Road test: the Mercedes EQS 580 4Matic rewrites the rules for battery-powered cars


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Whenever Mercedes-Benz debuts an all-new S-Class, it’s a given that it will reset the benchmark for luxury limos. So it should come as no surprise that the brand-new EQS – a fully electrified take on the S-Class theme – rewrites the key parameters for battery-powered vehicles.

No more range anxiety

You can forget about range anxiety in the EQS, as it can cover up to 780 kilometres on a full charge. The other key stat to note is that it only takes a 15-minute zap at a fast-charging station to add 300km of range. These are groundbreaking numbers.

The EQS can cover up to 780 kilometres on a full charge
The EQS can cover up to 780 kilometres on a full charge

Unlike previous EQ models, the EQS is built around an all-new EV-specific architecture that harnesses all the packaging benefits of an electric powertrain. There’s obviously no bulky combustion engine up front, nor is there a nine-speed transmission or fuel tank. What you have instead is a 108kW-hour battery pack (it sits under the cabin), and either one or two electric motors.

As a result, the EQS has completely different proportions to the latest S-Class, despite its overall dimensions being similar. The EQS has a stubby bonnet and cab-forward stance (ie the driver is positioned closer to the front of the car), while the wheelbase is a lengthy 3.2 metres, resulting in ample cabin space.

Merc’s design team hasn’t indulged in any half-measures in creating the swoopy bodyshell of the EQS, which has a drag coefficient of 0.20 – a new world record for a production car. Its aero efficiency, aided by door handles that retract to sit flush with the door panels. is part of the reason why the EQS offers such a monumental touring range.

The EQS is due on sale in the UAE towards the end of this year, but The National got an early drive at the model’s international launch in Switzerland. The EQS 450+ is propelled by a single electric motor powering the rear axle, and its outputs of 333 horsepower and 568Nm yield a 0-100 kilometres per hour split of 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 210kph. The range-topping EQS 580 4Matic is equipped with dual motors – one each for the front and rear axle – and hence the 4Matic (Merc-speak for AWD) suffix. The two motors eke out 523hp and 855Nm, enabling the EQS 580 to sprint to 100kph in 4.3sec.

A look inside

One of the car's three state-of-the-art OLED screens
One of the car's three state-of-the-art OLED screens

If you’ve sat in the latest S-Class, you’ll recognise some familiar elements in the EQS’s superbly crafted cabin, but unique to this model is the whizz-bang new Hyperscreen – an expansive curved glass screen that stretches right across the dashboard and houses three state-of-the-art OLED screens behind its shiny black surface.

Even if you’ve driven combustion-powered cars all your life (which is the case for most of us), piloting the EQS doesn’t require any major adaptations, apart from embracing the routine of recharging rather than refuelling. Just push the start button on the centre console, pull the steering column-mounted stalk into “D” and you’re off.

Silent surges

The EQS has completely different proportions to the latest S-Class, despite its overall dimensions being similar
The EQS has completely different proportions to the latest S-Class, despite its overall dimensions being similar

As expected, the EQS glides away from standstill in complete silence, to the extent that even a Rolls-Royce Phantom pales in comparison. Although relatively large at 5.2 metres-plus in length and almost 2 metres in width, the EQS’s four-wheel-steer makes it an extremely nimble limo. I’m in the EQS 580 4Matic, and a couple of squirts of the throttle deliver an eye-opening rush of acceleration, providing a reminder that there’s a mountain of torque just an ankle twitch away. Yes, the EQS 580 won’t threaten a range-topping Tesla in a drag race, but there’s more than enough surge for effortless cruising and overtaking.

An interesting novelty is the Sound Experience, whereby a synthetic soundtrack can substitute – via the speakers – for the exhaust note of a combustion engine. The Vivid Flux setting invokes a strange spaceship-mimicking sound, but Roaring Pulse is a much more agreeable option, as it generates a rumble that’s akin to a muted AMG V8. Stamp on the throttle and the decibels rise accordingly, so you could conceivably fool passengers into thinking there’s a V8 stuffed under the bonnet.

