Stuttgart/Frankfurt. The Vision EQS, a milestone on the way to the future of Mercedes-Benz. At the International Motor Show in Frankfurt (12 September to 22 September 2019), Mercedes-Benz will show the challenges of the future: sustainability is becoming a central component of the brand philosophy, and a major aspect of our corporate strategy. The show car already meets these aspirations today, and provides an outlook on future large, electric luxury saloons. At the same time it illustrates a vision of purpose-built electro-design. With the Vision EQS, Mercedes-Benz is making a clear statement for the continued future of high-quality vehicles and self-determined driving. Supreme craftsmanship, emotive design, luxurious materials and individual driving pleasure will continue to be desirable in the future. Because now and for the future, luxury above all stands for personal freedom as well.

Seamless, digital and electric – the design

With its innovative, stretched “one bow” proportion, the VISION EQS takes the Progressive Luxury design philosophy of the EQ models by Mercedes-Benz into a new dimension. The flowing yet powerful sculptured effect of the exterior design gives the show car its majestic appearance – luxurious generosity and aerodynamic elegance in ideal harmony.

The prominent, continuous “lightbelt” structures the exterior in a new way. The resulting colour division at shoulder level creates the impression of a “black panel” glass landscape floating on the silver vehicle body – a seamlessly connected vehicle surface from the striking EQ front grille to the rear.

In an innovative way, the VISION EQS appears both sensuously elegant and dramatically charged with this design.

Technical gems – precision in detail

Technologically futuristic features include the DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps, each with two holographic lens modules, integrated into the continuous 360-degree exterior lightbelt. These not only lend the vehicle the serene gaze so typical of a Mercedes, but also allow an almost unlimited number of light variations that provide an outlook on future light configurations by Mercedes-Benz.

The brand logo also has new tasks: 229 illuminated, individual stars form the seamlessly integrated lightbelt at the rear, causing the brand’s trademark to shine out in a previously unknown way.

Interaction between the vehicle and its environment is not just limited to the lights in the VISION EQS. The digital front grille, which realises a light matrix consisting of 188 individual LEDs as a world first, provides a new level in precise signalling. Once the black panel comes to life, the seemingly free-floating stars and pixels create a fascinating, three-dimensional effect.

Atmospheric generosity in the interior

In the interior the VISION EQS takes its inspiration from the world of luxury yachts. The clear, flowing design idiom creates a new level of serenity – and with it the vision of modern luxury interpreted into the future.

For the first time the entire dashboard blends with the body of the front trim section to form an interior sculpture. With its deep and open spatial architecture, the cockpit of the VISION EQS envelops the occupants like the deck of a boat. The fully integrated, embracing overall sculpture consisting of the combined dashboard, centre console and armrests floats above the generous interior and for the first time gives an outlook on the interiors of future luxury saloons by the brand.

The choice of materials for the interior of the show car also ensures a special ambience. Mercedes-Benz has systematically developed the use of sustainable materials further, and uses both traditional and technologically advanced materials. High-quality DINAMICA microfibre in crystal white is used alongside native figured maple trim. This is made from recycled PET bottles. Also used is artificial leather, with a finely structured surface similar to nappa leather. The material used for the roof liner comes from a special project: a high-quality textile was created by adding a quantity of recycled “ocean waste” plastic, putting the use of sustainable materials on a wholly new level.

Intuitive Interaction – Advanced MBUX

The VISION EQS presents a large interior sculpture as a stage for the future: digital content can be experienced by immersion over the entire surface, creating an all-embracing atmosphere. The blending of materials and information illustrates a possible intuitive interaction in the future.

The organically emerging displays and projection surfaces provide display space, as does the intelligent CONNECTED LIGHT that surrounds the occupants. Haptic highlights such as the air vents integrated into the trim element like inlays, the sophisticated speaker covers in rosé gold and the fragrance flask encased in a decorative holder like a jewel round off the trendsetting interior of the VISION EQS and show exquisite craftsmanship.

Into a fully-electric future with Mercedes-Benz EQ Performance

With electric motors at the front and rear axles and the battery integrated into the vehicle floor, the VISION EQS represents a very well-balanced vehicle concept. The basis for dynamic high-level performance and safety comes courtesy of the electric all-wheel drive with axle-variable torque distribution and a battery installed deep in the vehicle floor between the axles. Thanks to more than 350 kW of output and immediately available torque of around 760 newton metres, the VISION EQS accelerates from 0-100 km/h in under 4.5 seconds.

And not only the performance is impressive, as the outstanding energy efficiency also sets standards. As a result, thanks to an intelligent operating strategy, the show car has a comfortable operating range of up to 700 km according to WLTP. Assuming a charging performance of 350 kW, the show car recharges the battery to 80% in considerably less than 20 minutes.

