Late to the party, Mercedes isn’t wasting time ramping up its line-up of all-electric vehicles and is putting a premium on performance with models like the AMG EQE model it unwrapped today.
Set to reach U.S. showrooms next year, the AMG EQE will punch out as much as 677 horsepower, enough to launch it from 0-60 in just 3.2 seconds with the optional AMG Dynamic Plus Package.
“With the new model, we are expanding our range with a purely electrically powered performance vehicle and are thus addressing additional target groups,” said Philipp Schiemer, chairman of the Board at Mercedes-AMG. “And (it’s) not the end of our future of driving performance.”
An expanding, all-electric family
The debut of the EQE follows the Mercedes EQS sedan flagship, the automaker’s first all-electric model targeting the U.S. market. But it will soon be joined by an assortment of other battery-electric offerings, including the EQA, EQB and EQG sport-utility vehicles. Expect to see AMG variants of at least some of these models.
But, added Schiemer, “After performance hybrids and all-electric AMG derivatives” of mainstream Mercedes models, there will be “stand-alone AMG electric vehicles … in the not too distant future. These are based on AMG.EA, our new, completely in-house-developed platform.”
The AMG version of the EQE picks up on the “one-bow” design language first used on the EQS. That translates into a short, low nose, a steeply raked windshield and aggressively curved roofline. With a shorter wheelbase than the EQS, the mid-range sedan gets a stubbier back end.
Add distinctive AMG touches, such as the sealed, black panel grille with vertical chrome struts, unique headlamps, an AMG A-wing front bumper and a front splitter in high gloss black. Air diffusers help reduce turbulence around the front wheels. The EQE also features AMG side sills in high-gloss black, a large rear spoiler and unique light-alloy wheels.
A “sporty ambience”
With the battery pack and motors moved below the load floor, the cab-forward design yields a larger interior than the exterior footprint might suggest. Like the EQS the midsize EQE comes with a pair of digital displays, including the reconfigurable instrument cluster. And both models offer the optional Mercedes Hyperscreen which features three screens under a single curved piece of glass.
The goal was to give the AMG EQE a “sporty ambience,” according to Mercedes, including sculpted and supportive sport seats in a man-made textile or optional Nappa leather. There are plenty of AMG badges on the seats, pedals, floor mats and door sill trim. The flattened steering wheel is also finished in Nappa leather and a silver paddle behind the wheel here let the driver choose the right level of regenerative braking.
The most aggressive, “One-Pedal” mode, allows a driver to slow simply be easing back on the throttle, much as one would with a gas-powered engine downshifted several gears. In many cases, a driver will be able to come to a complete stop without having to shift their right foot to the brake pedal.
Two performance options
AMG EQE buyers will have two key options when it comes to performance. At its most basic, the twin motors of the performance sedan will deliver 617 hp and 701 pound-feet of torque. That will get you to 60 in about 3.4 seconds.
With the Optional AMG Dynamic Plus Package, the pony count climbs to 677, with torque rising to 738 lb-ft. That cuts launch times down to 3.2 seconds — as long as the battery pack has at least a 70% state-of-charge.
The Dynamic Plus Package adds a Race Start mode, and additional themes for the “Sound Experience.” That feature lets a driver choose between different audio themes that substitute for the engine noise of a gas-powered AMG model.
More to come
The 328-volt lithium-ion battery pack has a useful capacity of 90.6 kilowatt-hours. Range is estimated at up to 321 miles — though that’s based on the European WLTP standard. Using the EPA test cycle will likely drop that to just under 300 miles. Mercedes claims the EQE can add up to 118 miles of range in just 15 minutes using one of the latest high-speed chargers. That is also based on the WLTP standard.
U.S. range and charging data — along with pricing — won’t be released until closer to the AMG EQE’s formal launch.
Look for the 2023 Mercedes-AMG EQE to reach U.S. showrooms early in 2023.