The Mercedes-Benz’ EQE EV will arrive in Australia next year.

Following the company’s EQS luxury saloon revealed earlier this year, the EQE business saloon is to run on the same premium-class electric architecture (EVA2).
While two models are to be available at launch, just one variant – the EQE350 – was revealed in September.

Energy comes via a 90kWh battery pack that is good, the company says, for up to 660km of range. Powering the EQE350 is an 215kW electric motor on the rear axle. Mercedes says future versions of the EQE will come with dual-motor 4MATIC all-wheel-drive, with motors located on the front and rear axles.

A DC box with a charging capacity of up to 170kW is fitted on board for fast charging via direct current. Power for up to 250km can be achieved in 15 minutes. Charging from 10-80 per cent comes in at 32 minutes.

AC charging at 11kW will see a full charge achieved in 8 hours and 25 minutes, while where 22kW AC charging is available, that charge time comes down to 4 hours and 25 minutes. Recuperative braking is featured and, in versions available in Japan at least, the EQE will be available with bidirectional charging capability enabling V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) and V2H (Vehicle-to-Home) applications.

The EQE’s styling and design is very slick, and the exterior is matched by a top-class interior which is luxurious and high-tech with all the flash gadgetry you would expect in a Merc.

The interior design and equipment are based on the EQS, and available as an option is the MBUX Hyperscreen – which is actually three screens sitting under a common glass cover and which stretches the width of the cabin. Standard models get a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.8-inch central touchscreen.

The ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice assistant is available and it is, the company says, more capable of dialogue and learning by activating online services in the Mercedes me App. With the Online Music service, Mercedes-Benz has now fully integrated Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music into the MBUX infotainment system.

Like the EQS, the EQE offers the possibility to activate completely new vehicle functions via over-the-air updates (OTA) in many areas.

Various optional ‘packages’ are available with the Premium Plus Package offering the top equipment level. It includes Active Ambient Lighting, Parking Package with 360° Camera, Digital Light with projection function, MBUX Augmented Reality for Navigation and the Driving Assistance Package Plus, KEYLESS-GO with automatic comfort doors at the front, Burmester surround sound system with Sound Experiences and MBUX Entertainment, head-up display and THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control, USB package Plus and more.

Safety and driver assistance features are extensive and with the full Driver Assistance Package Plus include Active Steering Assist, Traffic Sign Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, Active Emergency Stop Assist, Attention Assist, Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function, Active Blind Spot Assist and exit warning function, Evasive Steering Assist and more. The Parking Package includes Remote Parking Assist, an SAE Level 2 feature which means the driver can park and unpark the vehicle by smartphone from a short distance.

Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (October 2021) 

28 October 2021