The future of Mercedes-Benz just got faster.
The 2022 Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 delivers on the promise of a faster electric limousine made at the launch of the EQS, with up to 560kW of power and 1020Nm of torque from its dual-motor all-wheel drive system.
It’ll be in Australia during the first half of 2022.
Two models will be offered. The first is the EQS 53, with 484kW of power and 950Nm of torque from its dual-motor all-wheel drive system.
The 100km/h sprint takes a claimed 3.8 seconds, and top speed is 220km/h.
Opting for the AMG Dynamic Plus package ups peak power to 560kW and peak torque to 1020Nm for a 3.4-second sprint to 100km/h. Flat out you’ll be doing 250km/h.
The package also gets a unique Performance sound, with “onboard shakers and loudspeakers make the power of the electric motors clear even when stationary”.
Regardless of which model you opt for, the EQS 53 packs a 107.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack good for up to 580km of range on the WLTP test cycle.
An 11kW onboard AC charger is standard, and a 22kW unit is optional. Hooked up to a public DC fast charger the EQS will charge at up to 200kW.
Under the skin, Mercedes-AMG says the hottest EQS takes lessons learned from the AMG GT 4-Door and applies them to its air suspension.
It’s continuously variable thanks to a control unit analysing wheel movement multiple times each second, and adjusts the rebound and compression damping accordingly.
A rear-wheel steering system capable of turning up to nine degrees in the opposite direction to the front wheels is standard, giving the EQS a tighter turning circle than the compact A-Class sedan.
415mm front and 378mm rear brakes are standard, backed by a regenerative braking system capable of operating at up to 300kW. That might sound like overkill, but the EQS weighs more than 2700kg so it’ll take some stopping.
Outside, you’ll be able to tell the AMG apart from the regular EQS by looking for its 21- or 22-inch alloy wheels, unique rear spoiler and front splitter, and AMG sill panels.
Despite the racier add-ons, the EQS 53 has a drag coefficient of just 0.23 to eke as much range as possible from the battery.
Inside, the EQS 53 gets seats trimmed in man-made leather, along with an array of sporty AMG touch points.
The huge MBUX Hyperscreen infotainment system is standard. Measuring over 141cm wide, it encompasses a digital instrument cluster, central touchscreen, and a touch display for the passenger.
Mercedes says the “area perceived by the occupants” measures 2432.11cm2, and the lower part of the screen has integrated ambient lighting to simulate a floating effect.
What about the car it’s based on?
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS is a statement of intent from the three-pointed star, and will sit alongside the petrol-powered S-Class atop its range.
It will touch down locally in December 2021, at which point it will join the EQA and EQC in the local electric range. Which models are coming isn’t yet clear.
Where the EQA and EQC are built around the same bones as petrol, diesel, and hybrid cars, the EQS is a ground-up electric car.
It debuts a bespoke electric platform that will eventually underpin the smaller EQE sedan and two large electric SUVs.
Two EQS models will be offered at launch: the EQS 450+ and the EQS 580.
Both feature a 107.8kWh lithium-ion battery beneath the floor, and claimed range is up to 770km on the tougher WLTP test cycle.
The EQS 450+ is rear-wheel drive, with 245kW of power and 568Nm of torque. The 100km/h sprint takes 6.2 seconds, and flat out you’ll be doing 210km/h.
The EQS 580 4Matic is all-wheel drive, with motors on both axles capable of adapting their torque outputs 10,000 times per minute for better grip, efficiency, or performance.
It has 385kW of power and 855Nm of torque, and completes the 100km/h sprint in 4.3 seconds.
Could the AMG EQS 53 drag you away from a Tesla Model S?
