New Mercedes-Benz EQ EV Model Teased, Will Be Part Of Merdeka Day Parade

The sole teaser image of the new Mercedes-Benz EQ model that will be part of the Merdeka Day parade this week featuring a special Merdeka-themed livery. Our best guess is that this is the EQS SUV.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) has just released a teaser image of a vehicle that’s set to be featured as part of the upcoming 66th Merdeka Day parade in Putrajaya this week. The firm hints that said vehicle is a new EQ EV model that will be launched soon too.

The firm was coy from naming it outright, but our best guess here is that this is the EQS SUV – the lifted, SUV-bodied twin of the EQS saloon. Beyond which, the firm didn’t reveal much, but the teaser doe show that instead of a camouflage, the model will be paraded with a special Merdeka-themed livery.

The EQS SUV is available in four guises - 450+, 450 4Matic, 580 4Matic, and a range-topping
680 Maybach 4Matic.

Debuting globally in April last year, the EQS SUV is available in three main guises – 450+, 450 4Matic, and 580 4Matic. There’s also a more luxurious EQS 680 Maybach 4Matic version available. Apart from the EQS 450+, all 4Matic-tagged iterations harnesses a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive (AWD) setup.

All harness a 120 kWh (107.8 kWh useable) lithium-ion battery that offer anywhere between 600 KM and 660 KM of EV range (WLTP). Said battery accepts either 9.8 kW AC charging input, as well as rapid DC charging input as high as 200 kW, the latter granting 10-80% recharges in 31 minutes.

Both single- and dual-motor, the latter bearing 4Matic designation, version are available, all harnessing the same 120 kWh (107.8 kWh useable) lithium-ion battery pack.

Depending on variant, WLTP range figures varies between 600 KM and 660 KM.

As for outputs, the single-motor EQS 450+ and dual-motor EQS 450 4Matic share the same 355 HP figure, but torque figures vary – 568 NM and 800 NM respectively. The EQS 580 4Matic betters things with 536 HP and 858 NM, but the Maybach caps things off with a whopping 658 HP and 950 NM.

Depending on variant, 0-100 KM/H sprint times also varies, the slowest being 6.7 seconds (EQS 450+) and the quickest at 4.4 seconds (Maybach). All however share the same electronically governed V-max of 210 KM/H.

On board, expect the EQS SUV to offer similar levels of tech and luxury as seen in the EQS saloon, key amongst which being the MBUX Hyperscreen.

With the exception of the Maybach guise, the EQS SUV is set to offer a similarly tech-laden and very luxurious cabin as seen in its more grounded saloon twin – MBUX hyperscreen included. The biggest difference here is of course the EQS SUV’s offer of a bigger cabin with three rows of seats.

Presently, it’s uncertain as to which variant – or variants – the EQS SUV will be offered initially by MBM when said model eventually launches. Said model’s entry into its Pekan-based localisation (CKD) efforts also remain unclear though this seems uncertain – only the flagship EQS 500 4Matic enjoys that perk for now.

Nevertheless, this teaser is an exciting indication of what’s to come form the three-point star marque soon. We’ll have more updates on which as soon as details are made available. In the meantime, this should be one exciting entry to look out for during this year's Merdeka Day parade happening this week…