Mercedes-Benz’s 2024 EQ line-up is getting powertrains updates… and a heat pump!

• Mercedes-Benz has not confirmed the updates yet.

• A new heat pump should help to boost autonomy between charges.

• A 4×2 mode should also help in this case.

In the electric segment, over-the-air – or straight from the factory – upgrades have become common. To appeal to the “electric” crowd, you must constantly upgrade your product’s capabilities, and that’s exactly what Mercedes-Benz just did… at least according to a report from the british publication Autocar.

According to the article, the two-engine versions of the EQE and EQS sedans, as well as the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, are about to receive slightly revised powertrains. At this time however, Mercedes-Benz hasn’t confirmed whether these updates would apply to vehicles sold in North America.

However, it would be surprising if these upgrades, if they are real, were not part of the local strategy. Let’s just say that when a manufacturer updates its vehicles, it is rare that the markets where these vehicles are sold are forgotten by the brand.

So, according to the British magazine, the vehicles in question – as well as the new EQE SUV – will now benefit from an engine and transmission that can be disconnected when optimal conditions are met, a solution already used on ICE-powered all-wheel drive vehicles. On a road with optimal grip and where the driver is not too demanding with its right foot, the four models mentioned could run in 4×2 mode to spare the powertrain and thus gain a few kilometers of autonomy.

But that’s not all, because Autocar also mentions that the four newest vehicles in the EQ lineup should in theory be equipped with a heat pump, a component that is very useful especially in markets where the temperature drops below freezing. The unit, which is already standard equipment on the new EQE SUV, would find its way in the other three EQ models. Not surprisingly, this addition should allow all four vehicles to run a little longer on the same charge.

Autocar also mentions that these new features would be added only starting next July, which would most likely mean a 2024 model year upgrade. At this point, we’ll have to wait to receive confirmation from the manufacturer before jumping to conclusions. If Mercedes-Benz is planning to improve its four EQ models, that’s great news, but let’s be patient!