Mercedes EQE electrifies the scene on BMW's home ground

Singapore

IN a move to keep electric car-minded buyers within its folds, Mercedes-Benz has pulled the covers off the EQE, a battery-powered counterpart to its E-Class, a cornerstone model for the brand.

It revealed the new luxury sedan on Sunday, ahead of IAA Mobility, the first major European motor show since the pandemic, currently taking place in BMW's home town of Munich.

The second four-door model from the all-electric Mercedes-EQ label is a scaled down version of the EQS, a large limousine that it touts as its flagship for the post-combustion era.

Mercedes is expected to launch both electric cars in Singapore in 2022.

The EQE will eventually come with different battery sizes and motor configurations to meet various budgets, but Mercedes showed an EQE 350 version with 288 horsepower and a 90kWh battery that can power it past 500km on a single charge.

The company says a high performance 670hp version is on the way, for drivers who expect their electric vehicles (EVs) to be swift.

Audi has shown a competing car called the A6 e-tron, while BMW has announced its intention to launch an electric version of its popular 5 Series.

To fend off these rivals, the EQE makes use of sleek styling, a roomy cabin with large displays and smart features, such as a driver's door that opens automatically and closes when the brake pedal is pushed.

The EQE is a larger car than the combustion E-Class, being both longer and wider, and because the batteries sit under the floor, the electric car is also taller. Its wheelbase is longer than that of the current S-Class, the biggest combustion sedan that Mercedes builds.

But if size is what counts, the EQE's trump card could be the "Hyperscreen", a glass surface that stretches across the entire dashboard to link a number of touchscreens and displays.

The car's infotainment system will offer games, while the car can be driven in different modes such as "Valet" or a less-powerful "Beginner" setting. Like in other EVs, artificial tones will give the EQE its voice, with an optional "Roaring Pulse" tone designed for sporty driving. Buyers will be able to download such features as over-the-air upgrades through the car's built-in 4G connection.

While electric car sales continue to grow faster than that of combustion cars, the EQE is the result of Mercedes' intention to retain customers eager to switch now to battery power. The company says that by 2022 it will offer pure-electric vehicles in every segment in which it currently has a product.

The electric push is gaining force in Singapore, as well. Next week, Mercedes will launch the EQA 250 here, a compact crossover that will be its entry-level EV. It offers more than 400km of range on a single charge despite being powered by a relatively modest battery, a feat Mercedes says was made possible by its efficiency, and will be sold in four versions, each with different styling features and cabin trim.

A larger spinoff with seven seats called the EQB is also set for launch in Singapore next year, which will take the number of electric Mercedes-EQ models on sale here to five, more than from Audi or BMW.

While the EQE attempts to win over gawkers in Munich, for Mercedes the EV battleground stretches far beyond BMW's home town.