When Mercedes-Benz exclusively built gas-powered cars, it routinely sent them to its AMG performance division. AMG engineers would take the standard Mercedes car and inject it with Tabasco, building quicker, more powerful, better-looking editions that would sell at a hefty premium. Mercedes is going electric. But the AMG step isn’t going away.
In September 2021, the German automaker gave the world its EQE battery-electric luxury sedan. Sharing space with the iconic E-Class mid-size luxury sedan in the Mercedes lineup, it’s a sumptuous executive sedan with one of the largest batteries on the market (Natural Resources Canada still hasn’t weighed in on its range). So, it’s about time for the spicy one.
What is the performance like in the new Mercedes-AMG EQE?
You have two options: a lot of power or even more power.
The AMG EQE uses a motor on each axle to give you all-wheel drive grip and 617 horsepower. It leaps from a standstill to 100 kilometres per hour in just 3.5 seconds.
Should that not be enough, an available AMG Dynamic Plus Package pushes it up to 677 hp for a brief boost in Race Start mode. That one does the run to 100 km/h in just 3.3 seconds.
How will the electric Mercedes-AMG ride and handle?
The 2023 Mercedes-AMG EQE rides on an AMG Ride Control adaptive air suspension borrowed from the AMG GT sports car. It, Mercedes says, “analyzes data—including data from the acceleration and wheel path sensors—to adjust the damping force for each wheel in a few milliseconds to suit the situation.”
Four-wheel-steering is standard. It moves the rear wheels opposite the front below 60 km/h and with them above that speed. That combination, Mercedes says, offers increased maneuverability at neighbourhood speeds and more stable handling at highway speeds. Drivers can select for comfort or sporty feel with five driving modes. The Dynamic Plus Package adds a sixth.
What’s the electric driving range of the 2023 Mercedes-AMG EQE?
Mercedes hasn’t predicted the car’s range. But the company says it can add 185 km of driving range in just 15 minutes when connected to a Level 3 fast charger.
How are the AMG version’s styling and design different than the regular EQE?
Not much differentiates the AMG model from the standard EQE’s inflated jellybean looks. It wears more aggressively shaped bumpers and side skirts (also available on the standard car with the AMG Line Package.) Unique to the AMG EQE is a faux grille with chrome vertical bars and a trunk lid spoiler.
Inside, AMG-specific race seats feature red stitching on black leatherette upholstery (Nappa leather is an option). A flat-bottom AMG performance steering wheel includes paddle shifters. That’s an odd addition on an electric car (they don’t shift), but Mercedes says they control “various (energy) recuperation levels.”
The EQE is available with Mercedes’ signature Hyperscreen—an immense, full-width screen that replaces almost the entire dashboard with a touchscreen surface.
AMG’s internal combustion vehicles are known for their lusty engine sounds. Electric cars are near-silent. So, Mercedes has developed what it calls “the AMG Sound Experience,” which uses speakers separate from the entertainment system to play customized sounds from themes the driver can select to match their mood.
What will be the 2023 Mercedes-AMG EQE’s showroom competition?
As of now, the AMG EQE will compete against the existing Audi RS e-tron GT, Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, and Tesla Model 3 Performance.
When will the new Mercedes performance EV go on sale, and how much will it cost?
Mercedes-Benz Canada has not provided retail information yet. We're assuming it will be available to order sometime later this year. And similar to how the mid-size E-Class slots under the full-size S-Class, expect the 2023 Mercedes-AMG EQE to be priced below the Mercedes-Benz EQS full-size electric luxury sedan's starting price of $144,200 in Canadian dollars.
