Mercedes-Benz has got new final pricing for its teaser “acceleration boost” subscription unveiled last year that can increase the electric performance — without any physical modification — of the company’s current EQE and EQS EV models, car and driver reports.
Mercedes-Benz initially set the subscription at $1,200 per year, but now it’s been lowered slightly to a slightly unreasonable lower price. The automaker also allows you to pay a one-time fee of $1,950 on EQE and $2,950 on EQS to permanently unlock the acceleration boost.
Unlocking increases acceleration and the engines’ power output by 20 to 24 percent, according to Mercedes-Benz. The EQE’s total output increases by 215 kW to 260 kW, and its 0-60 mph time drops to 5.1 seconds (from 6) for the sedan and 5.2 seconds (from 6.2) for the SUV. Meanwhile, the EQS goes from 265 kW to 330 kW and drops 0-60 mph to 4.5 seconds (from 5.3) and 4.9 seconds (from 5.8) on the AWD.
For those who opt for the monthly subscription, they’ll pay the same amount for a full unlock in just under three years of owning either vehicle. Mercedes-Benz’s monthly subscription pricing model seems designed for customers who rent the car for a short period or just want to show performance temporarily while visiting friends or family for fun rides.
The era of automakers adding monthly subscriptions and microtransactions to vehicles has become a worrying trend. Tesla was early enough to sell such options when it offered a $3,250 unlock to use the full battery capacity of some Model S cars. Recently, there have been cars with heated seats subject to software locks and subscriptions from Tesla and BMW, respectively.
The EQS and EQE aren’t the only hybrid electric cars offering paid unlocks. Polestar offers a one-time fee of $1,195 for a single payment, and Tesla also offers a performance unlock for its electric cars. But if you really want a fast electric car and are willing to shell out over $100,000 for an EQS already, you have faster options in the Tesla Model S Plaid or the AMG version of the EQS.