As car companies become more software-centric, it is no surprise that upcoming cars will be upgradable via software by the manufacturers themselves. As such, Mercedes-Benz has just launched a new “Acceleration Increase” page on its USA customer website. Claiming to make your car accelerate for up to 1 second quicker (0-60mph), the subscription package is listed at a yearly price of $1,200.00 (approx. RM5,494.20).
Previously, companies like Hyundai and Renault have announced their plan for software-centric vehicles. Hyundai’s Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) gives customers the freedom to remotely upgrade the performance and functionality of their vehicles anywhere at any time. Renault has joined forces with Google to also develop future SDVs.
According to the Mercedes-Benz USA customer website, the “Acceleration Increase subscription” would “unleash enhanced performance for your car” and provide “noticeable improvement in acceleration of 0.8 to 1.0 seconds (0-60mph times)”. The package essentially boosts the car’s output by 20-24%, depending on the original output from the factory.
The torque is also increased, and Mercedes-Benz EQ customers can select the additional output in the ‘Dynamic Select’ drive programs. The increased acceleration is “available irrespective of the ‘Dynamic Select’ drive program”. The performance boost and the corresponding quicker acceleration times for the selected Mercedes-Benz EQ models are as such:
| Vehicle | Standard Performance | ‘Boosted’ Performance | Standard 0-60mph | ‘Boosted’ 0-60mph |
| Mercedes-EQ EQE 350 4MATIC | 215 kW | 260 kW | 6.0 s | 5.1 s |
| Mercedes-EQ EQE SUV 350 4MATIC | 215 kW | 260 kW | 6.2 s | 5.2 s |
| Mercedes-EQ EQS 450 4MATIC | 265 kW | 330 kW | 5.3 s | 4.5 s |
| Mercedes-EQ EQS SUV 450 4MATIC | 265 kW | 330 kW | 5.8 s | 4.9 s |
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Besides the performance increase, the “Acceleration Increase” package also allows you to make “adjustments of the motor characteristic curve, torque, and maximum output”. Currently only available for the EQE, EQE SUV, EQS, and EQS SUV, the EQE SUV shows the greatest improvement in 0-60mph acceleration time by a full second.
As all features and technology go, the software-centric performance boost will eventually find its way into more entry-level models. The electric and software-centric future of cars is creating new business opportunities and customer experiences. The ‘Acceleration Increase’ subscription package is not available in Malaysia at the time of writing, although the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ is already available in Malaysia.
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