Mercedes makes most of Munich with EV reveals including G-Wagen, Maybach

MUNICH, Germany — If you haven’t heard, auto shows are a thing again. After 18 months of postponements and cancellations, the world’s auto media, followed shortly thereafter by the paying public, are taking in the latest and greatest the automotive world has to offer at IAA Mobility 2021. The show, which in fairness is, in terms of attractions, closer to CES than a traditional auto show, opened today to the motoring press and tomorrow through Sept. 12 to the public.

Yes, masks and vaccination/Covid tests are also still a thing, but there was a palpable and exciting sense of rediscovering something we’d lost, or at least been missing, as journalists from across Europe, and even as far flung as Canada and China, mingled amongst a number of all-new vehicles.

And while only a handful of automakers brought their wares to the show — which is being referred to as the Munich auto show and which has replaced, at least for this year, the Frankfurt Auto show on the calendar — the offerings were notable notwithstanding. And, with very few exceptions, the vehicles most prominently displayed by Mercedes-Benz, VW, Renault, Polestar, BMW and Ford were electric vehicles.

In particular was the line-up Mercedes-Benz trotted out, with four world premieres held on the eve of the show at the ridiculously massive Benz flagship store in Munich. Two were production models and two were concepts, but all were electric and all had their own unique sense of shock value. We’ll start with the production vehicles:

2022 Mercedes-AMG EQS 4MATIC+

It didn’t take long for the mad scientists at AMG to get their hands on Mercedes’ flagship EV sedan, the EQS. And as the engineers at the Affalterbach skunkwerks always do, they’ve wrung more performance, better handling and some slick styling updates to what already was a perfectly fine luxury sport sedan. They even added a stereo soundtrack to their creation to remind drivers what AMG is all about, even once it goes electric.

The first battery-electric AMG production model has a power output of up to 750 horsepower by way of an electric powertrain that features one motor at each axle. According to Mercedes, in normal operating mode there is a maximum total power output of 658 horsepower, with a maximum motor torque of 750 lbs-ft. Flip it to Race Start mode with its boost function, and this EV offers 750 hp and 750 lbs.-ft of torque. In this mode, the new Mercedes-AMG EQS 4MATIC+ accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds with a battery charge level of at least 80 per cent. The top speed is limited to 250 km/h.

As to that aforementioned sound system, that would be the so-called AMG Sound Experience, which seeks to honour that distinctive AMG growl. The EV version’s sound system uses special loudspeakers, shakers and a sound generator to create a special sound experience in two versions: Authentic or Performance. This exclusive feature is generated inside and out with a tonality and intensity to match the current driving status, the selected driving mode or the driver’s wishes.

Expect to see, and hear, the AMG EQS in Canadian dealerships in the first quarter of 2022. No pricing as yet.

2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 4MATIC

Based on the same EV architecture as the EQS luxury sedan, the EQE is slightly smaller in stature but offers many of the same performance and on-board technology as the flagship EV sedan.

When it first arrives in Canada, the EQE, which comes equipped with an electric drivetrain (eATS) on the front and rear axle, will have a power output of 288 hp, however more powerful versions are expected to follow. The sedan’s lithium-ion battery has a usable energy content of 90 kWh, and the in-house designed battery management software allows for over the air updates .

The suspension of the new EQE is closely related in design to the new S-Class and features four-link front suspension and multilink rear suspension. The EQE is also available with AIRMATIC air suspension with ADS+ adaptive damping system, and rear-axle steering.

In terms of size, it has roughly the same exterior dimensions as the CLS, and shares with that model a fixed rear window and a trunk lid. However, inside the cabin there is more room than in it gas-powered namesake, the E-Class.

The latest MBUX generation, recently introduced in the EQS, is also on board the EQE. With adaptive software, the control and display concept adapts to its user and makes personalized suggestions for numerous infotainment, comfort and vehicle functions. With the zero-layer design, the user does not have to scroll through submenus or give voice commands. The most important applications are offered situationally and contextually on the top level in the field of view. In this way the EQE driver is relieved of certain operating steps.

The 2023 EQE is expected to arrive in Canada in the middle of next year. No pricing details have been released.

Mercedes-Benz EQG Concept

It certainly has the boxy styling cues of the G-Class, and Mercedes reports if — read: when — it goes into production, it will have the 4×4 bona fides to match. For instance, like its carbon-burning forebear, the EQG’s body is based on ladder frame construction, and has independent suspension on the front axle and a rigid axle at the rear, though newly developed for the integration of the electric drive. There are four electric motors close to the wheels and individually controllable, meaning the vehicle will offer unique driving characteristics both on- and off-road. Crab walk in a G-Wagen anyone? As with any real 4×4, the Concept EQG’s off-road reduction can be activated thanks to a shiftable two-speed gearbox in order to meet the “G”-specific off-road requirements. And with the batteries integrated into the ladder frame, there is a very low centre of gravity, which also aids in off-roading situations.

No word when a production model will be coming to Canada, or anywhere else for that matter, but reading the tea leaves here at the show and from what was said at the reveal last night, we’re guessing by 2025 there will be a new electric force in the forests and mountains of the world.

Mercedes-Maybach EQS Concept

Where the EQG is all brash and brawn, this concept is all brash. No surprise the debut model was all blinged out in chrome and two-tone red-and-black paint.

The first fully electric Maybach series model, as the name implies, is based on the same modular architecture for luxury- and executive-class electric vehicles from Mercedes-Benz as the EQS. In fact, expect to see and Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, which will go into series production in 2022, before this Maybach concept becomes a reality.

While the G-Class EV concept is all about ability and utility, this EV concept is all about the lap of luxury, notably in the rear seats, where executive seats and the Chauffeur Package come to life. Instead of citing climbing capability and torque output, this presentation highlighted exclusive details such as the new door panels with armrests designed like “high-quality sideboards.” And trim elements in white piano lacquer and materials in deep-sea blue, creating “a sense of being on an elegant yacht.”

Like the EQG, no word on when the Mercedes-Maybach EQS will be christened for sailing into production. But as with the EQG, little chance Mercedes-Benz went to the trouble of creating this all-electric dream yacht without designs on one day taking it out of the harbour.