Someone asked me the other day and I just didn't know, so thought I would ask some of you 580 owners. When driving on a highway at cruising speed are you using both motors or does the front motor just freewheel until needed? I'm thinking of something like (not exactly) a AWD vehicle that doesn't send power to the front wheels unless needed.

Thanks

 

Its always variable but at a steady state cruising situation its actually FWD since the front motor is the most "economic" powerwise. That doesnt mean its primarily FWD. Its FWD in low load cruising situations. It can flip in a fith of a second and again, its infinitely variable at all times. The traction distribution in the EQS is extraordinarily effective and transparent. You can never tell where the power is going unless you are looking at the graphic. The instant you step on the gas the rear kicks in. It is extraordinarily slick. At least that what Ive read. All the reviews Ive seen of its snow performance have been glowing.
finally the 580 has the highest power recuperation that I know of; 290 kw!

 

The real answer is years 2024 and up have the Intelligent Disconnect feature you're mentioning.

This disengages the front motor to improve powertrain drag and general range/mileage.

 

The last time I looked my 580 was running on the rear motor on the freeway.

 

It may be only applying power to the rear wheels but the front motor is still connected and rotating which result in losses that would be eliminated by the DCU.

See post #16 of this thread

https://mbworld.org/forums/eqs-suv/8...ml#post8769847