“With the Vision EQS technology platform, Mercedes-Benz is opting for a completely new, fully-variable battery-electric drive platform. This is in many respects scalable and usable on a cross-model basis: thanks to the modern modular system, the wheelbase and track, as well as all other system components, and especially the battery, are variable and therefore suitable for a wide range of different vehicle concepts. As well as from in-house development and production expertise, Mercedes-Benz benefits from a group and model series-wide modular strategy for alternative drive systems, and direct access to key components for e-mobility. For example, the highly-efficient lithium-ion battery comes from the Daimler subsidiary ACCUMOTIVE.

As is the case with modern series production models by Mercedes-Benz, the vehicle structure is based on an intelligent multi-material mix of steel, aluminium and carbon fibre, plus sustainable materials made from recyclates. This optimally meets the requirements with respect to lightweight design, strength, cost efficiency and sustainability.

The VISION EQS also makes a clear statement for the continuation of driver-controlled vehicles. To this end the show car shows the bandwidth of the platform with its clear focus on the driver. Mercedes-Benz will also be in a position to fulfil the desire for individual mobility and thrilling handling characteristics in the future. At the same time the Vision EQS show car supports the driver with highly-automated driving at Level 3, e.g. on longer motorway journeys. Thanks to the modular sensor systems, the level of autonomy can be extended up to fully-automated driving in the future.

Technical data:

Mercedes me Charge for sustainability here and now

Mercedes-Benz is aspiring to a CO₂-neutral new car fleet in 20 years. This means a fundamental transformation of the company in less than three product cycles. The way towards sustainable mobility is therefore innovation – with a comprehensive approach. The aim is to arouse customer enthusiasm for climate-neutral mobility and emission-free driving.

In some regions, and depending on how it is generated, electric power is a very significant source of CO₂ over the life cycle of an electric car. Accordingly Mercedes-Benz seeks to encourage customers to charge their cars with “green” energy. Solutions such as Mercedes me Charge make it possible for car drivers to conveniently charge their vehicles at many different public charging stations in Europe, wherever possible with energy from renewable sources.

With IONITY, a joint venture between BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and the Volkswagen group with Audi and Porsche, Mercedes-Benz also offers its customers convenient access to an efficient rapid-charging infrastructure along major European traffic arteries. More than 100 of the 400 charging parks planned in Europe by 2020 are already in operation.

The sustainable business strategy of Daimler AG

To Daimler, sustainability means creating value for all stakeholders on a lasting basis: customers, employees, investors, business partners and society as a whole. The basis for this is the sustainable business strategy of Daimler. In it, the company takes responsibility for the economic, ecological and social effects of its business activities and looks at the entire value chain.

Everything is in constant change. It has always been so, as mobility requires technical progress. “First move the world” is therefore the deeper purpose of our work at Mercedes-Benz, and our motivation. It means pursuing more than the directly attainable. This pioneering spirit is part of the brand’s DNA. Which also makes it a cornerstone of the new, sustainable business strategy.

The Vision EQS show car is an outlook on the future of Mercedes-Benz. Because two things are timeless: the need for mobility and the need for luxury. Plus an inner uncertainty about what will come next.

The VISION EQS is a first milestone on the way to a CO₂-neutral mobility of the future. Mercedes-Benz has always stood for technical innovation, responsibility and fascination. And sustainability is now another integral component of the brand philosophy. The show car already meets these aspirations today, and gives an outlook on the future, large electric saloons by the brand.

With the show car, Mercedes-Benz is making a clear statement for the continued future of high-quality vehicles and self-determined driving. Supreme craftsmanship, emotive design, luxurious materials and individual driving pleasure will continue to be desirable in the future. Because nowadays, luxury is also partly defined as personal freedom.

With its innovative, stretched “one bow” design, the VISION EQS takes the Progressive Luxury design philosophy of the EQ models by Mercedes-Benz into a new dimension. The “seamless” look of this dramatic and powerful sculpture is what gives the VISION EQS its majestic presence.

Technical features such as the 24-inch multi-spoke wheels, which form a jewel-like counterpiece to the flowing body lines of the VISION EQS, emphasise the luxurious character of the Saloon. As do the rear lights, which are for the first time seamlessly integrated into the body. With 229 individual LED stars they show a completely new approach to applying the brand logo.

