While the teaser campaign for the new Mercedes S-Class is gaining traction before the luxury sedan's world debut in September, Mercedes has decided to share new information about its upcoming fully electric counterpart, the EQS. During the company's shareholders meeting hosted online this month, Mercedes CEO Ola Kallenius confirmed the Mercedes EQS will deliver over 700 kilometers (435 miles) of driving range on a single charge according to the WLTP, using batteries manufactured at the automaker's Stuttgart plant.
This matches the WLTP range estimate of the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS that debuted at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show last September. Based on the WLTP's estimates, the Mercedes EQS will offer more miles of range than its chief competitor, the Tesla Model S Long Range, in Europe.
Based on the WLTP cycle, Tesla's electric sedan can last 609 km (378 miles) on a single charge. Since the WLTP last tested the European Model S Long Range, Tesla has improved the driving range of the Model S Long Range Plus sold in the US by reducing the car's weight using lessons learned from developing the Model 3 and Model Y.
Thanks to these updates, the Tesla Model S Long Range Plus became the first EV to be rated at over 400 miles by the EPA. Typically, EPA range estimates tend to be lower than the WLTP. We'll have to wait and see if the Mercedes EQS can top the Tesla Model S Long Range Plus in the US, but the EPA estimate will still likely be around 400 miles so it's going to be very close.
As for performance, the Mercedes Vision EQS utilizes two electric motors generating a combined 469 horsepower and 560 lb-ft of torque. This setup enables the luxury electric sedan to achieve 0-62 mph in 4.5 seconds. Since we now know the production version will have an identical range to the concept, performance should also be on par or exceed the Vision EQS.
During the shareholders meeting, Kallenius reiterated that the EQS will be the first model to ride on the manufacturer's new dedicated EV platform. Kallenius added that the "EQS plays in the same league as the S-Class in terms of luxury, comfort and safety" and marks a "new era for Mercedes in terms of electrification."
Unfortunately, Kallenius didn't reveal when the EQS will debut, but Mercedes' electric luxury sedan is slated to enter production in 2021.