MUNICH: Mercedes-Benz is picking up speed in its transformation to electric drive. Only a few months after launching the EQS, the manufacturer is unveiling its second car designed from the ground up as an electric.
The EQE is set to go on sale in mid-2022 as an emissions-free alternative to the E-Class, following its premiere at the IAA car show in Munich (Sept 7 to 12).
The new four-door uses the same platform and thus the same technology as the EQS, but is somewhat more modest in every discipline.
The length shrinks by 27 cm to 4.95 m, while the wheelbase is 9 cm shorter. The battery has a usable capacity of only 90 kWh, Mercedes says. However, this is still sufficient for a range of up to 660km (WLTP).
Drivers can charge with up to 170 kW, meaning in optimal conditions you'll sap enough power for 250km in 15 minutes. According to Mercedes, the car will launch with an EQE 350, where the rear electric motor produces 292hp. Other variants are to follow later, also with all-wheel drive.
In addition to sharing EQS tech, the EQE is also adopting the design language of electric S-Class, and has a similarly flowing design. However, instead of a tailgate anchored in the roof, there is only a conventional boot lid. Underneath, there is space for up to 430 litres of luggage.
The Mercedes does not offer a so-called "frunk" in the front, but uses the space for an optional Hepa filter to clean the air in the cabin more thoroughly than the competition - a welcome feature in the middle of a pandemic.
Inside, the relationship between EQS and EQE is also obvious with the completely digitalised cockpit and the option of a so-called hyper-screen, which covers almost the entire dashboard.
Mercedes has not yet reveal prices, but the EQE is likely to be significantly higher than the pricetag of €50,000 (RM247,000) it's asking for a conventional E-Class, albeit also less than the EQS at almost €110,000 (RM542,000).
