2023 Mercedes EQS SUV Uses Face-Detect Camera Tech To Let Passengers Watch TV, But Not Driver

Mercedes has dropped a string of teaser images showing the undisguised interior detail of its all-electric 2023 EQS SUV alongside images of the prototypes testing in snow and desert conditions. The interior pictures reveal a dashboard that looks almost identical to the one already seen in the EQS flagship electric sedan and its EQE little brother.

The EQS SUV is the third electric Mercedes to be built on the company’s new dedicated EV architecture and the large (if presumably difficult to access) storage space in the hollow center console is a reminder of the packaging advantages of all-wheel drive EV versus a traditional gas-powered one with a huge transmission tunnel.

But as with the EQE and EQS sedans, it’s the MBUX Hyperscreen digital dash that’s the focal point of this interior. Technically, it’s an option, much like the third row of seats. Show the kind of freakish restraint when passing through the options part of the configurator normally only seen in teetotallers at Oktoberfest and your electric SUV will come with two rows of chairs and a regular tablet-style touchscreen, like the one fitted to the S-class sedan.

But go for the MBUX Hyperscreen and you get 56 inches (1,400 mm) of digital display. It’s actually three separate units, comprising a digital gauge cluster, center touchscreen and a third 12.3-inch display above the glovebox, but cleverly presented to appear as one giant car-wide panel.

Passengers can use their display to watch a movie or video content even when the car is moving, though if a driver tries to glance over to take a look, a camera detects his or her face moving round and automatically dims the display. Don’t be surprised to see bored EQS drivers sitting in freeway traffic wearing scream masks to disguise the fact that they’re watching Schitt’s Creak.

Mercedes says the second row of seats is electrically adjustable and that the height of the optional third row means its more comfortable in the back than in the rear of a gas-powered GLE. Benz also claims there’s room for “up to” four golf bags in the trunk, though you can bet that’s not the case in three-row models with the back seats in place.

Justifying its likely $120K+ price, the SUV tries hard to impress with fancy materials including a hybrid one made from magnolia wood and stainless steel, while Mercedes brags about the sound quality of its Dolby Atmos sound system.

Mercedes didn’t release any technical details for the EQS SUV to go with the interior teaser but we’d expect powertrain offerings to mirror those in the EQS sedan. That would mean a base power level of 329 hp (245 kW / 334 PS) if Mercedes offers a rear-wheel drive, single-motor EQS 450+ model, with the option to upgrade to the 516 hp (385 kW / 523 PS) EQS 580 4Matic.

Drivers demanding even more poke might need to wait a little longer for a 715 hp (533 kW / 725 PS) AMG performance flagship, while a Mercedes-Maybach EQS Concept revealed at last fall’s Munich Auto Show made it clear a Maybach option is also getting ready to join the lineup.