Mercedes-Benz is preparing to replace its short-lived EQE with an E-Class Electric that appears to have learned from its predecessor's mistakes, with new spy shots showing a battery-powered sedan that finally looks like a regular sedan. The latest prototype, spotted testing with reduced camouflage, reveals production headlights featuring twin star-shaped daytime running lights in each cluster, while the rear lamps ditch the brand's recent three-pointed-star graphics in favour of cleaner straight-line LEDs.
The EQE lasted just four model years in the United States before being discontinued, hampered by outdated battery technology and a melted soap-bar aesthetic that failed to resonate with buyers. Its replacement, expected to go on sale next year, adopts a more conventional three-box silhouette that echoes the traditional E-Class formula. Mercedes is also expected to fit the illuminated grille treatment already rolled out on the electric GLC and C-Class, giving the car a visual presence the bland EQE always lacked even after its final facelift.
Under the skin, the E-Class Electric rides on Mercedes' MB.EA architecture, already in use by the C-Class Electric and its GLC SUV counterpart. Based on those models, the sedan will feature an 800-volt electrical system with charging speeds reaching 330 kW. That comfortably exceeds the 205 kW offered by the BMW i5 and the 270 kW of Audi's A6 e-tron, though it falls short of the 400 kW charging rate boasted by BMW's Neue Klasse iX3 and i3. Both German rivals also offer wagon body styles, an option the sedan-only E-Class will not provide.
A dual-motor E400 version is expected to use the same setup as the C400 4Matic, potentially delivering 482 hp and a zero-to-62 mph time of just over four seconds, although Mercedes has not confirmed specifications. The C400 employs a 94 kWh gross battery to achieve a claimed WLTP range of 473 miles, and Mercedes may not feel the need to enlarge the pack given that the i5's 84 kWh unit promises 356 miles. The interior is expected to follow the precedent set by the C-Class Electric, with a full pillar-to-pillar digital dashboard in its most luxurious form, though the passenger screen will likely remain a paid extra.
The E-Class Electric's arrival marks a strategic shift for Mercedes as it phases out the EQ sub-brand's distinctive design language in favour of models that blend electric propulsion with familiar, established nameplates. The move mirrors a broader industry trend toward conventional EV styling as manufacturers respond to consumer preference for electric cars that do not visually announce their powertrain. With the EQE's commercial disappointment still fresh, the success of this replacement will be a key test of whether Mercedes can translate its combustion-era strengths into the electric age.