Mercedes EQE to release mid-year in the 350 variant [Update]

Update: ‘Release Date’ section and FAQs updated.

Mercedes unveiled the EQE alongside the Edition 1 variant, the business-class sedan that, at first glance, is a shorter version of the EQS. According to the press release issued by Mercedes on September 5, 2021, the EQE is just that: a more compact sedan that offers all the essentials that are served up in the Mercedes EQS.

Design

The Mercedes EQE looks more streamlined than the EQS with its ‘Sensual Purity’ design language. It gets a shorter wheelbase, shorter overhangs, and more recessed flanks. The car is 4,946 mm in length, 1,961 mm in width, and 1,512 mm in height, while the wheelbase measures 3,120 mm, which is 90 mm shorter than the EQS. The boot capacity of the EQE sedan is 430 litres, which is significantly less than that of the E-Class sedan (540 litres). The German electric sedan doesn’t have a frunk either.

At the front, the EQE’s face is accentuated by the Black Panel radiator grille on the Edition 1 AMG Line. The panel is littered with the three-pointed star, whereas the standard Electric Art Line’s panel is a plain affair. The headlamps are a little more angular when compared to the EQS but still flow seamlessly into the panel. Optionally, Mercedes offers Digital Light, a light module in each headlamp that adds three super-bright LEDs. This light is refracted and directed using 1.3 million mirrors, allowing for more than 2.6 million pixels resolution.

The Electric Art line’s bumper is slightly different with body-coloured panels and a black splitter and trims for air vents. The bumper again is taken straight off the EQS with large side air vents on Edition 1. The clamshell bonnet again is the same as the EQS, and it’s been sealed shut.

Mercedes also supplies the EQE with its own set of 19- to 21-inch wheels that sit flush with the rest of the body marking one more difference from the EQS. Off to the side, the one-bow roofline is prominent, as are the flowing doors and flush door handles. At the rear, the EQE, again, gets similar-looking tail lamps and a tiny rear spoiler. However, unlike the EQS, the EQE gets a fixed rear windshield and a boot that opens up separately.

Interior

On the inside, the EQE has a few differences compared to the EQS. For example, the steering wheel is different, as is the stitching on the seats. Additionally, the EQE’s wheelbase is shorter than the EQS, meaning a more compact cabin. However, Mercedes says the cabin is still 80 mm longer than a standard E-Class saloon which means more legroom. There is also 27 mm more shoulder room with seats that sit 65 mm higher, which significantly enhances the seating position.

The Mercedes EQE can also be optioned with the MBUX Hyperscreen, the full dash-width display that debuted on the EQS. Mercedes offers three displays with its curved glass, including the instrument cluster and two infotainment systems. According to Mercedes, front passengers in Europe can use the passenger side 12.3-inch display even while moving. This is thanks to the camera-based blocking logic that dims the screen for certain content if the camera detects the driver looking into the screen. The adaptive software of the MBUX infotainment system also adapts to its users. For instance, the most important application used by the driver is positioned at the top level within the field of vision.

AC vents have been designed into turbines at either end of the dash to play with the stark contrast between the physical world and the digital dash. Thanks to the missing drive tunnel, the centre console floats freely before merging with the dash. The cool blue ambient lighting beneath the centre console and on the door panels ooze a relaxed feel to the occupants. The standard infotainment system is slightly different, however, again, like the entry-level EQS with a 12.3-inch driver’s display and a 13-inch portrait-style touchscreen.

Features

Being a luxury brand entails the development of modern features to pamper the occupants with unique tech with every new generation. The EQE is not short of such premium equipment. Multiple new vehicle functions could be activated via over-the-air (OTA) updates. This ranges from an additional sound experience with a “Roaring Pulse,” two distinct driving modes for young drivers and service personnel, mini-games, individual customisation for the Digital Light function. Various functions like “Digital Rain” and “Brand World” light animations could be activated by the “Hey Mercedes” voice assistant. In essence, one could easily customise EQE’s equipment according to the preference even after driving it home. 

Navigation with Electric Intelligence feature will ensure that the vehicle prepares a sound plan for the next journey by taking into account the fastest and the most convenient route, charging stops, reacting dynamically to traffic jams, an indication to the driver if there is sufficient battery to return to the starting point, etc. The charging stations added to the route manually are given preference, and the proposed charging stations are excluded from the plan. The approximate charging costs per charging stop are calculated too.

The ENERGIZING AIR CONTROL Plus on the EQE is responsible for air quality inside the cabin. Using processes and equipment like HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air), Activated Charcoal, Sensors, etc., the high filtration technique traps the fine particles, micro-particles, pollen sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and prevents these from entering the cabin. This optional feature of the interior air filter has received “OFI CERT” ZG 250-1 certification in 2021 from the Austrian Research and Testing Institute (OFI) with respect to viruses and bacteria. If the quality of air outside is low, the system recommends closing the windows and sunroof and switches to recirculation mode. 

The driver assistance feature ATTENTION ASSIST has also been integrated into the EQE that triggers micro-sleep warnings when it analyses the driver’s eye movement using a camera in the driver display. 

For the environment-friendly Mercedes EQE owners, it would bring satisfaction knowing that the energy fed into the grid at the charging stations comes from renewable sources by means of high-quality certificates of origin by Mercedes-Benz. With the Mercedes me Charge Plus & Charge Function, the EQE can be charged conveniently at Plug & Charge-enabled public charging stations by directly inserting the charging cable without the need for customer authentication.