Ultra-refined and impeccably packaged, the EQS is everything you’d expect of a flagship EV from Mercedes-Benz. It’s a game-changer for the battery brigade.

Specs: Mercedes EQS 580 4Matic

Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors

Power: 523hp

Torque: 855Nm

Transmission: NA

Fuel consumption: NA

Price: From Dh700,000 (estimate)

On sale: End of 2021

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Expert input

If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?

“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett

“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche

“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox

“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite

 “I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy

“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra

Top financial tips for graduates

Araminta Robertson, of the Financially Mint blog, shares her financial advice for university leavers:

1. Build digital or technical skills: After graduation, people can find it extremely hard to find jobs. From programming to digital marketing, your early twenties are for building skills. Future employers will want people with tech skills.

2. Side hustle: At 16, I lived in a village and started teaching online, as well as doing work as a virtual assistant and marketer. There are six skills you can use online: translation; teaching; programming; digital marketing; design and writing. If you master two, you’ll always be able to make money.

3. Networking: Knowing how to make connections is extremely useful. Use LinkedIn to find people who have the job you want, connect and ask to meet for coffee. Ask how they did it and if they know anyone who can help you. I secured quite a few clients this way.

4. Pay yourself first: The minute you receive any income, put about 15 per cent aside into a savings account you won’t touch, to go towards your emergency fund or to start investing. I do 20 per cent. It helped me start saving immediately.

World ranking (at month’s end)
Jan - 257
Feb - 198
Mar - 159
Apr - 161
May - 159
Jun – 162
Currently: 88

Year-end rank since turning pro
2016 - 279
2015 - 185
2014 - 143
2013 - 63
2012 - 384
2011 - 883

SERIE A FIXTURES

Friday Sassuolo v Benevento (Kick-off 11.45pm)

Saturday Crotone v Spezia (6pm), Torino v Udinese (9pm), Lazio v Verona (11.45pm)

Sunday Cagliari v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Atalanta v Fiorentina (6pm), Napoli v Sampdoria (6pm), Bologna v Roma (6pm), Genoa v Juventus (9pm), AC Milan v Parma (11.45pm)

Asia Cup Qualifier

Final
UAE v Hong Kong

TV:
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UAE Team Emirates

Valerio Conti (ITA)
Alessandro Covi (ITA)
Joe Dombrowski (USA)
Davide Formolo (ITA)
Fernando Gaviria (COL)
Sebastian Molano (COL)
Maximiliano Richeze (ARG)
Diego Ulissi (ITAS)

What went into the film

25 visual effects (VFX) studios

2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots

1,000 VFX artists

3,000 technicians

10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers

New sound technology, named 4D SRL

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS

Jaguar F-Pace SVR

Engine: 5-litre supercharged V8​​​​​​​

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Power: 542bhp​​​​​​​

Torque: 680Nm​​​​​​​

Price: Dh465,071

Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
How to increase your savings
  • Have a plan for your savings.
  • Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
  • Decide on a financial goal that is important to you and put your savings to work for you.
  • It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings. 

- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

 

 

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre, six-cylinder

Transmission: six-speed manual

Power: 395bhp

Torque: 420Nm

Price: from Dh321,200

On sale: now

Essentials

The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours 
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

'The%20Alchemist's%20Euphoria'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EArtist%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kasabian%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELabel%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EColumbia%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Perfect Couple

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor

Creator: Jenna Lamia

Rating: 3/5

David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

Key developments

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RESULTS

Cagliari 5-2 Fiorentina
Udinese 0-0 SPAL
Sampdoria 0-0 Atalanta
Lazio 4-2 Lecce
Parma 2-0 Roma
Juventus 1-0 AC Milan

Updated: July 24, 2021, 8:36 AM`