The premium electric experience behind the three-pointed star emblem has longer legs, faster charging and a steer-by-wire option.

MORE range, updated tech and a steer-by-wire system and a steering yoke are features of a big update for Mercedes’ flagship EQS electric limousine.

Local pricing, variant availability and specific specifications for this market have yet to share for the updated car, whose regional delivery is set to begin in the fourth quarter (October-December).

The original car was $310,990 in first-availed dual motor 484kW/950Nm EQS AMG 53 then subsequently also availed, a year on in 2023, as a 265kW/800Nm 450 4Matic, for $218,700. the latter had the better range, of 664 kilometres, this cited by the untrustworthy NEDC scale.

Now Benz is quoting a much more extreme optimal ranges, certified by the much more reliable, NZ-preferred WLTP scale, of at least 815 kilometres and up to 925km.

This big improvement comes from the car shifting to larger batteries and Mercedes-Benz’s next generation 800-volt electric architecture.

The new architecture also allows for 350kW fast-charging, the German brand quoting that between 305-320km of range can be added in just 10 minutes.

It picks up Mercedes-Benz developed electric motors along with a new two-speed transmission and larger 122kWh batteries with revised cell chemistry providing around three per cent more energy, according to the German carmaker, despite being the same overall size as the outgoing model’s 115kWh units.

External design changes are subtle, the most notable a power dome on the bonnet and AMG Line side skirts. The wing mirrors have been slightly revised to improve air flow, thereby reducing drag helping the refreshed EQS achieve a drag coefficient of just 0.20Cd, making it one of the most aerodynamic production cars in the world.

New headlight architecture incorporating micro-LED technology that bring a claimed 40 per cent improvement to the field of vision at night and two new wheel designs round out the exterior changes.

EQS also updates to a latest 55-inch hyperscreen that runs the brand’s new MB.OS operating system. The second row features two 13.1-inch displays with individual remote controls.

Heated seat belts for the front seat occupants deliver, according to Mercedes-Benz “a soothing warmth up to 44°C in cold weather”.

Buyers can choose from up to 125 distinctive paint colours via the brand’s Manufaktur Made to Measure programme and there’s a new open-pore wood trim.

The biggest change inside is the optional steer-by-wire system replacing the traditional steering wheel and the mechanical connection between to the front wheels with a Formula One-style steering yoke and a digital system.

This utilises actuators and computer processing power to transmit steering inputs to the wheels.

It’s an optional change. Mercedes-Benz will continue to offer the EQS with mechanical steering paired with a traditional steering wheel.

safety and driver assist technologies come standard as part of MB.Drive Assist and MB.Drive Parking Assist packages, the latter able to detect parking spaces and park automatically around 60 percent faster than previously.