Benz electric flagship here by Christmas

Everything about the EQS seems likely to wow

 THE most extravagant electric vehicle Mercedes has yet to put into production will start to show in New Zealand before year end.

While volume expectations for the EQS, effectively a battery-compelled S-Class limo – but sitting on a new electric platform and with obviously more dramatic styling - and touted as the first of its kind in the large luxury sedan category, are not being discussed, the national distributor has expressed confidence about this five-seater with a range of up to 770 kilometres making a solid showing from the get go.

“Currently, first deliveries are expected in December and pricing will be available closer to that time,” a brand spokesman.

As for how it will do?

“The EQ product in general is gaining momentum in New Zealand.

“Of course we had EQC winning (New Zealand) Car of the Year, then a lot of recent interest in EQA and with the reveal of the EQS we expect further positive interest in that vehicle and Mercedes-EQ in general.

“That’s not mentioning the continuously increasing customer interest in our plug-in hybrid portfolio as well.”

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern having an Audi e-Tron 55 sports utility as a primary Government transport choice when she’s at home in Auckland has sent a powerful international message about Government entertaining an increasingly hands-on interest in electric motoring.

Notwithstanding that the current ministerial limo fleet runs diesel BMW 7-

Series, is Mercedes Benz interested in pushing the EQS as a potential replacement in that duty?

Says the spokesman: “As for the government vehicle question, of course we will explore any opportunities that may come up but there is no specific strategy to announce at this stage. “

Benz’s international unveiling has given detail of two initial launch models, badged EQS 450+ and EQS 580 4Matic, each get a massive 107.8kWh (net) battery pack, allowing for a WLTP range of up to 770 kilometres. An onboard charger allows AC charging up to 11kW (or 22kW as an option) and DC charging up to 200kW.

The EQS 450+ has an electric motor on the rear axle only, making up to 245kW and 568Nm of torque, for a 0-100kmh time of 6.2 seconds and a 210kmh top speed.

Adding another motor to the front axle gives the EQS 580 4Matic four-wheel drive and up to 385kW and 855Nm. That drops the benchmark acceleration time to just 4.3 seconds. Top speed is the same as for the EQS 450+.

A Torque Shift torque-vectoring system helps spread power across the front and rear axles as needed, up to 10,000 times per minute – though its capabilities won't be fully realised until the an AMG edition, with 560kW. This will be revealed before year-end but nt touchdown timing for NZ has been shared yet.

Mercedes intends for EQS to be seen as a technology leader as much as it is an electric one, so it's loaded with the latest luxury gadgets. Even so, that’s just a starter … lots of the high-end equipment is likely to be optional and there's plenty of talk in the 70 page press release of over-the-air upgrades that buyers can install after they've taken delivery.

All versions come with a modest amount of rear-axle steering, but it's possible to unlock a system with up to 10 degrees of lock, which dramatically reduces the turning circle of the EQS, making it easier to manoeuvre and park. Not that you'll need to worry about such things if you have the fully autonomous parking technology enabled.

Before you get in, you can have the air cleaned as well as the cabin set to your desired temperature. The doors can self-open and close at the touch of a button, or even automatically as you approach the car with the key on your person. As the driver, you hop in and, on pressing the brake pedal, the door closes behind you.

The top instrument display is the MBUX Hyperscreen, a slick-looking one-piece digital dashboard. It actually comprises three individual screens. The front-seat passenger gets their own display to interact with. In the interests of safety, a camera keeps an eye on the driver and, if it detects that their attention is focused on the passenger's screen, it is dimmed automatically.

As standard, the EQS is fitted with a 12.3-inch driver display and a 12.8-inch central touchscreen in portrait orientation, as on the current Mercedes S-Class.

The cabin isn’t just about technology. It appears to be luxurious, too. Mercedes-EQ offers loads of personalisation for the interior and shows incredible attention to detail.