Packages

A plethora of advanced features of the EQE will be available as part of optional packages. Its four main packages will be Advanced Package, Advanced Plus Package, Premium Package, and Premium Plus Package.

The Advanced Package includes the Mirror Package, which consists of power-folding ORVMs and auto-dimming IRVM, the Adaptive Highbeam Assist, the Individualisation Package with additional vehicle functions unlockable with an OTA update, and the Smartphone Integration Package. 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 12.8-inch central display, Keyless-Go Convenience Package (passive keyless entry), flush door handles, and wireless smartphone charging are also part of this package.

The Advanced Plus Package adds the Memory Package, enabling electric adjustment of the ORVMs, the front seats, and the steering column, as well as safety features like Blind Spot Assist and Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC.

The Premium Package adds many more premium features, including but not limited to Digital Light headlights, Parking Package with a 360-degree camera, MBUX AR for navigation, and Active Ambient Lighting. The Premium Plus Package upgrades the Digital Light headlights to include projection function and the Keyless-Go package to include automatic comfort doors at the front. It adds THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control, Burmester surround sound system with Sound Experiences and MBUX Entertainment, HUD, and the ENERGIZING Package including AIR-BALANCE Package also to the list of features.

Specifications

The EQE will be available in two models at launch – the EQE 350 and a second model. The 350 will sport a 215 kW permanently excited synchronous motor capable of 530 Nm of torque. According to a report from JESMB, a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint in the EQE 350 takes 5.9 seconds. The top speed of this variant is 210 km/h or 130 mph, as per the report.

A 90 kWh lithium-ion battery pack powers the motor, giving the car a total range of 545-660 km on a single charge, according to WLTP. While the EQS is compatible with 200 kW fast chargers, the Mercedes EQE can only be charged using 170 kW.

This isn’t all that bad with the EQE’s 10-80 per cent charge time rated at 32 minutes. In 15 minutes, Mercedes also says the EQE can gain up to 250 km of range on a fast charger. Additionally, Mercedes also offers the EQE with rear-axle steering as an option. These are further divided into two versions, one with a steering angle of 4.5 degrees and another 10-degree steering angle.

Aspect	Mercedes EQE 350 Specification
Drivetrain Layout	RWD
No. of Motors	One
Motor Power	215 kW (292 PS/288 bhp)
Motor Torque	530 Nm
Battery Pack Capacity	90 kWh
On-board charger	11 kW (standard)/22 kW (optional)
DC charging capacity	170 kW
Range (WLTP)	545-660 km (339-410 miles)
0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration time	5.9 seconds*
Top Speed	210 km/h (130 mph)*

The Mercedes EQE’s 90 kWh battery pack consists of ten cell modules. These modules contain lithium-ion battery cells, the chemistry of which includes nickel, cobalt, and manganese in a ratio of 8:1:1. The cobalt content in these cells, which Farasis Energy manufactures in China, is less than ten per cent.

Review

Although the press hasn’t driven the EQE yet, some motoring journalists from Europe were invited to ride along with development engineers on roads around Stuttgart in Germany in pre-production EQE sedans. According to Autocar’s first impressions from the co-driver’s seat, the EQE does not match the great plushness of the flagship EQS. The seats are firmer and there’s less attention paid to the smaller details on the door trims. Although, there’s a generous amount of space inside as the cabin is 84 mm longer than the ICE-powered E-Class.

Video Source: YouTube/Autogefühl

In terms of drive quality, the electric motors of the EQE match the smoothness of the EQS. There’s exceptional noise insulation, the cabin is very quiet. Even while driving hard, the whine of the electric motors barely creeps into the cabin. Despite running on 20-inch winter tyres, the pre-production models contained outside noise exceptionally well, observes Autocar. Thanks to an aerodynamic design, there was negligible wind buffeting. Autocar adds the refinement should also be credited to the EQE’s rigid body structure which has a high steel percentage and greater torsional rigidity than the petrol-powered E-Class.

In Comfort mode, there’s 80% of the total torque available on tap. In Slippery mode, only 50% torque is released to avoid excessive wheelspin. In Sport and Sport+ modes, 90% and 100% of the torque is delivered, respectively.

Upcoming Variants

In addition to the two Mercedes AMG-EQE variants, there will be at least one more new variant in the EQE range after EQE 350. According to a previous report from JESMB, a second variant positioned below the EQE 350 will be available outside Europe, possibly in China. We should get confirmation on the variant walk mid-year. Later this year, look out for the debut of the Mercedes EQE SUV as well.

Production

The Mercedes EQE will be produced at two locations. The global model will be manufactured in Germany at the Bremen Mercedes-Benz plant, while the Chinese market EQE will be manufactured at the German-Chinese joint venture BBAC in Beijing, China.

Release Date

As per a report from JESMB, order books for the Mercedes EQE 350+ will be open at the beginning of March 2022. Earlier, the order release was slated for the end of February. But now, with the recent introduction of the Mercedes-AMG EQE 43, the brand wants the non-AMG and AMG variants to be available simultaneously. Hence, March 2022 is the new date for order release, with deliveries planned from April 2022, the German report explains.

According to Autocar, only the rear-wheel-drive EQE 350 has been confirmed for the UK presently, where deliveries are planned to start by the second half of the year. Prices are expected to be in the region of GBP 65,000 before taxes.

Mercedes EQE FAQs

Featured image: Mercedes-Benz Group