Mercedes remains adamant to lay rest their ICE legacy and the chosen pioneers of the firm’s electric future bear on their bodies the EQ badge. Among this electrified fleet rests the luxurious business saloon, the 2023 EQE, and they’re now available in South Africa. Here is an indicative asking price for the silent sedan.
“This business saloon cements our reputation as a manufacturer of class-leading, technologically advanced luxury vehicles in the EV space.“ – Mark Raine, Co-CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director of Passenger Cars
The EQE is slightly smaller and features a shorter wheelbase than its stablemate, the EQS, but maintains a bold and athletic appearance as a result of its pronounced wheel arches, stout yet aerodynamic physique accompanied by soft body lines and a shorter overhang. As for suspension, the EQE is outfitted with a four-link suspension front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension setup akin to the suspension setup found in the current generation of the S-Class. Optionally, Mercedes’ AIRMATIC air suspension and an adaptive damping system an extra. Additionally, customers can opt for rear-axle steering that seeks to greatly reduce the EQE’s turning radius.
The EQE is offered in two flavours. The first is the 215 kW EQE 350+ which is accompanied by an estimated R1,8 million price tag. Positioned as the entry-level option of the 2023 EQE lineup, the EQE 350+ features Mercedes’ permanently excited synchronous motor – PSM– architecture on its rear axle. As for the EQE’s battery architecture, the Lithium-Ion battery found in these futuristic “business saloons” is composed of ten individual modules affording the EQE with a usable battery capacity of 90,56 kWh, which is roughly 5 kWh more than that of the Audi e-tron’s usable battery capacity. As a less athletic, therefore less energy-intensive model of the EQE lineup, the 350+ has a claimed consumption figure of up to 16,6kWh/100km and a driving range of up to 645 km.
The range-topper is dubbed the Mercedes EQE 43 4Matic endowed with 350 kW and 858 N.m but does this necessitate the roughly R2,2 million asking price? The brawnier AMG 43 4Matic is only capable of a range of up to 535 km despite having the same battery and the usable battery capacity as its lower-lying sibling. Aside from performance enhancements, the 43 4Matic variants are made more appealing by the added cosmetic features ranging from a prominent ducktail spoiler and lower diffuser to its faux slotted front grille.
A noticeable difference between the 350+ and 43 4Matic can be found in the interior. While both are equipped with the latest version of the MBUX system, the 43 4MAtic features a large, integrated widescreen display, while the 350+ bears the standard centre console touchscreen.
Although we have some idea of what these models will cost, for now, Mercedes have only released estimates and promises to confirm actual pricing later this year.