EQS sits between the regular and long-wheelbase versions of the S-Class in terms of length. The elongated shape is designed to minimise drag as the car moves through the air, with remarkable effect. Mercedes-EQ claims that the EQS is the 'most aerodynamic production car in the world' thanks to a coefficient of drag as low as 0.2.

The appearance of the EQS can vary considerably, depending on which boxes you tick on the order form. There are standard, AMG Line and Electric Art exterior styles to choose from, and a Night Package to add to those. Digital Light headlight technology is worth a mention. It uses 1.3 million micro-mirrors and video projector tech for a wide variety of safety functions, and to welcome the driver with a snazzy light show.

C seen – Mercedes new-gen compact exec unveiled

The make’s smallest rear-drive passenger road car goes big on S-Class tech.

WHAT derivatives are coming, when do they arrive and, of course, how much will they cost?

Sorry, it’s premature asking those questions yet in respect to the all-new 'W206' Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

The car’s official international uncovering has only occurred today, so Mercedes’ New Zealand distributor says answers to any questions in respect to the local lineup will have to wait until much closer to the car’s release here. Which will occur late this year.

For now, then, it’s all big picture stuff – and that, alone, is quite a story in itself.

Suffice to say, the German company's latest compact executive car, so far revealed in mainstream sedan and wagon formats (as per tradition – the coupe, convertible, crossover and AMG editions of everything will follow in due course) is pukka premium in more than just presentation, pedigree and pricing.

This fifth generation family also channels much of the look and technological content of the make’s flagship S-Class uber-sedan and has an entirely electrified range of drivetrains from the get-go.

Yes, it’s bigger. The wheelbase has gone up 25mm to 2865mm in total on both body styles, resulting in a sedan that is 65mm longer (4751mm) than its four-door forebear and a wagon that's 49mm longer (also 4751mm).

The car’s 10mm wider in the body and 13mm wider across the mirrors, while their track widths have increased, too. Both shapes are slightly lower than the previous versions, with reward in improved drag coefficients (0.24 sedan, 0.27 wagon).

The general shape is sort of C-generic but it’s quite different to what we get now, with a swoopy air abetted by short overhangs, a long wheelbase and a cab-rearward design.

All models roll on alloy wheels of between 17 and 19 inches in diameter. The radiator grille design varies depending on the trim grade. Base cars have a large three-pointed star and louvre details, higher-spec editions – including AMG Line models – achieve a star-design chrome pattern. The headlamps are all new as are the tail-lights. Three new colours - Spectral Blue, High-Tech Silver and Opalite White – join the C's colour palette.

The dimensional changes reward occupants. Both seat rows have more headroom, legroom, elbow-room and shoulder-room. The wagon gains 30 litres more luggage space; there’s 490 litres capacity with all seats in play and 1510 litres with everything folded. The sedan’s boot retains the same 455 litres’ capacity as the current car.

But roominess will be less of a focus than the tech. This C-Class enters the heavily digital age with its boots on … there’s a a TFT instrument cluster (minimum 10.25 inches across the diagonal, with the option to upgrade to a 12.3-inch unit) and a large infotainment screen reclining on the centre stack, this being at least 9.5 inches, or 11.9 as an option.

The dashboard design lends to an aviation theme; Benz has split it into two tiers for a wing-like formation, and the rounded air vents are said to be reminiscent of jet engines. Various leather, leatherette, wood and metal upholstery/trim choices are available, a colour head-up display is an optional extra and the connectivity of the car is boosted with several software packages plus over-the-air technical updates.

Under the bonnet? As expected, four-cylinder, mild-hybrid turbocharged drivetrains pervade; performance pep is important, but this is Benz driving into an eco future. An integrated starter-generator (ISG), running off a 48-volt electrical system, is a standard ingredient to provide 'gliding' when off the throttle, power-assistance under acceleration and energy recovery too, all to save some fuel. There's also Mercedes' EQ Boost, which adds 15kW power and 200Nm.

