AMG goes electric and launches the first AMG electric. The new Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic+ has more powerful engines, adapted to high performance, modified drive train, custom sound and AMG sportswear.
Mercedes-AMG has big ambitions in the field of high performance sports electric models wanting to compete with the Porsche Taycan Turbo S and the Tesla Model S Plaid. Thus, equipped with two electric motors, Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic + develops 761 HP and 1030 Nm (with AMG Dynamics Package) that is almost the same as Taycan Turbo S (761 HP and 1050 Nm) but less than Model S Plaid (1020 HP, no data about torque). But 82 HP and 450 Nm less than the new super sport PHEV Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E performance 4 door coupe.
The two-engine system is based on the highly refined EQS 580 but with a few modifications to increase the performance. As with the EQS 580, the two synchronous motors work in tandem controlled by the Torque Shifting function and offer a fully variable all-wheel drive. Normally, only the rear engine works, but at high speeds or when more traction is needed in high speed corners, the smaller engine on the front axle also comes into operation.
More power, modified engine and cooling system
For better performance, the engines have been modified to run at higher speeds than the EQS 580. To this end, the rear engine has a six-phase design based on two windings with three phases each. The stators with move-in winding ensure a particularly powerful magnetic field.
The engine cooling system has also been substantially improved to allow for repeated accelerations. The centerpiece of the sophisticated design is the so-called water lance in the shaft of the rotor, which cools it. Other AMG-specific cooling elements in the cooling circuit are special ribs on the stator and the needle-shaped pin-fin structure on the inverter, which is made of high-performance ceramics.
The result is 135 HP and 95 Nm more than the EQS 580 4Matic + because the base version of the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic + delivers 658 HP and 855 Nm without the AMG Dynamics package.
With a kerbweight of 2655 kg due to the large 107.8 kWh net battery, the AMG EQS 53 4Matic + accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 s which is impressive.
More agile than EQS 580 but the suspension is more firmer
And agility? Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic + comes standard with integral steering that allows the rear wheels to rotate in the opposite direction to the front ones up to 60 km/h with a maximum angle of 9 degrees and the drive train was modificed. Thus, rear axle beam, subframe and rear motor mountings are new developments exclusive to the AMG models. At the same time, transverse stabilizers, as well as the wheel carriers and control arms are derived from other AMG Performance models.
AMG EQS does not have active stabilizer bars like Porsche but uses the air suspension modified by AMG.
As in the AMG GT 4-Door Coupé, the standard air suspension of the EQS 53 4MATIC + uses two pressure relief valves. These continuously variable control valves located outside the damper allow the damping force to be adjusted even more precisely to different driving conditions and driving modes: a valve controls the rebound damping, i.e. the force generated when the wheel rebounds. The other controls the compression damping when the wheel compresses. The rebound and compression stages are controlled independently of each other.
The first test drive took place in California on a route combined with highways and canyon roads. The light steering is incisive and more communicative than in the EQS 580 with the advantage of a larger contact spot on the front tires.
AMG EQS 53 4Matic comes standard with 21-inch Aero or Heritage wheels (22-inch wheels with the same design are available) with Michelin Sport EV pilot tires.
The Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic + becomes more dynamic in Sport and Sport + mode (the driver also has Comfort and Slippery modes available plus Individual mode), reacts spontaneously to the change of direction and is very stable giving great confidence.
The integral steering fully contributes to the remarkable agility for a limousine that exceeds 5 meters in length as well as the battery mounted very low in the floor which gives it a lowered center of gravity.
On the other hand, in corners you can feel the inertia of large masses but the completely variable torque distribution that allows power transfer up to 100% on the front or rear ensures efficient traction on any surface.
The neutral road holding is impressive and when you accelerate harder it feels like the rear engine has more power and gives a typical feel to a rear-wheel drive car.
You can also accelerate without worrying when coming out of corners because the traction is superb. If you still exceed the limits, the ESP system reacts quickly by braking each wheel individually and redistributing torque to the wheels with more grip.
With the modifications made by AMG, the suspension of the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic+ is a bit firmer than that of the EQS 580, but there is still a small roll. But the movement of the body is progressive and allows you to react in time.
On the other hand driving comfort is not as distinct as in EQS 580. The air suspension is quite firm even in Comfort mode. When the road surface is not perfect, there is a harshness of the suspension and there is a more obvious vertical movement at the front axle that does not cushion the short bumps too well.
Also, the rolling noise of the tires is higher than at EQS 580.
AMG EQS 53 4Matic + also comes with an improved braking system with six-piston brake callipers and brake discs measuring 415×33 millimeters at the front, and single-piston brake callipers and brake discs measuring 378×22 millimeters at the rear. But the braking is not really linear and the feeling when you press the pedal leaves room for better.
Normally, Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic + is very quiet but you can try AMG Sound Experience which offers some synthetic sounds. In the basic standard version Authentic, the driver can adjust the sound intensity according to the chosen driving mode.
Optionally, from the center display or using the buttons on the AMG steering wheel, the driver can select three types of sounds “Balanced”, “Sport” and “Powerful” in any driving mode. And the AMG Dynamic Plus package also comes with Performance sound.
The sound becomes louder depending on how hard you press the accelerator but remains discreet when the accelerator pedal is pressed constantly.
The same big battery but less range than EQS 580
Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic + comes with the same 107.8 kWh net battery on 400V from EQS 580 4Matic+ which can be charged to AC stations with 11 or 22 kW (optional) or to DC stations with up to 200 kW. It doesn’t have 800V technology like Taycan but the energy for 300 km WLTP can be charged in only 19 minutes.
Due to the higher power, the range is somewhat lower than in the EQS 450+ with a single engine or in EQS 580 4Matic+, this being between 529 and 686 km (EQS 450+ 770 km, EQS 580 668 km).
With a wheelbase of 3210 mm, the AMG EQS offers plenty of space in the rear and the trunk volume between 610 and 1770 liters is 154 liters bigger than the Mercedes-AMG GT 4 door coupe.
AMG EQS 53 4Matic + benefits from very good aerodynamics, the Cx being 0.23 compared to 0.20 at EQS 450. The Digital Light headlights offered as standard flank the AMG-specific black panel grille with hot-stamped vertical struts in chrome which is in contrast by the front apron in the typical AMG A-wing design, painted in high-gloss black and features chrome trim.
Priced at 152,546.10 euros, the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic + is 17,017 euros more expensive than the EQS 580.
