Just a few days after we snapped the Mercedes-Benz EQS testing alone on the streets of Germany, our spies stumbled upon a convoy that included prototypes of the EQS as well as of the smaller EQE, which were accompanied by the Tesla Model 3 and S.
Given Tesla’s success and lead in the market, it shouldn’t come to as any surprise that Mercedes’ engineers are bench-marking their upcoming electric models against the Californian brand’s EVs. [Updated 7/29/2020]
These latest EQS prototypes are still wearing heavy camouflage, but the plastic cladding on the hood has been trimmed down and the stickers covering the upper and lower grilles have been cut providing as more clues for the final product. The headlights are more visible too, with their incorporated LED DRLs, and the door handles are different and appear to have a pop-out design.
The fake exhaust pipes are gone and the rear bumper now looks cleaner. There is also less cladding on the tailgate, so the tiny wing is more visible. Last, but definitely not least, the provisional taillights have been replaced with a new set that will bring it closer to some of the automaker’s modern vehicles.
See Also: Pre-Production 2021 Mercedes EQS Meets Up With Concept As Debut Slated For Later This Year
A challenger to the likes of the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S, as well as the upcoming Audi e-tron GT and BMW i7, the EQS will be built on the MEA platform and will be offered from launch with a dual-motor setup. The base model is understood to pack over 400 HP, and the range might be topped by a very potent version, which could partly be the work of AMG, with nearly 600 HP.
Read: We Drive The New Mercedes-Benz EQC 400
Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius recently confirmed the range of the electric flagship sedan, which will stand at over 435 miles (700 km) on a single charge, in the WLTP cycle. Mind you, this will be in the range-topping non-AMG variant of the car, but even the base model is believed to achieve over 310 miles (500 km).
A whole world of EQ models
The upcoming EQS is only one of the many fully-electric EQ models Mercedes has in the pipeline following the EQC that’s already on the market. These include the EQA (a small crossover), EQB (compact crossover) and the mid-size EQE sedan that we’ve already seen testing in prototype form, while the rumor mill has it that Benz is also planning to release an electric G-Wagen named the EQG in the next couple of years.
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