NZ will presumably only have eyes for the petrols, which start with a 1.5-litre in the C180, this engine making 126kW and 250Nm from the engine, plus the EQ Boost involvement, which can do 0-100kmh in 8.6 seconds.

The C200 also uses a 1.5-litre engine and it has 152kW/300Nm before EQ Boost, resulting in a 0-100kmh time of 7.3 seconds. The C300 is a 2.0-litre unit with the same EQ Boost function, adding to the engine's 192kW and 400Nm for a six second 0-100kmh run and 250kmh top speed.

Fuel economy and emissions counts figures will be shared once the cars’ WLTP homologation is completed.

If mild hybrid doesn’t seem good enough, don’t worry. Mercedes also has a plug-in hybrid model in the pipeline. This pairs a 95kW electric motor to a 152kW 2.0-litre petrol engine for system outputs of 233kW and 550Nm, along with up to 100km of all-electric driving range, courtesy of a 25.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack, at 100kmh, or higher.

The nine-speed automatic gearbox is carried over, but now calibrated to work with the ISG. Everything is rear-drive, of course, but  4Matic all-wheel drive is an option on some models in some markets.

The chassis is a development of the current underpinning, but with a new four-link front axle and a multilink rear end that's mounted to a subframe form a suspension set-up that is said to provide a good blend of agility, comfort and fun. Optional adjustable damping, a Sport specification and even air suspension on the rear axle of the plug-in hybrids will all be offered, as will rear-wheel steering.

There’s a massive array of advanced driver assist safety systems and it achieves the schmanzy digital light headlamp technology from the S-Class, in which the light from three powerful LEDs in each cluster is refracted and directed by 1.3 million micro-mirrors, resulting in a resolution of 2.6 million pixels per vehicle.

EQC shaking strife as sister ships announced

A slower local start than expected for Benz’s electric division pathfinder model hasn’t diminished distributor belief in this broadening power play.

Yet to be unwrapped but all almost certainly due to present in New Zealand - here are three future EQ models under test.

MORE electric cars are coming from Mercedes – and, once supply constraints are lifted, more effort is going to be put into achieving additional market involvement for the one already here.

 In acknowledging interest in the six additional EQ models that the parent brand has confirmed, Mercedes Benz New Zealand has also confirmed it would love to have seen more than 23 registrations to date for the EQC that has been available since January and presently is the sole standard bearer for the brand’s electric mobility division.

The modest count – which places the model at level pegging with the Tesla Model S and Kia Niro as the country’s 11th most popular brand-new electric cars represented by distributors – is not down to consumer disinterest, the local operator insists. 

Quite the opposite. Definite buy-in is perceived for the NZ edition, provisioned as a EQC 400 4matic, costing $142,900.

However, emergent constraints on the medium-sized sports utility’s production and availability has hindered local distribution and been a blow given that New Zealand was among the first countries in the world to receive the EQC.

Even though the production rate of this car (and others) has picked up in recent months, the supply chain has yet to recover.

restricted supply has pegged back the EQC sales expectation - but more cars are coming.

Interestingly, Benz refuses to specifically cite the coronavirus pandemic as being the big issue; though it obviously has been for all car makers.

Nonetheless, the Auckland-based outfit has seen few cars arrive since securing an initial shipment to time with national release at the start of the year. 

“The EQC has been a success for us so far in New Zealand, selling out all available units,” a local spokesman said.

“We knew that the supply ramp up would take time due to the global demand for the vehicle, and we look forward to fulfilling more of the current customer demand in the near future.”

 The car will be subject to more intense push soon; a shipment of additional stock is reportedly already en route. A fresh push seems set to be timed for the start of 2021.

 The renewed campaign will ultimately potentially time with the emergent availability of more EQ family members, confirmed by head office just this week. 

Germany has cited six new full-electrics as being incoming for production, four of which will be underpinned by a new modular platform still under development.

The NZ office has shied from saying when the cars might avail here.

