As the inventor of the automobile, Mercedes-Benz has shown the enthusiasm of pioneers in this wave of electrification. First EQC tested the waters, and then last year quickly launched two pure electric SUV models, EQB and EQA. However, because these models are the lowest cost and shortest development cycle of "oil to electricity" models, it is difficult to make a real breakthrough in the new energy market.
On the contrary, due to the inherent safety hazards and instability of these "oil to electricity" models, many consumers who have a fan of Mercedes-Benz have been shaken. At the beginning of this year, hundreds of Mercedes-Benz EQC owners made three consecutive rights defense statements, forcing Mercedes-Benz to recall more than 10,000 EQC vehicles, which is about equal to the total number of vehicles sold since the listing. The already poor market performance, coupled with this product defect storm. As a result, these three "oil to electricity" models sold only 2808 units in the first quarter of this year, and the EQC, which is at the center of public opinion, fell by more than 37% year-on-year.
Mercedes-Benz seems to have predicted that the "oil to electricity" vanguard army will be folded one after another, so last year finally abandoned the "oil to electricity" route, bringing the EVA electric drive platform (the platform shares part of the structure with the Mercedes-Benz MRA platform, the maximum can carry 377 kg of battery packs), and the first model of the platform is the flagship pure electric car EQS. Thanks to the empowerment of the pure electric platform, EQS's three-electric system has reached the mainstream level, and the performance and luxury have also reached the standards that the S-class should have, but the proportion of fat fish-like body and the price of millions have attracted a lot of controversy. Some friends even likened EQS to "exquisite carriages built at great expense".
Although the reputation is mixed, the arrival of EQS has undoubtedly enriched Mercedes-Benz's product matrix in the high-end luxury pure electric market and become an indispensable part of Mercedes-Benz's electrification transformation. The flagship sedan is available, but it lacks an SUV of the same class. As a result, the EVA pure electric platform is developing and creating the first SUV model, Mercedes-Benz's new EQS pure electric SUV.
Perhaps in order to highlight the inextricable connection with EQS, coupled with the need to maintain the prefix of EQ electric identity, for a while could not think of a suitable independent name, so Mercedes-Benz simply added the suffix of the SUV, simple and easy to understand, so that people know that this car is a derivative SUV model of EQS as soon as you hear the name.
In terms of product performance, you can also see the figure of EQS everywhere, and the contour of the shape can be understood as "pulling" EQS, but it shows a certain difference in the detail processing. The EQS's signature three-bar digital meteor shower was replaced by two small triangular designs. The sharpness of the body side is replaced by smooth and soft lines, and the frameless doors and hidden door handles of electric vehicles are equipped with a sense of technology in addition to luxury. The rear of the car is a through-type tail light cluster with a 3D spiral shaped light source, with black chrome embellishment, which highlights the sense of refinement.
In terms of body size, the EQS SUV is 5125/1959/1718mm, with a wheelbase of 3210mm, while the EQS sedan is 5216/1926/1512mm, and the wheelbase is also 3210mm. After all, they are all from the EVA electric drive platform, and they have the identity of derivative models, so the wheelbase is basically the same. However, the EQS SUV, which is larger overall in the three sides, obviously performs better in terms of loading capacity and passability, which may be one of the reasons why it dares to come with a seven-seat version.
EQS SUV in the interior layout and EQS is consistent, OLED the entire seamless curved screen whether in process technology, or intelligent configuration, can be regarded as reaching the ceiling of Mercedes-Benz new energy models. However, there is no physical button assistance, only a set of voice recognition just passed the passing line of the car to achieve operation, it is inevitable that some overconfidence, it is not as good as the Next Door Audi, with a restrained screen size with mechanical beauty of the physical buttons. It may be that Mercedes-Benz thinks that this design is somewhat conservative and cannot highlight the luxurious technology of the flagship electric model.
In terms of power, the EQS SUV is available with a rear-wheel drive single motor version and a two-wheel drive dual motor version, the former with a maximum output of 265 kW and a peak torque of 568 N·m, and the latter with a maximum output of 400 kW and a peak torque of 858 N·m. In terms of endurance, the WLTP can reach 660km under conditions. The suspension system is a combination of four-link front suspension + independent multi-link rear suspension and is equipped with airmatic air suspension with continuously adjustable damping ADS+. It is worth mentioning that in order to increase the driving pleasure, this car also has a new "off-road" driving mode, which can be selected whether to use with ESP.
As for the price, with reference to the pricing of EQS, the starting price of EQS SUVs may exceed 1.1 million yuan. Incidentally, the EQS SUV starts at around $100,000 in overseas markets, while its competitor Model X Plaid sells for $133,500. Obviously, it is unrealistic to pray for a slower scythe at home.
At present, in the field of luxury brand large pure electric SUV, EQS SUV really has few direct competitors, if from the price point of view, BMW iX and Tesla Model X can form a competitive relationship with it, but considering the luxury attributes of the Mercedes-Benz brand, it is estimated that in the short term, the million-level D-class pure electric market, EQS SUV or will be the only choice for many consumers.
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