Mercedes-Benz EQE electric sedan, or EQS to scale, debuts

Following the flagship electric car Mercedes-Benz EQS (code V297), the junior model EQE (code V295) is presented. As the index suggests, this is the electric equivalent of the traditional E-class. That’s just if the usual models of the S-class and E-class can be easily distinguished from each other, then with the "trains" this task becomes difficult. EQE is really a scale copy of the EQS model!

The same streamlined silhouette, the same layout with the cabin shifted forward, the same side glazing with additional windows at the back, frameless doors of a similar shape … But what is there – the same design! You need to look closely at the little things. For example, EQE has a different, more aggressive shape of headlights and built-in running lights, and a luminous diode strip has disappeared from the central plug. In addition to the basic version, the AMG package with other bumpers is already ready.

But if the EQS has a five-door liftback body, then the EQE is a sedan (or fastback) with a separate trunk lid. The wheelbase has been reduced by 90 mm: between the axles here is 3120 mm, while the regular E-class has 2939 mm. The overall length is close to the “yeshka" (4946 mm), but the electric car surpasses it in width (1961 mm) and height (1512 mm). There are wheels with a diameter of 19 to 21 inches to choose from. Trunk volume – 430 liters.

The interior of the EQE model is expectedly more spacious than that of the E-class: it is 27 mm wider at the shoulders, the overall length has grown by 80 mm, plus the seats are installed 65 mm higher from the road, because the traction battery is located under the floor. If we consider the equipment, then the EQE is inferior to the EQS model only in terms of rear passenger comfort: the “younger” does not have an electric drive and seat ventilation. The rest is almost parity.

For a surcharge for the EQE model, the Hyperscreen front panel is also offered in the same way, which is a solid glass surface across the entire width of the cabin (141 cm), combines three displays and ventilation deflectors, but does not have physical buttons and switches. 12 actuators are installed under the "hyperscreen" glass to provide feedback (clicks or vibration after pressing), and its intensity depends on the force of pressing the screen. Eight processors and 24 GB of RAM are responsible for the entire system.

A 12.3-inch instrument screen is located in front of the driver, a 17.7-inch touchscreen is in the center, and another 12.3-inch touch screen is located in front of the passenger and contains the corresponding functionality. Moreover, on the right screen, you can even watch movies in motion, but there is “fool protection”: if the cabin camera recognizes that the driver is “looking sideways” at the passenger screen, then the electronics will automatically dim it. The basic interior is with two separate screens.

There is also a projection screen in front of the driver. And the EQS liftback shared electric front doors and even optional Digital Light headlights that can “draw” tips for the driver in the form of arrows and symbols on the road. Three powerful diodes and a matrix of 1.3 million micromirrors are installed in each headlight, controlling which the electronics create an “image”: a total of 2.6 million pixels.

The two EQ models share the same MEA (Modular Electric Architecture) modular platform, but if the EQS comes standard with air suspension and a fully steerable chassis, then these are options for the EQE model. And "in the base" – springs and a conventional rear axle. In the case of ordering a rear swivel mechanism, the wheels can turn 4.5 or 10 degrees. In the second case, the turning circle will decrease from 12.5 to 10.7 m.

So far, only one version of the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 has debuted, which has rear-wheel drive and one electric motor with a return of 292 hp. and 530 Nm. Traction battery of own production – with a capacity of 90 kWh versus 108 kWh for the EQS model. A full charge should last at least 545 km on the WLTP cycle. The AC charger has a power of 22 kW, and DC up to 170 kW. But the plans include twin-engine modifications with all-wheel drive, as well as an AMG version with a capacity of about 680 “horses”.

The EQE will be produced at the Bremen plant, which produces the Mercedes C-class, GLC and EQC, while the local JV in Beijing will produce cars for China. However, the start of sales will have to wait until mid-2022.