Mercedes is retiring the EQE, replacing it with an electric E-Class using better styling, longer range, and faster charging speeds than before
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- Mercedes will kill the EQE and replace it with a new EV sedan.
- The new EV will resemble the current E-Class with EQ design.
- A 94 kWh battery and dual motors are expected to power it.
Mercedes-Benz took a swing with the EQE sedan, but like the larger and more expensive EQS, it missed the mark. The model will quietly exit stage left before it reaches a second generation, clearing the way for a more conventional electric replacement built on familiar ground, the next-gen E-Class
Read: The EQE Gives Way To A Proper Sedan, The E-Class EQ
Badged as the E-Class with EQ Technology, the new electric sedan was recently spotted undergoing testing under heavy camouflage in Europe. The spy shots don’t offer much clarity on what the final design will look like, but it’s reasonable to expect some styling cues from the electric GLC, reshaped into a more conventional three-box sedan profile
Grille Wars Aren’t Over Yet
That’s where these renderings by Nikita Chuyko at Kolesa come in, offering a preview of what the finished car might look like. As with the GLC EV, it features a massive illuminated grille that dominates the front end. While BMW has started backing away from oversized grilles, Mercedes is going all-in with them.
For what it’s worth, the silver finish of the grille shown does nicely complement the car’s silver paint finish, so it doesn’t stand out like a sore thumb. Whether that same grille design will flatter a darker paint job is still an open question.
The E-Class EQ is also likely to get its own lighting treatment. Unlike the oddly sculpted headlights on the gas-powered version, this electric variant may adopt a cleaner look, potentially highlighted by star-shaped LED daytime running lights.
Also: BMW’s Neue Klasse Plan Starts To Blur As You Look At The 2027 5-Series
It’s a similar story at the back. Although the rear fascia shares a lot in common with the gas-powered E-Class, it could have distinctive taillights with new light signatures.
Another key difference we noticed on the prototype, and one reflected in these renderings as well, is the addition of a fourth side window that stretches behind the rear door frame. That said, Mercedes could also take a page from the Maybach S-Class, which uses a three-window layout with the final pane extending deep into the C-pillar.
What About Power?
Carscoops understands Mercedes-Benz’s new electric sedan will use the same MB.EA platform as the GLC EV. That likely means it’ll share the same powertrain and battery options too. The only variant of the GLC with EQ Technology currently on sale, the GLC 400 4Matic, features a 94 kWh battery and twin motors delivering 483 hp and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque.
The sizeable battery is enough to give the SUV up to 444 miles (715 km) of driving range on the WLTP cycle. Given the slightly sleeker shape and lower profile of the E-Class EQ, it may boast an even more impressive driving range. An advanced 800-volt electrical architecture will also support charging speeds of up to 330 kW.
