Mercedes is taking subscription services to a whole new level. Those who own an electric Mercedes can now pay to make their cars faster. The program targets certain Mercedes models and will only be available to American customers.
With $1,200 plus taxes, owners can unlock the full performance potential of their electric Mercedes. The option will be available in the Mercedes online store and it will come under the “Acceleration Increase” name. Once customers select and pay, they will have a faster car on their hands when they select the Dynamic drive mode.
Thus, the program improves the 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) acceleration time, shaving off between 0.8 and 1.0 seconds. Depending on the model, the electric motor gets extra horsepower (between 60 and 87 horsepower) and also a torque upgrade. The only models that the premium carmaker currently lists on the website are the EQE and the EQS, in both sedan and SUV configurations. And it will only be available for one year only, as Mercedes is counting that customers will want a faster car not just for a year.
Mercedes-EQ EQE 350 4MATIC
- from 288 horsepower to 349 horsepower
- 0-60 mph from 6.0 to 5.1 seconds
Mercedes-EQ EQE SUV 350 4MATIC
- From 288 horsepower to 349 horsepower
- 0-60 mph from 6.2 to 5.2 seconds.
Mercedes-EQ EQS 450 4MATIC
- From 355 horsepower to 443 horsepower
- 0-60 mph from 5.3 to 4.5 seconds.
Mercedes-EQ EQS SUV 4MATIC
- From 355 horsepower to 443 horsepower
- 0-60 mph from 5.8 to 4.9 seconds.
With all the extra power and torque, the EQE 350 4MATIC is, for instance, still less potent than the EQE 500 version, rated at 536 horsepower. It remains to be seen how much interest customers will show once the subscription becomes available. The German carmaker says it is “coming soon,” but no word yet on the exact date it becomes available.
If you think the new Mercedes subscription program is bizarre, remember that BMW is charging customers for options such as heated seats or wireless Apple CarPlay, for which the company has faced massive backlash.
