Tesla, especially the Model S, has been dominating the flagship full-size electric sedan space ever since it arrived. But now that many established automakers are coming into the ring, questions are being raised if Tesla can remain dominant. Since 2012, the Model S has been upsetting the apple cart. But the established Germans cry, “NO MORE”! The electric flagship sedan market is getting aggressive. Porsche with the Taycan, Audi with the e-Tron GT, and more importantly Mercedes is now in the mix with the new EQS. The new Mercedes-Benz EQS comes from an automaker that invented the automobile. We find out how the Tesla Model S, the re-inventor of the automobile, stacks up against it today.
The Next Best Car In The World
The Mercedes EQS is essentially the battery-electric version of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The S-Class has always been revered as one of the greatest luxury automobiles ever. Every generation of the S-Class has been a pioneer of automotive technology and bringing new tech and features to the market.
For decades, it has been the norm that if you wish to know what your economy city car will feature in the next 10 years, you look nowhere else but what the S-Class has to offer today. This is because the technology eventually trickles down from the expensive flagship to the smaller cars in the food chain. As the EQS is now the electric S-Class, Mercedes-Benz plans to do the same to keep that tradition alive.
What Makes The Mercedes EQS Cool
The Model S may have a big screen in the center. But it is no match for the “Hyperscreen” the EQS packs. In the EQS, the whole front of the dashboard is a glass panel with three digital screens laid out underneath. A 12.3-inch unit is positioned right in front of the driver providing all the necessary information they need. Another touchscreen of identical size is placed in front of the passenger. But the party piece is the massive 17.7-inch main touchscreen positioned in the center that controls everything in the vehicle. Needless to say, it features the brand's latest MBUX electronic architecture. All three screens have been integrated in such a way that it looks seamless in design. These are in exclusion to the rear entertainment screen options the EQS would be available with.
The all-wheel steering is another neat feature the EQS possesses. The rear wheels in the EQS are capable of 10-degrees of steering angle. Up to 37 mph, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the front wheels. This helps in reducing the turning radius significantly to help maneuver in tight spaces. However, at higher speeds, the rear wheels follow in the same direction to help with high-speed stability while also offering a more agile driving experience. Thanks to the rear-wheel steering, the EQS feels like a much smaller vehicle to drive despite its 126.4-inch long wheelbase and 207-inch length.
Even the air-conditioning unit in the EQS is far more advanced than any vehicle before. The system with its charcoal lining can filter out fine particles like pollen, dust, and a lot more substances to ensure the occupants are breathing the healthiest air possible.
Tesla, The EV Pioneer
While Mercedes has pioneered many automotive tech in the past, it was Tesla who re-invented the automobile for the future. In the past, automakers looked to design their existing vehicles to electric but it never worked. After the first-generation Roadster, based on the Lotus Elise, Tesla concluded that an electric vehicle must be built to be an EV from the ground up. Thus, the “Skateboard” Architecture was born. This new platform meant that EVs could place electric motors right on the axles and have the batteries positioned between the wheels under the floor. It resulted in better weight distribution, and a low center of gravity, but more importantly, it was a scalable design. With a strong foundation, you can build anything on top of the skateboard. The sky is the limit. Tesla’s second important innovation was the Supercharger charging infrastructure which is unparalleled in the current world.
Is The EQS Better Than The Model S?
With all things said and done, there is no doubt that Tesla upset the apple cart. It showed the automotive world that a future with EVs was possible if you worked hard enough to make it happen. While Tesla laid the foundations, it now has its work cut out to compete against the manufacturing and development prowess of the German precision machines. The established automakers, especially Mercedes-Benz have a vast knowledge on how to consistently and painstakingly manufacture great products that meet customer expectations. New technologies are never rolled out prematurely. But more importantly, no vehicle is released from the assembly line before a microscopic German eye inspects it
While Tesla started a revolution that everyone is now following, there is a sense that in the future, the establishment will eventually overpower it once they are in the position to do so. Tesla prides itself on the tech and the strides it has made in development. After all, they did re-invent the automobile as we know of. But if technology is the differentiating factor between the Model S and the EQS, the Mercedes has a few more advances that just seem too great to pass up.