Elite Traveler Fall 2022

etr li at ve eler FALL 2022 109

Make no mistake, the EQS 580 is still deeply rooted inMercedes Benz DNA

Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 SUV

The EQS 580 SUV is Mercedes-Benz’s fi rst American made all-electric sport utility vehicle. The latest in the EQ sub-brand of all-electric models, it is manufactured, according to the brand, in a completely CO2-neutral way. As to where the materials are sourced, how they’re used, what ways they will be recycled: Mercedes-Benz has created a new dialogue, communicated through punctuated steps and technology that document past, present and future company-wide goals. More than 40% of the steel required for the EQS 580 body shell, for example, hails from resource-saving secondary routes (like the roughly 220 lbs of steel scrap used as secondary raw material). With an output of up to 536 hp, there’s torque and power aplenty. A 275-mile range is estimated, given it shares the same 107.8-kWh battery pack as its predecessor, the EQS sedan. While it may have the stature, sport utility possibilities aren’t at the forefront. There’s an optional third row, or enough trunk space to fi t four golf bags and it “is capable of tackling light terrain with ease,” according to brand spokespeople. Make no mistake, the EQS 580 is still deeply rooted in Mercedes-Benz DNA. Optional additions like the Acoustic Comfort Package include “acoustically e ff ective laminated glass” to enhance noise removal. The Air-Balance Package features No. 6 Mood Mimosa, an “earthy fragrance with an alluring scent” speci fi cally crafted for the EQS 580. Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 SUV from $125,000, mbusa.com

Photos Mike Dodd/Beadyeye, Mercedes-Benz AG