Mercedes-Benz EQS’ Design Failure
Set for a Facelift This Year
Expectation Builds as Anticipation Renderings Emerge
Mercedes-Benz’s electric vehicle brand, EQ, is set to give its flagship sedan, the EQS, a facelift in June this year. This comes nearly three years after its launch in August 2021.
Despite its impressive aerodynamic coefficient (0.20 Cd) and radical design, the EQS hasn’t been selling well. Its excessively streamlined design has resulted in losing the S-Class’s dignity and elegance. Whether the facelift model can rectify this design failure remains to be seen.
Separated Front Mask
Looks More Natural
On the 8th, NY Mammoth, a YouTuber specializing in car renderings, unveiled an anticipation rendering of the front of the EQS facelift model. The rendering was based on spy shots of the new car captured a few days ago. The first thing that catches the eye is the new boundary line added between the headlights and the glossy panel, giving the car a similar vibe to gasoline-engine vehicles. The current model features an integrated design connecting these two areas, resulting in harsh criticism and ruined side proportions due to the cab-forward design. It has even been dubbed the “ugliest model in the history of Mercedes-Benz” by several reputable outlets. However, 2021 was a transition period for the electric vehicle market, and the EQS can be seen as part of the trial-and-error process of that time.
Triangle Star Fills Headlights
Central Emblem Omitted?
The changes in the internal graphics of the headlights are also eye-catching. The daytime running lights, shaped like triangle stars, are arranged in pairs. The new E-Class, which recently began sales in Korea, also sparked mixed opinions due to a similar design applied to the taillights. The triangle star patterns covering the glossy panel, and now the lamps, seem excessive.
Meanwhile, the spy shots reveal that the center of the front, where the emblem used to be, is covered. This area houses the radar. NY Mammoth suggested that the central emblem may be replaced with digital lighting, considering that the triangle stars are also included in the headlights.
Will Physical Buttons Be Introduced in the Interior?
Unlikely for This New Model
Changes in the interior are also worth noting. In the current EQS, the optional Hyper Screen consists of three large displays stretching from the driver’s seat to the passenger’s seat. Most air conditioning systems and center consoles have touch screens and panels, and physical buttons are hard to find. Recently, the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) warned of the disadvantages of vehicles without physical buttons, criticizing the overuse of touch screens. They plan to add the presence of physical control devices such as buttons and levers for major functions like turn signals, emergency lights, horns, and wipers to the safety evaluation criteria. If a car does not meet this requirement, it will not be able to achieve the highest safety rating. Although not mandatory, the Euro NCAP safety score is considered a major safety indicator along with the U.S. IIHS test results, so automakers are likely to face a dilemma. However, the new regulation is expected to be effective in 2026, so predicting such changes in the EQS facelift model may be difficult.
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