Ola Kaellenius, CEO of German car maker Mercedes, stands in front of a Mercedes Vision EQS car as he addresses a press conference on September 10, 2019 on the fair grounds in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, where preparations are under way for the International Auto Show (IAA). Daniel Roland | AFP | Getty Images

For the moment, it's just a concept vehicle, but the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS is widely believed to offer a clear hint of what an all-electric version of the brand's flagship S-Class will look like. The EQS is one of more than a dozen concept and production battery-cars that debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show last week, a number of those eventually set to roll into showrooms in the U.S., as well as Europe, China and other major markets. The Vision EQS sits alongside an already growing array of production models from Mercedes, including the much cheaper EQB and EQC and helps underscore not only the financial commitment parent Daimler is making to "electrify" its line-up, but its determination to dethrone Tesla as king of the emerging battery-car market. Visually, the Vision EQS adopts what Mercedes is calling a "one bow" design language, taking the coupe-like shape of its current S-Class to the next level. While long, low and wide, the concept accommodates the new opportunities afforded by the skateboard-like platform that houses its battery pack, motors and other drivetrain components. Without a big engine up front, designers freed up some of that space to provide room for passengers and cargo. This is, of course, a concept vehicle, and a number of details aren't likely to make it into production in current form, including the camera system that replaces conventional side view mirrors, and the "floating" instrument panel and rectangular steering wheel. The cabin replaces conventional gauges, knobs and switches with an assortment of touchscreens, including ones built into each of the front seat armrests.

The newly presented study "Vision EQS" in the Mercedes hall at the IAA. LED animations in the form of small Mercedes stars can be seen in the "radiator grille". Boris Roessler | picture alliance | Getty Images

To emphasize its focus on "sustainable" transportation, Mercedes has largely replaced the materials, like leather, traditionally associated with a high-end luxury vehicle. Instead, it uses various artificial materials, the roof liner including recycled "ocean waste" plastic. Mercedes designers also have downplayed chrome, both inside and out, replacing it with accent lighting wherever possible. Outside, nearly 200 pinpoint LEDs surround the classic Mercedes tri-star logo up front, another 229 individually illuminated stars forming a "lightbelt" at the rear. By relying on lightweight materials and an extremely aerodynamic design, the 100 kilowatt-hour battery pack in the Vision EQS is promised to deliver about 700 kilometers, or 435 miles of range, though that's using the fairly generous European WLTP test cycle. U.S. EPA numbers typically run about a quarter less.

The Mercedes Vision EQS of German car maker Mercedes is pictured at the company's booth at the Frankfurt motor show IAA 2019, in Frankfurt am Main Germany, on September 10, 2019. Daniel Roland | AFP | Getty Images