Mercedes is working on a new large luxury electric
sedan that’ll be launched in 2020, according to the company’s large-cars
project boss Michael Kelz. Unlike Jaguar’s and Audi’s upcoming electric luxury
models, the new luxury vehicle will be a dedicated model of the EQ range and
not a variant of the S-Class.
The new EQ S will sit alongside models that have
already been previewed in concept form, including the EQ A hatchback and the EQ
C SUV. Mercedes will also add a second electric sedan in the range, about the
same size with the C-Class.
Mercedes has developed a modular architecture
specific to electric vehicles called MEA. The company has already trademarked a
number of names last year under its EV-only EQ brand, including EQ S. Kelz confirmed
that the EQ S “will be a luxury, electric car, a top-of-the-line car.”
The more efficient packaging of the electric
powertrains and their batteries mean that the upcoming EQ models will be
characterized by short overhangs front and rear and huge wheelbases, according
to Kelz.
Mercedes could roll out the EQ S as early as 2020,
with Kelz having already seen a concept of the zero-emissions luxury sedan. The
latest we’ll see the EQ S hitting the streets is 2022, which is when Mercedes
intends to have 20 electrified models in its range.
