AMG Expands Electric Performance with New EQE Range
All the performance you expect from an AMG E-Class–but electric.
Mercedes-AMG is rapidly ramping up its electric performance range, if these two new AMG EQEs are anything to go by. Affalterbach’s latest contribution to battery driving is based on Merc’s most recent EQE EV.
In other words, these are AMG versions of Merc’s latest electric E Class. Topped by the all-new 677 horsepower 738 lb.-ft Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4MATIC+, the latest Mercedes electric super saloon is aided and abetted by a regular 617 HP and 701 lb.-ft 53 model and an entry level 450 HP 43 version.
Proper AMG Performance
Good for 60 mph in under 3.3 seconds the 2.7-ton 53+ (above) has a 149 mph top whack. The common 53 beats 3.5 seconds and tops 136 mph. The entry 43 rushes to 60 this side of 4.2 seconds and tops out at 130 mph. EQE AMG rides on a specially tuned EVA2 platform. Powered by a pair of electric motors, one per axle, both units get adapted windings and laminations, higher currents and a specific inverter. It’s all packaged in a new powertrain and cooling system concept. To allow flat-out abuse, so long as the battery has charge.
The aft motor is six-phase contraption, which output alters depending on the drive mode selected. Slippery and Comfort modes limit output to 50 and 80 percent respectively. Sport gets 90 percent and Sport Plus benefits the full hundred per cent. But wait, Race Start will give you 110%. The joys of performance electric motoring! So deployed, a dynamic packed 53+ will rush to 60 just as quickly, and silently as Audi’s hallowed RS e-tron GT.
That 90.6 kWh usable battery delivers up to 331 miles WLTP range in the 43 (below). You can choose three levels of energy regeneration while driving. The strongest setting enables one-pedal driving. 11 kW onboard charging is standard, with 22 kW capability available as an option. It takes just 15 minutes to add an extra 112 miles at 170 kW charging. The EQE 53’s more powerful motors impact slightly on range, at 322 miles. All models will receive over-the-air updates to improve battery management during their life cycles.
EQE:A Real AMG
The hot EQEs get AMG-specific wheel carriers and suspension links, stiffer anti-roll bars and rear-axle steering. And AMG adaptive damping is tuned both for good ride comfort and flat out Nordschefe dynamics. There are Monster 416.3-inch front and 22.7-inch rear disc brakes. Or you can tick that option box for even bigger ceramic clamps. That’s over and above a so-called i-Booster to better mix hydraulic retardation and electric recuperation and is said to feel like regular AMG wheel brakes all on its own and also allow one-pedal driving.
All of which means it’s basically an AMG GT Four-Door Coupe in electric drag. And just in case it does not sound like a genuine fire-breathing gasoline V8 AMG, like the AMG EQS, this one gets fake noises inside. You can choose between traditional AMG sporty, balanced and even powerful tones. You need to squint a little to tell the range optimized AMGs apart from the regular EQEs. The blackened grille and body-colored bumper top a new front apron and splitter. Add new sills, a new rear diffuser and apron. And lightweight AMG alloys.
Step inside to find typical AMG pews, pedals and a Performance steering wheel. Red stitched leather and mats, red stitching and AMG badging add effect. There’s another option box to tick to specify your very own gargantuan Mercedes Hyperscreen dash (below). The one that spans the entire width of the car.
EQE AMG Is Just the Start
“With these two new models, we expand our purely electric powered performance vehicle range to address additional target groups,” AMG boss Philipp Schiemer pointed out. “This is not the end of our Future of Driving Performance: performance hybrids and all-electric AMG derivatives based on this platform and even standalone AMG electric vehicles based on our completely in-house developed AMG.EA platform will follow in the not too distant future.”
The AMG EQEs will go on sale in the US early 2023. Electrifying times indeed!
Images: Mercedes-AMG