Longest range electric car in Australia revealed: Incoming Mercedes-Benz EQS EV locked-in as new BMW i7 and Genesis G80 rival

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a substantially updated version of its pure-electric EQS sedan with a claimed WLTP range of up to 925 kilometres, 350kW charging capacity, steer-by-wire technology and supercomputer powered AI software.

The German maker says the upgraded EQS consists of 25 per cent fresh components, including an 800-volt electric architecture, new in-house developed electric drive units, a two-speed transmission on the rear axle and larger batteries with revised cell chemistry.

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The maximum 925km range represents a 13 per cent increase over the superseded car, the new EQS’s higher charging capacity now able to add 320km of range in 10 minutes when connected to a suitably fast charger.

At the same time a new AI-powered, Cloud-connected iteration of the Mercedes‑Benz Operating System (MB.OS) “integrates and controls every aspect of the vehicle.”

This includes everything from the front seatbelt heating (up to 44°C) and ‘Surround Navigation’ to cloud-based ‘Airmatic’ damper regulation and even more accurate parking assist.

The four-model range includes a new single-motor, entry-level EQS 400 (270kW/505Nm), followed by the single motor 450+ (300kW/505Nm) and the dual-motor, all-wheel drive 500 4Matic (350kW/750Nm) and 580 4Matic (430kW/800Nm) variants.

Their new-generation drive units are claimed to be more compact, efficient and robust. The front unit in all-wheel drive models acts as a booster with an integrated disconnect unit switching it on or off as required.

Zero to 100km/h acceleration is a rapid 6.2sec in the EQS 400, dropping to a supercar-like 4.1 seconds in the EQS 580 4Matic.

Energy recuperation via regenerative braking is up to 385kW, which Mercedes said dramatically increases efficiency.

From a design point-of-view, luxury car-spotters should look out for an illuminated three-pointed star on a revised nose including digital headlights (using micro-LEDs), bonnet ‘Powerdomes’ and daytime running lights incorporating star-shaped insignia.

The rear light strip features helix elements and an ‘AMG style’ bumper has more pronounced diffuser ribs on the underside and chrome trim running across the width of the car.

The EQS remains one of the most aero-efficient production cars ever made with a drag coefficient of 0.20.

Inside, the Mercedes ‘MBUX’ user system runs through two 13.1-inch displays, or in upper models, a 12.3-inch driver display, 17.7-inch central display and 12.3-inch passenger display, managing a “high-end entertainment system” and the ‘MBUX Virtual Assistant’ can “conduct complex dialogues” with the car’s occupants.

The system’s main ‘star avatar’ is supported by a second human-like avatar and a third, nicknamed ‘LittleBenz’, the latter inviting more “playful interaction.”

Active crash-avoidance tech includes 10 external cameras, up to five radar sensors and 12 ultrasonic sensors.

Arrival timing and model line-up for Australia is yet to be confirmed, but in Germany EQS cost-of-entry starts at €94,403 (~$156,800) for the 400, rising to €134,732 (~$223,800) for the EQS 580 4Matic.