We already understood this after the launch of EQA, EQC and EQS, but now it’s even clearer: Mercedes is serious about electric mobility. In fact, the new one makes its début at the IAA in Munich Mercedes EQE, the electric version of the legendary E-Class. With an aesthetic very similar to its big sister EQS, both outside and inside, and a range that reaches 660 km, Mercedes EQE aims to be the reference among the electric sedans of Segment E. Come? Let’s find out together.
From the outside there is the smell of… mini-EQS deja-vu. But there is a reason beyond the family feeling: aerodynamics
Let’s start immediately from the most controversial part of the car, which after less than a day of life has already made headlines: aesthetics. From the outside, in fact, the lines of Mercedes EQE resume almost perfectly, if not for some details, those of Mercedes EQS. Obviously one of the reasons why the Mercedes-Benz Style Center has decided on such a marked resemblance is to create a family feeling between the electric EQ models, but that’s not the main reason for such a strong similarity.
Mercedes EQE, in fact, has these forms for one spasmodic pursuit of aerodynamic perfection common with EQS. For this reason the low and pointed front, the high and very wide passenger compartment and the high and truncated tail are present on the EQE as on the EQS. The search for maximum aerodynamic efficiency has in fact imposed on the designers some “forced lines“, Which then make EQE even more similar to EQS than might have been expected. Recognizing them, therefore, is hard business: in addition to badging and some details, the biggest difference is in terms of size. In fact, Mercedes EQE responds with one to 5.22 meters of EQS length of “suns” 4.95 m, completely comparable to that of the current thermal E-Class.
On an aesthetic level, however, we have a car that looks a lot like its older sister, and therefore shares one with her. undoubtedly original and personal style, which after a period of “apprenticeship” appears elegant and dynamic. The front is very low and dominated by a huge front grille faired in glossy black, which incorporates the headlights inside it. This detail, combined with the rear lights united in a single vertical light unit, is a real trademark of the Mercedes EQ, born in 2020 with the EQC and now present on all electric cars in Stuttgart, and even on the new smart Concept # 1. The front can then be equipped on request as on the largest EQS of one light bar which unites the two optical groups.
Sideways, the step from over 3.12 m, really immense (and only 9cm shorter than EQS), and therather high and very large cockpit, a type of bubble where passengers can be comfortable and pampered. The line of the windows, very thin, is similar to that of EQS, while al rear we find the biggest aesthetic difference. Surprisingly indeed the tail of Mercedes EQE is longer and more pronounced than EQS, which instead focuses on an even more egg shape, as aerodynamic as possible.
At the rear remains the same impression of a wide, dynamic and neat car. Sure, Mercedes could be blamed for copying the EQS design on a slightly scaled-down scale. The result, however, remains excellent: an elegant, functional look that breaks with everything that has been the past of Mercedes-Benz. And what do you think of it? Do you like this Mercedes EQE?
Inside the Mercedes EQE has vibes from EQS again: Hyperscreen and lots of space
Saltiamo all’indoor of Mercedes EQE, where we find again a passenger compartment that closely resembles that of EQS. Minimal, almost devoid of physical buttons, bright and very spacious. At the level of centimeters inside, in fact, thanks to the very long wheelbase and the electric platform that makes the mechanical parts super compact the space is from size XXL. There are in fact 80 mm more length inside, with almost 17 mm more in width than the thermal E-Class.
Obviously, however, the scene takes theHyperscreen, the huge screen that occupies the entire dashboard of EQE, which arrives on another model after its debut on the EQS. The glass panel reaches a total width of well 141 cm: the central screen measures 12.3 inches, the central one reaches 17.7 in while that for the passenger reaches 12.3 inches again. The curved glass finish that unites all the screens in the passenger compartment makes all ultra-high definition touchscreens look like one. The operating system is thelatest version of MBUX seen on EQS, therefore equipped with more power, more functionality and an even simpler and more immediate interface.
The rest of the interior remains carefully crafted and very spacious. The specimens in the photos sport a slightly different steering wheel to that of the EQS, and are made almost entirely with clear materials. This increases the feeling of brightness and space, and makes the interior even more refined. Finally, the trunk is generous in size, with a minimum of 430 liters of capacity.
