Snapshot
- First pure electric vehicle from Mercedes-AMG
- Priced from $328,400 before on-road costs
- Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 arriving later
Mercedes-AMG has entered a new era in Australia with its first battery-powered vehicle now on sale.
Priced from $328,400, the EQS 53 large luxury sedan follows in the tyre tracks of the Mercedes-Benz EQC and EQA SUVs and forms the first variant in a third EV line-up for the three-pointed star in Australian showrooms.
Joining it in the fourth quarter of 2022, the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 will offer a more affordable option into the German brand’s electric halo with pricing and details yet to be released.
All versions will be sold alongside the longstanding S-Class, which offers an alternative large luxury sedan option with comparable levels of luxury and equipment, albeit powered by hybridised petrol engines.
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Powering the AMG EQS 53 however, is a permanently excited electric motor on each axle providing 4Matic all-wheel-drive and peak power outputs of 484kW and 950Nm. Customers who add the $7690 AMG Dynamic package will unlock 560kW and 1020Nm when activating the launch control function.
In the most aggressive Sport Plus setting, the EQS 53 will do the milestone zero to 100km/h dash in 3.4 seconds or 3.8s when accelerating in all other modes, claims Mercedes-AMG.
The pair of electric motors are fed by a 107.8kWh lithium-ion battery, which is good for 587 kilometres of driving on a single charge according to ADR standard, and its 400-volt system supports up to 200kW fast charging.
At the highest rate of charging, the EQS can take on enough power to go 300km in 19 minutes. This is unusually fast for a maximum 200kW charge rate, but AMG-specific wiring and battery management, a higher battery density and high-efficiency battery cooling has enabled faster top-ups.
The Dynamic package introduces even more battery cooling technology when optioned.
While its EQS 450 sibling can brag the lowest production car drag coefficient of 0.2cd, the AMG’s selection of lift-reduction aero increases drag slightly to 0.23cd and electricity consumption is rated between 24.3 and 21.2kWh/100km depending on the wheels fitted – those include a choice of aerodynamically optimised 21-inch or 22-inch alloy wheels shod with specially developed Michelin tyres.
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Measuring 5216 millimetres in length, the EQS is about 70mm shorter than the longest S-Class 580 L but has an almost identical wheelbase of 3210mm offering comparable and generous levels of cabin space in both rows of seating. At the back end, an unorthodox liftback offers easy access to a 580L boot.
It rolls on AMG-specific tuned multi-link independent suspension with air springs, AMG-specific bushings, adaptive dampers, and anti-roll bars at both ends with a number of switchable settings from Slippery through to Sport Plus and a customisable Individual mode.
Braking is taken care of with four-piston front calipers and single-piston versions at the rear and iron discs, although customers can upgrade to carbon ceramic rotors and beefier gold calipers for a relatively affordable $9990.
For normal driving conditions, regenerative braking provides the primary braking force with up to 300kW of power recovery. Regen levels can be selected using the steering wheel paddles or automatically in presets according to the drove mode. Thirdly, the vehicle itself can select what level of regen to apply ‘intelligently’ using the terrain and traffic conditions ahead to select between full recuperation or coasting for maximum efficiency.
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Unlike the EQS 450, the AMG version gets rear-wheel steering included in the price allowing the rear wheels to articulate up to nine degrees. At low speed this virtually shortens the wheelbase and allows a turning circle of 11.5 meters, while at higher speed the rear steering boosts stability depending on the conditions and driving style.
With the absence of a combustion engine to provide the classic AMG soundtrack, synthetic sounds are generated both inside and out as part of the AMG Sound Experience.
The ‘more emotional soundscape’ produces a variety of different sounds according to the drive mode, throttle and regen application and bass actuators even produce tangible sensation through the seats under the most aggressive driving applications. Volume of the feature can be manually controlled through three modes – Balanced, Sport and Powerful or switched off completely.
Lighting is exclusively LED throughout including the distinctive rear light and connecting bar clusters as well as Digital LED headlights that offer the latest Mercedes adaptive technology. And it’s the same on the inside.
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Extensive LED ambient mood lighting flows throughout the cabin backlighting the full-width floating dash displays, while pinstriping the door panels and even the edges of front eats with customisable multi-colour patterns.
The dash itself is comprised of three individual digital screens behind a single panel spanning more than a metre in width that Mercedes refers to as the Hyperscreen. The main central touch-sensitive display measures 25 inches and offers haptic feedback, flanked by 12-inch screens – one for the customizable driver’s instrument cluster, while the second provides information and entertainment for the front passenger.
An Energizing Comfort package extends this privilege to the rear passengers too along with heated seats, air purifier, air freshener, heated steering wheel, and more massage and vitality programs for the front seats for $9290.
With a vast central touchscreen, the EQS 53 has almost limitless information and entertainment possibilities. Highlights include augmented navigation instructions and this feature can be duplicated optionally into the large head-up display for an additional $2690, and AMG specific functions not offered in standard MBUX operating systems.
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AMG graphics set the displays apart from lesser variants as well as other electric Mercedes models, while the Race Start function introduces more individual graphics in the instrument cluster and head-up display along with a unique sound to prepare the driver.
A Track Pace application is also part of the deal offering a virtual race engineer to track lap times as well as presenting a multitude of vehicle statistics, information form sensors and power figures for those who decide to throw a 2.6-tonne limousine at the circuit.
AMG touches are scattered about the interior including sports seats which in the name of sustainability are covered in Mercedes proprietary Artico synthetic leather although fine Nappa leather is available optionally. Other frequent contact points are upholstered in ‘Microcut’ microfiber material with red stitching.
An AMG performance steering wheel with flat bottom, sports pedals and floor mats complete the interior AMG treatment.
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As is typical with a Mercedes flagship model, safety features are as abundant as the technology and comfort equipment. The EQS has recently been approved for limited level-3 autonomous driving in Germany and almost the same amount of driver assistance technology is offered in Australian models.
Also in keeping with a high-end Mercedes, options are limited only by budget and imagination, although a number of popular picks have been bundled into packages including the $3990 Night package for a more aggressive exterior look with blacked-out aero components, red brake calipers and the larger 22-inch wheels.
Seven standard colours are on offer with three optional metallic shades to contrast black or grey interior upholstery and choices of three interior trim materials.
The EQS 53 has a warranty of five years, but the battery gets double that with 10 years or up to 250,000km.
