Mercedes EQS facelift teased showing traditional grille

The updated EQS has been teased ahead of its debut and the EV luxury sedan will now come with not one, but two grille options. Apart from the slightly updated version of the standard “panel grille”, Mercedes-Benz will also offer a traditional grille as part of a wider overhaul designed to reverse the flagship EV's sales slump.

1. EQS facelift will get S-Class-like grille as an option
2. Will get a new battery pack
3. Expected to go on sale later this year

The refreshed Mercedes EQS will be offered with either a newly designed conventional grille with the three-pointed star mounted on the bonnet, or with the current, sleeker-looking grille with the star emblazoned onto the surface.

“Some [customers] will want to keep a more sporty look and have the star integrated in the panel, and some we believe will want to have the more traditional look,” CEO Ola Kallenius told investors on Mercedes' recent earnings call. The company flashed up an image of what appeared to be the new grille during the analyst event, highlighting its similarity to the one used by the S-Class.

EQS to get a new battery too

The EQS will also be fitted with an uprated battery with new chemistry that will improve range, Källenius said. The updated EQS will be available from June overseas, although cars with the new battery will likely go into production before that, he said. The new battery is expected to be the same upgraded pack recently installed in the EQS SUV, which has been expanded from 108kWh to 118kWh.

In the EQS SUV, the pack adds another 50km of range of official range, potentially meaning the range of the EQS sedan could be pushed close to 800km.

The EQS will also gain the option of “executive seats”, Kallenius said without going into detail. The option is likely to swap out the rear bench for two individual seats that can recline. Sales of the EQS fell back last year as customers in the sector either stuck to conventional models or bought newer EV models, including the BMW i7.

In India, Mercedes-Benz sells the EQS as the EQS 450 and the AMG EQS 53. The EQS range in India starts at Rs 1.62 crore (ex-showroom).