New Mercedes EQS: 926 km Range, 800V, Steer-by-Wire
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- Mercedes-Benz overhauled its flagship EQS sedan with a WLTP range of up to 926 km (575 miles), a 13% improvement over the outgoing model, with over a quarter of components newly developed or reworked.
- The new EQS adopts an 800V electrical architecture enabling up to 350 kW DC fast charging that adds roughly 320 km of WLTP range in 10 minutes, and the battery pack grew to 122 kWh usable capacity using silicon oxide-graphit composite anodes.
- Mercedes confirmed steer-by-wire for the EQS, making it the first German automaker to ship the technology in a production car — though the system arrives a few months after market launch, not at delivery.
- The EQS runs on the new MB.OS operating system debuting in the CLA, with an MBUX Virtual Assistant now incorporating AI from Microsoft and a new MBUX Surround Navigation feature that displays a real-time 3D sensor map on the driver display.
- Mercedes added bidirectional V2G and V2H charging capability, a heated seatbelt warming to 44°C, micro-LED DIGITAL LIGHT headlights, and a leather-free interior option — though V2G/V2H will arrive via OTA update post-launch.
- A new entry-level EQS 400 with 270 kW output and a 112 kWh battery starts at €79,330 net in Germany, positioning it more aggressively against the BMW i7, which starts at $107,250 in the US with a shorter 311-mile EPA range.
Why it matters: The 800V architecture and 350 kW charging close the gap with Porsche and Hyundai, while the new EQS 400 at ~€79,330 net undercuts the BMW i7's $107,250 US starting price. Steer-by-wire gives Mercedes a first-mover claim among German automakers in production cars — though the feature doesn't arrive until months after launch, alongside delayed V2G capability.
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