EV uptake in New Zealand is still modest.

“We’re optimistic and excited about the growth of the EV portfolio and we hope to bring these new variants to the New Zealand market in the next few years. For the moment it is too early to confirm when the next EQ variant will arrive on our shores.” 

As a sign of the how far the programme surrounding the EVA2 common scalable architecture has progressed, Benz released images of disguised cars undergoing trials in public. These have since been identified as the EQE and EQS luxury sedans and EQS sports utility.

The EQS sedan – which can be called an electric S-Class – is set to be in build next year, the others in 2022. 

Before all that happens, the brand will launch two electrified versions of vehicles that provision now in fossil-fuelled form – the EQA, which spins off the GLA, and the EQB, derived from the GLB.

Also on the electric release roster are a fully battery-reliant version of the rugged G-Class as well as a EQS in Maybach format. The uber-plush ultra-premium brand has not really represented in NZ to date; the closest market for Maybach being Australia. However, it seems possible that might change now that it has electric and also with the GLS large SUV also provisioning as a Maybach model.

In addition to all this, the make has unfolded plans for a new fully electric architect designed for compact and medium-sized vehicles, called MMA, arriving in 2025, and has used the Beijing motor show to display a concept, the EQXX prototype, which promises the world’s longest electric car range.

That’s a bold statement, given the maker has already cited expectation of the

EQS achieving 700 kilometres’ range, based on the European WLTP testing standards, when provisioned with a 100kWh battery. It's likely that a range of smaller battery options will also be made available.

The production centre for the luxury electrics is the brand’s Sindelfingen ‘Factory 56,’ which is one of the world’s most technically advanced manufacturing facilities. Factory 56 is also home to the new S-Class, incoming here soon, in standard and hybrid forms. 

Mercedes ideas about EQ styling has been expressed by concepts, such as the 2019 Vision EQ Silver Arrow.

As much as EQS is considered part of the S-Class family, Ola Kallenius – chairman of the board of management of Daimler AG, and head of Mercedes-Benz – has assured it will have its own distinct entity: “It’s not our goal to say here’s another S-Class that looks exactly the same, it’s just a powertrain difference. It will be a different luxury tech proposition.”

The Benz push aligns with a public pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and is another reminder about how serious this and other makes are about divesting from fossil fuels. The world’s oldest make is going hard; it claims all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles will account for more than 50 percent of its sales before the end of this decade.

 It’s a shift that New Zealand could conceivably find relatively unchallenging to accept, in that our electricity production infrastructure is so obviously Green-minded, far more so than in most countries thanks to our high reliance on hydro, wind and geothermal generation.

The lack of Government incentive to help consumers buy into brand-new EVs, plus the market being open to used and grey import electrics that are often perceived – usually wrongly - to be better value, and even the relatively low price of petrol and diesel is patently inhibiting any serious swing toward plug-ins.

To date this year, just 1084 brand-new electric passenger vehicles have found homes; a fraction of the total count of new cars registered this year, in a market condition that is down almost 25 percent on the same period of 2019.

The model with the highest count of registrations is the Tesla Model3, with 414 plated-up to date. That’s not necessarily down to a rush on the car now; it’s effectively Tesla making good on orders that might be placed at least a year.

The Hyundai Kona comes second, with 171 units, then the Nissan Leaf, with 116 – though many of these might have been parallel imports. The VW Golf has achieved 69 placements, the Jaguar i-Pace and Tesla Model X 47 each and the Audi e-tron 38, a count also accrued by the Hyundai Ioniq. Next come the Mini hatch, on 31 and BMW i3, with 24.

Under-performing the EQC, Model S and Niro are the Renault Zoe (six), LDV EV80 (four), Porsche Taycan (three, though availability has just begun), Renault Kangoo (two), the list rounding out with three models the general public is likely to be unfamiliar with taking one registration apiece. These being the Factory Built EV10, the Factory Built Souzhou and the Polaris Groupil.