close to five feet of uninterrupted horizontal glass, behind which sit multiple screens for driver info on the left, general functions and navigation in the center (which also can be moved left), and a variety of choices for the front seat passenger on the right. The EQS 450+ Sedan starts at $102,310, has 329 hp and goes 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. Range is about 350 miles. The EQS 580 4MATIC Sedan starts at $119,110, its twin motors together have 516 hp and the car accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. The 580’s range has not been announced as of press time. I loved my time with the EQS, which included a multiday trip, as it was a great freeway car (so quiet!), had more than ample luggage capacity (the rear seats fold down), and it was exceptionally comfortable and easy to drive. Those who are concerned about what the future will bring should at least take comfort in knowing that Mercedes has your back (and the rest of you, for that matter) with this well-designed car.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC
BY TIM LAPPEN