The mechanics of Mercedes EQE: shortened EVA platform, up to 90 kWh and 292 hp
Also in terms of mechanics, the new Mercedes EQE shares a lot with its older sister EQS. The platform on which it is based is not that of the thermal E-Class, but the new one modular EVA platform, born precisely for large electric cars, appropriately shortened and adapted to the needs of EQE. This platform, designed from the outset for the electrical application, allows you to have the battery placed very low, maximizing driving pleasure and habitability, as well as greater use of space.
The mechanical base therefore allows for very large batteries and motors on both axles, but at the beginning there will be only two versions with exclusively rear-wheel drive. At launch, customers will be able to choose between two EQEs, a still unreleased version and the 350. The EQE 350 has a single rear engine with 292 HP and 530 Nm of couple, connected to a 90 kWh battery. This battery has one very high energy density thanks to its composition NMC (Nickel, Manganese, Cobalt) in 8: 1: 1 ratio. This allows for a cobalt percentage of around 10%, maximizing Mercedes’ ability to recycle batteries. In the future they will come then 4Matic all-wheel drive versions with engine also at the front, and several power and battery cuts.
In addition, the fast charging (with peak power not yet declared) will allow you to go from 10 to 80% in just 32 minutes. Then there is one last truly amazing innovation, which we have already seen on the S-Class and EQS. EQE is in fact equipped with four-wheel steering chassis, but it also offers the possibility of choose between two different rear-wheel steering systems. After using this technology on several Mercedes in recent years, in fact, the House of the Star now offers two different systems. The first, the classic one offered as standard, allows the rear wheels to steer at a maximum angle of 4.5 degrees. As an option, however, you can choose to increase the turning radius to a full 10 degrees. An unprecedented and somewhat revolutionary solution, capable of make a nearly 5-meter sedan as agile and manageable as an A-Class.
Mercedes EQE technology and safety: up to 660 km on one charge
To then maximize the customization of the driving of this new EQE, Mercedes has introduced some paddles on the steering wheel, which allow the driver to regulate the regeneration of the batteries being released. From the D + position, which allows one-pedal driving with a strong recovery of energy when the accelerator is released until the car is stopped, to the Sailing mode to sail and exploit the kinetic energy, EQE uses all its cards to maximize the autonomy.
An autonomy that on paper is excellent: thanks to the large 90 kWh battery, it is in fact possible to travel up to 660 km in mixed WLTP cycle. An excellent result, also counting that with 292 HP the car will not be seated, even if we do not yet have data on acceleration and speed performance. Where then Mercedes wanted to innovate is in safety. In fact, there is no shortage of the classic safety systems of the Star, such as Distronic Plus (Adaptive Cruise Control), lane centering systems, automatic braking, blind spot and so on. But in addition to the usual endowment for the autonomous driving of Level 2+, Mercedes EQE debuts a anti-distraction system.
It’s about a enhanced version of Attention Assist, the fatigue detection system introduced by Mercedes on the market in the early 1910s. Thanks to a small camera that constantly frames the driver, the system is able to trace the movement of the eyes. So, EQE will know when the driver is distracted by multimedia content, tired or just with your head in the clouds. But there’s more: on EQE it is in fact possible to play music, videos and even films and TV series through the MBUX system. If the system detects that the driver is going distracting watching that content, it will come automatically faded and made to disappear. A scenographic but possibly revolutionary solution.
When will the Mercedes EQE arrive on the market? By mid-2022 it will be in all dealerships worldwide
We have told you everything you need to know about Mercedes EQE. Behind an aesthetic very similar to the big sister EQS, the new EQE offers the same contents of absolute level on a scale of size, and price, lower. The capacious battery and the news in terms of security are certainly very interesting, and pose it as direct rival of the famous Tesla Model S, and of the compatriots Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT.
But when can we get our hands on it? The debut is expected in early 2022, and by mid-2022 EQE will be in all Mercedes-Benz dealerships around the globe. There production, instead, will start within the year, and will be done in two factories. For the main world markets, in fact, EQE will be born from the factory of Bremen, in northern Germany. The specimens for China, on the other hand, will be built at the plant in Beijing in joint-venture with the Chinese company BBAC.
The price? It is not yet known, but we expect a starting base of around 80/90 thousand euros, in line with the competitors. This first contact with Mercedes EQE introduced us to a car complete, technological and elegant, although perhaps not the most original …