The significant contrast created by the continuous 360° exterior lightbelt joining the black-panel LED matrix grille and the headlamps with the rear light clusters defines a new form of exterior structure with its technical precision. The resulting colour division in the shoulder area not only creates a characteristically contrasting exterior. The impression of a glass dome floating on the vehicle body also visually stretches this ultra-modern saloon. At the same time the contrast underlines the aesthetic dynamism of the show car as a whole.

The light of the future: DIGITAL LIGHT holographic lens headlamps

However, the design goes another step further. Thanks to seamless integration of the lights, the VISION EQS becomes a communicative vehicle, a “cooperative car”. The 360-degree exterior lightbelt, the digital LED matrix grille and the DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps allow interaction between the vehicle and its surroundings.

The black-panel grille, which has been realised with several levels as a world first, provides a new level of precise signalling. Its light matrix consists of 188 circuit boards, each of which carries 5 individually actuated LEDs and a single star. With this total of 940 individual LEDs in a three-dimensional space, the light signals with which the vehicle communicates with its surroundings create a fascinating impression of depth. The lightbelt traversing the grille also indicates membership of the EQ product family.

Another highlight of the VISION EQS are the new DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps, each with four holographic lens modules. Once the black panel comes to life, the seemingly free-floating stars and pixels create a holographic effect of floating light modules.

In the process these so-called holographic lens modules rotate at well over 2000 rpm. This high rotational speed suggests a static image to the human eye, and with specific actuation it even allows individual holographic images to be generated. The main module and circuit boards become practically invisible thanks to the high rpm, causing the 500 LEDs per headlamp to “float” in space. As each one of the less than one millimetre large high-performance LEDs is actuated individually, and can rotate at three different levels, the “floating” 3D impression is additionally reinforced.

DIGITAL LIGHT technology creates an almost unlimited number of display possibilities, providing an outlook on the future use of lighting by Mercedes-Benz. It also shows that the light of the future will no longer just be a key safety feature, but also a key element in man-machine communication, aesthetics and design.

Flowing forms: the interior as a sculpture

An integrated interior emerging from the form and organically enveloping the occupants is the new interpretation of the Mercedes-Benz wrap-around effect.

The interior design takes its inspiration from the world of luxury yachts. The clear and generous design idiom creates a new level of serenity. For the first time the entire dashboard blends with the body of the front trim section to form an interior sculpture. With its deep and open spatial architecture, the cockpit of the VISION EQS envelops the occupants like the deck of a boat. The fully integrated, embracing overall sculpture consisting of the combined dashboard, centre console and armrests floats above the generous interior like a gentle, expansive landscape, and for the first time gives an outlook on the interiors of future luxury saloons by the brand.

To emphasise this new spatial impression even more, the IAA show car is presented in a highly artistic manner so that the contours and lines in the interior are even more obvious to the eye.

Haptic vision: an outlook on the materials of the future

The innovative choice of materials for the interior of the VISION EQS is also intended to create a special ambience. Mercedes-Benz has systematically opted for sustainability, using both traditional and technologically pioneering materials. Crystal-white DINAMICA microfibre on the seats contrasts with rosé-gold coloured highlights at the seam ends of the contrasting diamond pattern. The floor area and door centre panels are in bright white. A dynamic, embossed diamond pattern presents the sustainably produced microfibre particularly impressively. Artificial leather is used at the side sills to create a harmonious counterpoint. Its finely structured surface is very similar to that of nappa leather, and has contrasting topstitching around the borders like that on familiar Exclusive leather features.

The innovative textile in the roof liner is a special project: it contains a proportion of “ocean waste” plastic, and for the first time brings recycled plastics into use in visible, high-quality areas. Sustainability is also the watchword for the wood trim in the VISION EQS. Home-grown figured maple from ecologically managed German forests not only ensures short transport distances and a correspondingly small CO₂ footprint, but also helps to conserve exotic tropical woods.

Advanced MBUX for intuitive Interaction.

The VISION EQS also makes new digital departures. The IAA show car therefore shows the expansive interior sculpture as a presentation piece for the future: digital content can be immersively experienced over the entire area, allowing information and content to be accessed by touch to create an all-embracing atmosphere. The blending of materials and information illustrates a possible intuitive interaction in the future.

The central display organically emerging from the centre console provides a specific outlook on new ergonomic concepts. Vehicle functions can now be operated by touch-control on the generous display surface. Maximum comfort on every seat: the side displays on the driver and front passenger seats allow individualisation of the driving experience by entering the Mercedes me ID – in future also for the front passenger. It is not only the displays that create a man-machine interface, but also the intelligent Connected Light, which runs around the entire interior like the 360° lightbelt on the exterior and is able to communicate by positioning information in space. On the one hand this ambient light band creates special lighting moods inside the vehicle, but it can also communicate information to the passengers.

