The EQS: The Interior Design

The EQS is the luxurious and avant-garde top-of-the-range model from Mercedes-EQ. With this completely new type of vehicle, the designers had the mission and the opportunity to take a completely new approach to the interior design as well.

The EQS is the first Mercedes-EQ to be based on an all-electric platform. For the designers, this went hand in hand with the vision of consistent digitization of the interior. The optional MBUX Hyperscreen impressively implements this vision: the entire instrument panel is one ultimate widescreen. This determines the aesthetics of the entire cockpit and interior. The real glass appears to drape itself in three dimensions over the entire width of the vehicle like a wave - a unique feature in automotive construction to date.

The high-resolution screens merge seemingly seamlessly under the shared glass cover. The graphic appearance of their MBUX content is tailored to each other. The MBUX Hyperscreen is integrated into the instrument panel in minimalist fashion. The MBUX Hyperscreen is surrounded only by a thin silver shadow frame, a vent band and a narrow leather frame, reminiscent of the lower volume body of classic instrument panels.

The vent band spans across the entire width at the top and is very slim at the same time. These extreme proportions, together with the glass wave of the MBUX Hyperscreen, create the avant-garde architecture of the cockpit. For further details on the MBUX Hyperscreen, see separate chapters.

The dominant outer vents have a turbine design. They deliberately play on the theme of hyperanalogue through the contrast between high-tech precision mechanics and digital, glass display world. The intricately designed turbine blades distribute the airflow efficiently.

The front section of the centre console joins the instrument panel and stands freely in space. It is a visual reference to the new drive architecture - due to the electric powertrain, no transmission tunnel is necessary. Flowing leather surfaces with intricate seam patterns create a lot of storage space in combination with a large cover made of real wood. The visual impression is both modern and luxurious.

The base model without MBUX Hyperscreen has a slightly different centre console with standard dual 12.3 and 12.9 inch capacitive touchscreens, with the central vertically-oriented screen comprising the entire centre console. There is a soft armrest in the rear section. It is first visually interrupted before being transitioned into the floating central display.

The design of the door panels borrows from the interior design of modern living spaces. Doors and their centre panels emerge from behind the MBUX Hyperscreen to span the space. A surface-mounted modular body floats like a sideboard in front of the door panel. It accommodates all necessary door elements such as armrest, door module, pull handle and map pocket. Circular ambient lighting completes this floating, avant-garde aesthetic in the dark.

Colour & trim: avant-garde and tradition for a special ambiance

Avant-garde as well as traditional materials and colours give the interior a special atmosphere.
The modern delicate structure NEOTEX combines the look of nubuck leather and high-tech neoprene. NEOTEX is found on the instrument panel, the armrest and the seats of the Electric Art Line.

Eight coordinated colour combinations in the interior emphasize the generous feeling of space. The EQS is immersed in a progressive and luxurious colour world of warm and cool tones. Colours such as balao brown-neva grey and space grey-macchiato add the finishing touches to the soft and emotive design. The colour rosé gold, derived and evolved from the electric coil, emphasises the design of the vent band and is used as a contrasting colour.

The shape of both seats is outlined by illuminated piping. This creates a unique night-time ambience. The innovative trim elements make a decisive contribution to the aesthetics in the EQS. Two examples: the anthracite 3D relief-look trim elements feature tiny metal pigments. The different lighting situations in the vehicle subtly change the appearance and create a subtle value appeal.

The laser-cut trim elements backlit with Mercedes-Benz pattern also create a special ambience. The star pattern is lasered into the plastic trim and is adaptively backlit. Wood trim elements are also available, for example, anthracite open-pore line-structure lime wood or open-pore walnut ship's deck wood.

A special welcome & goodbye scenario has been developed for the Mercedes-EQ models, which is also coordinated with the ambient lighting.

US design: mulitiple display styles and modes to choose from

The functional content and operating structure correspond to the S-Class, but have been adapted to electric motoring. Visually, all graphics are designed in a new colour world of blue/orange throughout. The classic cockpit display of the two round dials has been reinterpreted with a digital laser sword in a glass lens. All content relevant to driving can be accessed between the round dials.

The "sporty" display from the S-Class has been converted into a three-dimensional performance bar and emotively and impressively conveys the respective driving status (Drive, Accelerate, Charge). The central object here is a "G-force puck", which dynamically moves freely in space in line with the acceleration forces.

The appearance of the screens can be individualized with three display styles (discreet, sporty, classic) and three modes (Navigation, Assistance, Service).

For a very calm interior impression, the discreet mode familiar from the S-Class has been adapted. In the EQS, the content of the displays is reduced as much as possible and coordinated with the colour change of the ambient lighting in seven screen colour worlds. In "Assistance" mode, important events such as lane changes or target distance control as well as the infrastructure and detected other road users (cars, motorbikes, trucks) are displayed.

Head-up displays are available in two sizes. They contribute to relaxed driving because the driver does not need to look away from the road. The large augmented head-up display is the highlight here, as it shows relevant information and actions three-dimensionally in the actual driving situation and environment.

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