Mercedes-Benz is reintroducing its flagship EQS electric sedan to the United States market, promising significant upgrades to battery range and charging speeds. The 2027 model is scheduled to arrive at US dealerships during the second half of 2026.
Following a temporary pause of its EQ lineup in the US, the German automaker is targeting a wary luxury EV market with a massive 925km (575-mile) WLTP range estimate. This efficiency stems from a new 122kWh battery utilizing a silicon oxide and graphite anode chemistry.
Mercedes is also reducing cobalt use in its battery production to address human rights concerns related to the mineral. The new architecture moves to an 800-volt system, enabling 350 kW DC fast charging.
This hardware upgrade allows the EQS to add 320 km of range in just 10 minutes. When using 400-volt stations, an intelligent control system divides the battery into two parts to maintain charging speeds of up to 175kW per half.
Innovative steering and software
The upcoming sedan introduces steer-by-wire technology, replacing the physical connection between the steering wheel and the rack with an electronic system. Mercedes claims the system has undergone thorough safety testing to mitigate potential latency issues.
While a new steering yoke is available for enthusiasts, the automaker will continue to offer a traditional round steering wheel. The vehicle's aerodynamic 'one-bow' design maintains a drag coefficient of 0.20, which Mercedes says is optimized through refined exterior mirrors.
On the software side, the car features the updated MB.OS operating system. This system uses AI to learn user habits and surfaces frequent features as individual widgets on the standard 55-inch Hyperscreen via a 'Zero Layer' interface.
Mercedes will offer several configurations, including the rear-wheel drive EQS 450+ for maximum efficiency. All-wheel drive options, the EQS 500 4MATIC and EQS 580 4MATIC, include an Integrated Disconnect Unit to decouple the front motor when extra traction is unnecessary.
Standard driver assistance includes MB.Drive Assist, which utilizes 10 cameras and 27 sensors for automated parking and lane changing. Pricing for the new lineup has not yet been disclosed.
