The luxury vehicle of tomorrow
With so much competition on the market, automakers are always on the edge coming up with new perks, trying to provide car enthusiasts with that all important “luxury on wheels”
What comes to your mind when you put the word "luxury" and "automobile" in a single sentence? Some of the names gracing your mind are the likes of Rolls-Royce, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, Bentley and so on.
With so much competition on the market, automakers are always on the edge coming up with new perks, trying to provide car enthusiasts with that all important "luxury on wheels".
Mercedes's EQS is one such car that has been making headlines since it's unveiling. The fully electric S-Class automobile is essentially Mercedes's step towards the near future.
The zero emission vehicles is positioned to take on other high-end EVs like the Tesla Model S and Jaguar's I-PACE, but looks to further differentiate itself via design and performance. As the "S" at the end of "EQS" indicates, this is an extension of Mercedes-Benz's Sports-Class in the EQ line of cars — a class dedicated to full-electric, emission-free automobiles.
As per the company, it is "a trailblazer for the entire Mercedes-Benz EQ family," which implies the fact that it does more for the company's electric range S-Class than for almost the entire whole car industry.
The vehicle is the company's first step big step towards its big vision for the next 20 years–making its car production CO2-neutral. So, while the EOS's core is a conventional mix of carbon, steel and aluminum, it's the interior where the big changes were brought about.
While the insides had the generic car concepts like implausibly shaped seats and screens everywhere, it's the use of ocean waste in the headlining and recycled PET bottles on the dashboard trim that stood out.
The exterior will also spark some likely debates, given that the car simply lights up like a Christmas tree. Up front, Mercedes has used holograms for headlights accompanied with 188 LEDs which give more detailed signals to other drivers then mere flashing or scrolling indicators.
Around the rear, Mercedes' lightning team went completely berserk, sprinkling 229 star-shaped lights similar to the tail-lights of the S-Class coupés.
It is easy to spot the changes between concept and production, with the car's 24in wheels looking vulnerable. But if you see the car through a magnifying glass, it is not at all unconventional–simply a reimaging of how a classically long Mercedes saloon looks with more flexible dimensions of an engine-less car.
As more and more companies start producing electric vehicles (EV) it is unlikely that the production of petrol and diesel S-Class cars will stop immediately. Fully EV versions will arrive with a bespoke design to head up the Mercedes EQ range. Just with fewer LEDs scattered across their boot lid.
The chances of this car coming to Asia (minus Japan) are pretty slim (truth be told, may be 10-20 years down the line). For now, enthusiasts have only been able to see the vehicle in pictures and videos, but by the first half of next year be ready for the ride to the future!
