Mercedes' executive and luxury models are in the last stages of their lives as petrol or diesel cars. Both are already making the transition to electric and at a substantial cost.
The Mercedes E-Class, as we know it, isn't going to be around for much longer. A workhorse of the executive car class, based mainly on its diesel and high mileage credentials, the E Class has gone electric. In fact, all Mercedes cars will be electric within the next eight years and the company will cease all investment in petrol and diesel engines within the next three years. That’s how close we are to an almost complete transition for the car industry.
Thus the E-Class comes in a new guise - the EQE - as does the S-Class, which becomes the EQS. Of course, you can buy either a petrol or diesel for the moment but these new electric cars are the executive Mercedes models of the near future.
Moving over to electric isn’t cheap for Mercedes or any other manufacturer either. Over the next four years Mercedes is investing €60 billion in electrification and zero carbon technology. That’s one of the reasons this new electric E Class 350 version costs €85,980. The current E-Class costs around €62,000. The new electric S-Class starts at €130,000.
The EQE has a claimed range of up to 636 kilometres but we’ll wait and see how that translates in real world conditions. It should, however, be a big step up in range and a reduction in range anxiety for high mileage drivers. Even bolder claims are made for the S Class electric version - a range of 730 kilometres.
The E Class design is bolder than before with a sharp, though sloping profile. Its interior continues as it does in other current models with a large screen sitting between driver and front passenger and a digital display for the driver. There is a hyper screen option, which runs right across from door to door.
As you might expect, there’s an emphasis on refinement and a short drive suggested smoothness is a key aspect of the experience.
Like every other manufacturer, Mercedes has supply issues. Mercedes Ireland MD, Ciara Allen, believes that by the first quarter of next year capacity will be back to about 80% of where it was before the semi conductor shortage and Ukranian war intervened.
