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It's no secret that automakers are looking to subscription revenue to boost profits. From paid features to onboard streaming services, automakers are tempting users into more and more monthly bills. Mercedes is offering something others haven't: More horsepower, for a monthly fee.The company is selling an over-the-air update to owners of the EQE350 SUV, EQE350 Sedan, EQS450 SUV, and EQS450 Sedan that unlocks additional performance. EQE350 SUVs and Sedans get a boost of 60 hp, to 348 hp. EQS450s gain 80 hp, bringing total output to 435 hp.
The 0-60 time for the EQE350 SUV and Sedan drop to 5.2 and 5.1 seconds, respectively, both down roughly a second from their initial figures of 6.2 and 6.0 seconds. For the EQS450 SUV, 0-60 sprint time drops from 5.8 to 4.9 seconds. The sedan now does the deed in 4.5 seconds, down from 5.3 seconds.
EQE owners can subscribe to this extra power for $60 a month or $600 a year. Owners of the spendier EQS models will be charged $90 a month or $900 a year for the extra performance. But if the new-world experience of a performance subscription doesn't appeal, you can also buy a lifetime version of the performance upgrade. That stickers for $1950 for EQE models and $2950 for EQS models. You can purchase them directly from Mercedes, here, if you own an EQE350 or EQS450. If customers prove willing to do so, we wouldn't be surprised to see this trend spread.
So the only thing different here from what car manufacturers have been doing forever is that you have the option to pay monthly for a performance upgrade, which is potentially cheaper if you keep the car for only a few years. You can still buy a lifetime subscription instead as a one-time purchase. That's no different from buying a software tune for an ICE, or manufacturers selling models with the same engine but different tunes for higher power outputs. The BMW M Competition models for example have the same engine as the non Competition models just a different tune. AMG has been doing the same with the S vs non S models. So this has been the practice of car manufacturers forever. They detuned engines and sold them in cheaper models, but you could essentially unlock the full power with a different tune. The only difference so far was that you had to order the more expensive variant with the higher output tune from the factory, or buy a warranty voiding aftermarket tune. Now you can just buy it online and download it to the car, but that's similar to the flash at home tunes that many aftermarket tuners offer nowadays, however with this you get to keep the factory warranty.
Last edited by superswiss; Apr 27, 2023 at 08:19 PM.
I must be part of the minority here as I do not dislike this subscription thing.
It sounds fair:- subscription plan is all spelled out in the beginning. Nothing is hidden from a buyer. When a buyer pays the $, he is well aware of and well informed of what he is paying for. Itr is not like you have paid for something and then part of it is taken away from you later.
It allows flexibility:- a buyer might not know how much hp he needs. So, he pays $100 to buy 100hp. If after driving for a while and he discovers that he wants more hp, he can then join the subscription plan. If he knows at the beginning that he wants more than 100hp, he can buy it outright. If after driving for some time and he thinks he does not need more hp, he would be glad that he did not pay more $ for more unwanted hp. Not only the needs changes from one buyer to another, even the same buyer may change according to various needs in time. Say, he lives in plain and flat Texas and so the basic 100hp suits his driving terrain well. After a year or so, his job relocates him to a hilly or mountainous town in Colorado, then he can subscribe.
The longer the cheaper:- $60 monthly or $600 yearly (ie $50 monthly) for EQE. $90 monthly or $900 yearly (ie $75 monthly). This is just $2 or $3 per day. This is pocket change money to most Mercedes Benz owners! New York Times weekday edition is $2.50 from a newsstand. Lifetime subscription also is attractive. $1950 ÷ $600 ≈ 3 years for the EQE, $2950 + $900 ≈ 3 years also for the EQS. So, if you want the extra hp right at the beginning and keep the car for more than 3 years (say, 5-7 years), then it is even more economical.
And, even if one adds the $1950 to the MSRP $75,000 of an EQE , it becomes $76,950. The difference is really negligible! The same goes with the EQS ($2950 is small in light of the MSRP of $105,000).
(I wonder if a lifetime subscription is transferable from one owner to another owner? If I have to guess, I would think so. The subscription goes with the car, not with the owner. So, this might help in terms of resale value.)
So, I do welcome it, at least in its present format.
Well, do I sound like a MB salesman? LOL
Disclaimer:- I have no connection with MB whatsover except I am an owner of their cars.
Last edited by bishop64; Apr 27, 2023 at 08:58 PM.
They are very fortunate I'm not going to be made king of the world any time soon. There would be a lot of lying politicians and entitled corporate scumbags sharing a cell with an unwashed 400 pound sociopath who had hitherto been very, very lonely.
They are very fortunate I'm not going to be made king of the world any time soon. There would be a lot of lying politicians and entitled corporate scumbags sharing a cell with an unwashed 400 pound sociopath who had hitherto been very, very lonely.
LOL...are joey and donnie in the list of 'lying politicians'?
And, all the exercise they have in the cell is handwashing and waxing your MBs?
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
