Mercedes is planning to launch an assortment of
electric vehicles and it appears one of them will be the EQE. Designed to slot beneath the
range-topping EQS, the EQE will reportedly be launched in 2022 and be priced
competitively with the Tesla Model S. That means buys can expect to spend
approximately US$ 75,000.
Little is known about the model, but Autocar reports
the EQE will ride on the aluminum-intensive MEA platform. The car is rumored be
shorter than the E-Class but
offer interior space similar to the S-Class. That sounds like a bit of a
stretch, but the MEA architecture has reportedly been designed to provide a
flat interior floor and “class-leading interior space.”
As the name suggests, the car will draw heavily from
the E-Class but feature unique styling. Nothing is official, but the
publication suggests the model will be more aerodynamic than its counterpart
and adopt a front fascia similar to the one used on the EQC.
Performance specifications are still hazy, but the
model will reportedly have two electric motors that produce more than 402 hp and 765 Nm of torque. The company is also said to
be considering an entry-level rear-wheel drive variant which would eschew one
of the electric motors.
In terms of range, the EQE could travel
approximately 600 km on a single charge. That’s slightly further
than the Tesla Model S Long Range, but the company will reportedly introduce an
updated Model S this September with a range of 644 km.
The EQE is rumored to have an air suspension, four
wheel steering and a Level 3 semi-autonomous driving system. There could also
be a handful of features borrowed from the Experimental Safety Vehicle that was
introduced last month. There’s no word on specifics, but the concept had an
improved cross-traffic safety system and an active brake assist system which
could detect pedestrians around corners.
