Electric Mercedes EQS is world's most aerodynamic car

The forthcoming pure-electric 2021 Mercedes-Benz EQS is claimed to be the most aerodynamic production car ever made.

According to the German car-maker, in a bid to give its battery-powered flagship the best possible real-world electric range, the slipperiest version of the all-new Mercedes-Benz EQS will have a drag coefficient of just 0.20Cd.

Subjected to countless days testing in the wind tunnel, the slippery aerodynamics are attributed by chief designer Robert Lesnik to the vehicle's smooth and near-seamless design.

That, and all those hundreds and thousands of hours spent optimising every single detail of the EQS' styling.

Benz says the full unveiling is still a "few weeks away" but has released two new images of the EQS to whet our appetite for the final production model.

The first is a scale model of a final concept for the EQS, while the second is a rear-quarter view of the production version wrapped in camo.

Focusing on the latter, Lesnik told carsales that it provides the clearest look yet at the EQS' unusual 'bow' design.

Describing the EQS as "revolutionary" in the car design world, the Slovenian-born designer who previously penned vehicles like the Scirocco at Volkswagen and the current AMG GT supercar, plus last-gen S-Class (W222) at Mercedes, said work began on pioneering new Benz almost nine years ago.

Attributing cars like the 2015 IAA Concept as a huge influence on what would become the EQS, Lesnik says the pure-electric limo is the culmination of all of the car-maker's "crazy ideas" that were played with over the last decade.

Conventional was never an option.

"Purpose architecture, we believe the purpose architecture deserves a purpose design," he said.

Lesnik is referring to what lies beneath the EQS, the car-maker's all-new EVA architecture that has been specifically created for pure-electric cars.

"There is no combustion engine under the hood – we shortened the hood and we extended the greenhouse. So, we gave more space for the customer," he said.

More space than even the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which the EQS will no doubt poach some sales from.

The most striking feature, says its creator, is the single 'bow' line that stretches across the entire 5.2-metre-long sedan.

"Visually [the bow line] lowers the silhouette. It almost looks like a four-door coupe."

Lesnik said he would have rather designed a car even lower for even more dramatic proportions, but in doing so it would have compromised its luxurious limousine credentials.

Bravely, the team of Mercedes designers have kept the detailing simple, preferring a cleaner, simple approach that was also favoured with the latest S-Class (W223).

"This is very typical of what we're doing," Lesnik said.

"The proportion is so good, so cool and the wheels are big. The result is a car that looks lower and wider. There's no need for any lines, because you don't need to break up the heavy volume."

Look closely at the camo car and you might spot the subtle boot-lid spoiler that will be joined by other more subtle wind-bending aids on the lower half of the EQS.

All are vital to reduce lift over the rear axle at high speed, but active aero was avoided because of the extra weight and range compromises that adding downforce brings.

That 0.20Cd figure is only likely to be achieved on the models with the smallest aero wheels.

Larger 22-inch rims on the AMG Line model, which also gets a sportier body kit and redesigned front and rear bumpers, will produce a higher drag coefficient, for example.

The "crazy ideas" approach to design also extended to novel new ways to maximise the EQS' beauty.

Instead of simply tasking his team to design a pair of appropriate tail-lights, Lesnik asked them to create a piece of sculptural art that could be displayed in a museum or gallery.

The result is a striking piece of design in itself, inspired by the helix filament of a light bulb.

Other expensive elements of the design include tricks to hide shut-lines to increase the seamless impression. These include the creation of a one-piece aluminium clamshell bonnet, resulting in one big headache for engineers but another example of how much attention to detail has been lavished on the EQS.

For those surprised the EQS has a grille, Lesnik says there's the firmly held belief within his team that every Mercedes-Benz vehicle "needs a face".

The star-pattern 'grille' and dark black panel surface has the added advantage of neatly hiding all the Lidar, laser and radar sensors needed for its advanced semi-autonomous driving aids.

Describing the EQS as a "real icon for a future limousine", the German luxury car-maker has already let slip the electric alternative to an S-Class will cover up to 700km between top-ups.

Driven by two electric motors, the Mercedes-Benz EQS is expected to come close to matching the concept’s 350kW of power and 760Nm of torque that should ensure a 0-100km/h time of 4.5 seconds, with a top speed of 200km/h.

The original concept was claimed to be a self-driving pioneer, and when the electric limo goes on sale later in 2021 it should be capable of fully Level 3 autonomous driving on the highway.