{"id":162416,"date":"2021-03-27T18:59:47","date_gmt":"2021-03-27T22:59:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/?p=162416"},"modified":"2021-03-27T18:16:37","modified_gmt":"2021-03-27T22:16:37","slug":"bow-wow-one-bow-design-takes-mercedes-eqs-in-an-entirely-new-direction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/2021\/03\/bow-wow-one-bow-design-takes-mercedes-eqs-in-an-entirely-new-direction\/","title":{"rendered":"Bow. Wow! One-Bow Design Takes Mercedes EQS in an Entirely New Direction"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Mercedes<\/a>
The new Mercedes-Benz EQS battery-electric sedan makes its formal debut April 15.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One thing\u2019s for sure: there\u2019ll be no mistaking the new Mercedes EQS sedan when it rolls down the street.<\/p>\n

Think of the EQS as the all-electric alternative to the German automaker\u2019s familiar S-Class flagship. But you clearly won\u2019t confuse the two when it reaches showrooms in autumn. Some new battery-electric vehicles share the same design language as conventional, gas-powered products. With EQS, Mercedes goes off in an entirely new direction, one it\u2019s been hinting at with concept vehicles like the 2019 Vision EQS<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The production model adopts what the automaker calls a \u201cone-bow\u201d design. It takes the look of the coupe-like Mercedes CLS to extremes. The result could have rolled off the set of a sci-fi film. But there are practical benefits in terms of range and interior roominess, as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe said we have to go further\u201d than just packing batteries into a conventional looking product,\u201d Steffen Kohl, Mercedes\u2019 director of advanced exterior style, said during a media webinar. The EQS \u201ccarries the future of Mercedes-Benz,\u201d he added, noting the \u201cone-bow\u201d language of the EQS will strongly influence other products to come<\/strong><\/span><\/a> from the new, all-electric Mercedes-EQ sub-brand.<\/p>\n

Plenty of power and range<\/h3>\n
\"Mercedes<\/a>
Robert Lesnik led the exterior design effort for Mercedes new EQS battery-electric sedan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

EQS rides on a skateboard-like platform, mimicking virtually all new battery-electric vehicles. Its batteries, motors and other key electrical components sit below the floorboards.<\/p>\n

The automaker will reveal full powertrain details during a formal unveiling April 15. But EQS uses twin motors, one on each axle, drawing power from a 108 kilowatt-hour battery pack. That provides about 435 miles of range using the European WLTP test cycle. The EPA rating should come in somewhere about 350 miles, according to industry observers.<\/p>\n

The layout moves the sedan\u2019s wheels close to the vehicle\u2019s corners. It also frees up space where a traditional gas or diesel engine would be mounted, providing significant flexibility to the Mercedes design team.<\/p>\n

Shorter wheelbase, longer cabin<\/h3>\n

The cab-forward design features a short nose, the angled, one-piece aluminum clamshell hood rising aggressively to flow into a steeply raked windshield. Instead of a traditional, two- or three-box layout, the look is like that of a single bow line, explained Robert Lesnik, who led the exterior design effort.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS concept provided a framework for the company’s new electric luxury sedan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cEQS will be the world\u2019s best production car ever in terms of aerodynamics,\u201d with a drag coefficient of 0.20 significantly better than even the sleekest of today\u2019s supercars, he explained.<\/p>\n

The effect \u201clooks optically lower than it is,” Lesnik added.<\/p>\n

The front end features a new grille with \u201cabstracted, three-dimensional star pattern(s),\u201d according to Mercedes. It\u2019s framed by slit-like headlamps flowing into the front quarter panels.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen people ask why we need a grille anymore,\u201d Lesnik explains that it is \u201cnot an air intake. It\u2019s a face.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Coming from the future”<\/h3>\n

The side panels lack the normal creases found on conventional Mercedes models, though the greenhouse does pinch in towards the trunk, giving the EQS a sense of muscularity.<\/p>\n

\"Mercedes-Benz<\/a>
The new EQS features Mercedes’ newly introduced Hyperscreen technology.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Around back, the most distinctive feature is a light band connecting what Mercedes calls \u201ccurved, 3D helix\u201d taillamps.<\/p>\n

From nose to tail, the new EQS measures 5.2 meters, or 204.7 inches. That\u2019s about 3.5 inches shorter than the U.S. version of the latest Mercedes S-Class. But the electric sedan has more room for four passengers, its cabin pushed forward into what would normally be the engine compartment.<\/p>\n

As distinctive as the exterior might be, the interior takes things even further, said Peter Balko, who oversaw development of the cabin. \u201cWe wanted our interior to be modern,\u201d he explained, \u201cas if coming from the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buyers will have numerous options<\/h3>\n

Buyers have several key options to choose from. The showpiece layout uses the new hyperscreen concept<\/strong><\/span><\/a> first shown on the latest S-Class. It features a seamless digital cluster running the entire width of the instrument panel. The organically shaped glass blends three different displays, starting with the digital gauge cluster, the touchscreen infotainment screen and a separate display for the front passenger.<\/p>\n

\"Mercedes-Benz<\/a>
The gauge cluster on the new EQS is configurable based on the wants of the driver.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

EQS offers a digital gauge cluster and a large, free-floating, Tesla-like infotainment screen for those seeking a more conventional look. The space in front of the passenger can be outfitted with an assortment of different woods and fabrics and even a version of the Star Pattern grille.<\/p>\n

The EQS will \u201ctouch almost all of your senses,\u201d said Kohl. Among other things, the product development team has come up with three distinctive, user-programmable \u201csoundscapes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sounding off<\/h3>\n

While battery cars aren\u2019t entirely silent, they are significantly quieter than vehicles with conventional internal combustion engines. Motorists can enjoy the lack of noise or they can opt for one of the soundscapes, \u201cdepending upon the emotions of the moment,\u201d said lead sound engineer Thomas Kuppers.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Silver Waves is meant to be soft and soothing;<\/li>\n
  • Vivid Flux is \u201cshimming and explosive,\u201d a bit \u201ctechie but (with) warmth,\u201d said Kuppers; and<\/li>\n
  • Roaring Pulse is \u201cpretty raw, with \u201cthe growl of thunder,\u201d especially under aggressive driving.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    \u201cWe haven\u2019t finished yet,\u201d Kuppers added, noting that, \u201cThere will be new soundscapes over the life of the vehicle that we will download through over-the-air updates.\u201d<\/p>\n

    The new EQS will borrow from the conventional S-Class by also appealing to the sense of smell, Mercedes officials noted. The new BEV will have the ability to inject scents into the cabin, including some designed specifically for the new model.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Mercedes officials said they felt the brand’s battery-electric vehicles had to be a step beyond their conventionally powered offerings. If anything, the new EQS it’s rolling out certain ensures Mercedes’ future EV design language will not be confused with its past. TheDetroitBureau provides a look and some insight on the soon-to-arrive EQS sedan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":162528,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,8,5,12,9],"tags":[],"make":[85],"post-state":[],"category_old":[118,286,150,151,123,287,319,289,155,299,316,163,132,196,130,284,125,137,139,148,290,291,278,288],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162416"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=162416"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162416\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/162528"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=162416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=162416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=162416"},{"taxonomy":"make","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/make?post=162416"},{"taxonomy":"post-state","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-state?post=162416"},{"taxonomy":"category_old","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category_old?post=162416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}