Mercedes-AMG goes all-electric with new EQS 53

Mercedes-Benz has kicked the 2021 International Motor Show (IAA) in Munich off with the reveal of a trio of new electric models, headlined by the first ever all plugged-in AMG model based on the EQS.

The effective electric equivalent of the AMG S63, the AMG EQS, despite wearing the 53 nomenclature normally associated with the E-Class and CLS, slots in above the regular EQS 450+ as the most powerful model in the line-up to date.

Dimensionally unchanged from its sibling, the 53, apart from the availability of the AMG Night Package Dark Chrome as well as 21 or 22-inch AMG alloy wheels, receives AMG front and rear bumpers, extended door sills, a sealed black grille panel with chrome struts and a new rear spoiler.

In addition to a revised front splitter and rear apron, the trademark AMG wing front apron and gloss black detailing, the EQS 53 also comes with the AMG Ride Control+ air suspension as standard, along with adaptive dampers, the AMG 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system with three modes; Comfort, Sport and Sport+, and rear-axle steering.

While outfitted with the AMG Dynamic Select system with six driving modes; Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual, the EQS 53 features what Mercedes-AMG calls an AMG Sound Experience system that is said to replicate the soundtrack of the brand’s internal combustion engine models.

Claimed to “emotionally enhance the driving experience”, the system uses speakers inside and out to emit a configurable noise over a “wide bandwidth” Affalterbach insists makes the EQS 53 sound like a conventional performance AMG rather than an all-electric vehicle.

In total, four modes feature; Authentic, Balanced, Sport, Powerful and as part of the optional AMG Dynamic Plus package, Performance.

New to the 53 though are the brakes with stopping power coming from a setup made in-house by AMG comprising of a six-piston caliper design at the front and single at the rear with the discs measuring 415 mm and 378 mm respectively.

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Optional are the carbon ceramic stoppers made up of the same caliper layout, but with 440 mm front discs plus a new regenerative stopping system called i-Booster that combines hydraulic brakes with electric energy recuperation.

Inside, the EQS 53 keeps the dramatic MBUX Hyperscreen display that measures a combined 56-inches, albeit with model specific graphics and readouts. Also included are AMG branded floor mats, the AMG Performance steering wheel trimmed in Nappa leather and AMG illuminated door sills.

Rounding the cabin off are AMG alloy wheel pedals, Artico grey man-made leather and Neotex graining with red stitch work on the dashboard, black micro-fibres with red stitching on the door panels and centre console, as well as AMG branded sport seats finished in Artico with micro-fibres, or optional Nappa leather with red stitching on both.

Despite safety and specification items being identical to the 450+, the 53 receives more grunt in spite of its 107.8-kWh battery and dual electric motors being carried over.

With AMG tuning though, the 400-volt battery now produces 484kW/950Nm, which increases to 560kW/1 020Nm, the same as the Porsche Taycan Turbo S, in Race Start mode that forms part of the mentioned AMG Dynamic Plus package.

Tipping the scales at 2 655 kg, 70 kg heavier than the 450+, the 53 will still get from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds before topping out at 220 km/h, though with the Dynamic Plus package, the claimed v-max rises to 250 km/h with the benchmark sprint dropping to 3.4 seconds.

Surprisingly, AMG declined to comment about the EQS 53’s range, saying that a total of 300 km is possible on a single charge after 19 minutes when using a 220 kW rapid charging station.

In Europe, sales of the AMG EQS 53 will commence early next year followed by the United States with pricing still to be confirmed. However, like the standard model, the 53 has not been earmarked for South Africa anytime soon.