Haptic highlights like the air vents integrated into the trim element like inlays, the sophisticated speaker covers in rosé gold and the fragrance flask encased in a decorative holder like a jewel round off the trendsetting interior of the VISION EQS and show exquisite craftsmanship and the unrivalled quality claim of the Mercedes-Benz brand.

Stuttgart/Frankfurt am Main. The Mercedes-Benz press conference at the 2019 IAA focused on sustainable solutions for the future of mobility, which are reflected in the products as well as in the business strategy. At the same time, Mercedes-Benz continued to position itself as a manufacturer of luxury automobiles. As an example of this sustainable luxury, the Mercedes-Benz VISION EQS show car celebrated its world premiere. The inventor of the automobile also presented 19 other vehicles to the public for the first time. An additional highlight of this year’s IAA appearance was the completely revised exhibition stand in Hall 2, which became more customer-oriented.

We are convinced that the need for individual mobility throughout the world will continue to rise. Especially for the Mercedes-Benz brand, there is a second global trend that seems set to strengthen: And that’s the demand for something special – for extraordinary products and experiences. Our job now is to redefine the Modern Luxury of Mercedes. And there can be no doubt that desirable, contemporary luxury has to be sustainable – but also sustainably fascinating,” said Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, who also presented the future direction of the luxury brand – which is geared towards sustainability and e-mobility.

“First Move the World” – that is our purpose: it’s the deeper meaning of our work and consequently a trendsetter for the sustainable business strategy at Mercedes-Benz Cars. This ambition means pursuing more than the short-term. Sustainability is an essential element and, at the same time, a yardstick for corporate success. “Pioneering spirit is part of our DNA. The founders of our company became architects of a new mobility without horses. Our task today is individual mobility without emissions,” was the background explained by Ola Källenius.

These include but are not limited to the following objectives:

• A completely CO₂-neutral fleet of new cars by 2039.
• More than 50% of new cars sold equipped with electric drivetrains by 2030.
• A CO₂-neutral energy supply for almost all locations in Germany and CO₂-neutral vehicle production in
  Europe by 2022.
• In the long term, the value chain should become the value cycle. The entire supply chain will be included.
• Electromobility will become the core business of Mercedes-Benz. Future vehicle architectures are being designed for electromobility from the onset and will have their own electric platform.

“For the next generation of our EQ models, we have already taken steps with our suppliers to make a proportion of battery cells using CO₂-neutral production,” continued Ola Källenius. “Our customers can rest assured that they will get from Mercedes-Benz is a holistic vehicle concept that has been fully thought through in every respect.”

Show car exemplifies a new dimension of sustainable luxury

The Mercedes-Benz VISION EQS celebrated its world premiere at the press conference and gives an outlook on the future of Mercedes-Benz. The electric luxury sedan underlines that sustainability is a central issue. With the technology bearer VISION EQS, Mercedes-Benz is presenting a show car based on a completely new, fully variable electric drive platform that is scalable in many respects and can be used across all models.

With the show car, Mercedes-Benz also makes a clear statement about the continued existence of high-quality vehicles and self-determined driving. Perfect craftsmanship, emotional design, luxurious materials and individual driving pleasure will continue to be desirable in the future. Today and tomorrow, the concept of luxury stands for personal freedom above all. Thanks to its intelligent operating strategy, the show car has a comfortable range of up to 700 km according to WLTP. Thanks to more than 350 kW of power and an available torque of approx. 760 Nm, it accelerates from 0-100 km/h in less than 4.5 seconds. But not only are the driving dynamics impressive, its highest energy efficiency also sets standards. With a capacity of 350 kW, the VISION EQS recharges its batteries by 80% in significantly less than 20 minutes.

“For the first time ever, we have developed our new e-platform exclusively for the requirements of mid- and full-size luxury cars to take full advantage of all the opportunities offered by this technology,” said Ola Källenius at the world premiere of the new show car. “We want to offer more than the protective shell that transports us from A to B. The thinking remains the same – the form it takes develops and changes. Design must always set new benchmarks. Which is why we are once again taking a new path with the Vision EQS. The term here is “One-Bow Design”: One clear line is enough; one arc defines the entire form. Because we believe that Modern Luxury is not opulence – but simplification.”

• Author
• Recent Posts

NC

Ka-Chow!

Latest posts by NC (see all)

• Ferrari 296 GTS convertible launched in India at Rs. 6.24 crore - May 25, 2023
• 8th generation BMW 5 Series G60 launched in petrol, diesel, hybrid & electric - May 25, 2023
• Škoda Enyaq Laurin & Klement launched with 281 HP & 570 km range - May 25, 2023