Mercedes-AMG EQS

The Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ electric sedan has been launched in India priced at Rs. 2.45 crore (ex-showroom, India). The German brand's new flagship electric offering has come to our shores as a completely built unit (CBU) or full import model and is the company's second electric offering after the Mercedes-Benz EQC. The new Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ takes on the likes of the Audi e-tron RS and Porsche Taycan, while Mercedes-Benz is also gearing up to launch the 580 electric sedan in India this October taking the CKD route and so the EQS 580 will be locally assembled.

As far as looks go, the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ electric sedan makes quite a sporty impression while it's quite easy to confuse it with a petrol-powered Mercedes when looked from a distance. The exterior builds up on AMG styling giving it a sharp and imposing stance. The front end features digital light headlamps, AMG-specific black panel grille with vertical struts in chrome, integrated Mercedes star, and "AMG" lettering, while the front bumper is body coloured. The front apron features the hallmark AMG A-wing design painted in high-gloss black with chrome trim. And all the design elements help the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ to achieve a drag coefficient of 0.23. The profile gets AMG side sill panels in high-gloss black while sitting on 21- or 22-inch AMG light-alloy wheels in Aero or Heritage design. The rear section has a large rear spoiler with a rear apron in the colour of the car and an aerodynamically optimised diffuser with six longitudinal fins.

On the inside, the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ looks sublime having a well measured balance of sportiness and elegance. It gets AMG highlights in bucketload complementing its aggressive demeanour, thanks to the AMG seats with individual graphics and special seat covers in Artico man-made leather with Microcut microfibre and red contrasting topstitching. Alternatively, seat upholstery in Nappa leather is optional along with AMG-specific seat graphics. The MBUX Hyperscreen takes centre stage in the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ electric sedan and three screens sit under a glass cover and appear to merge into one.

Now coming to its body frame and mechanicals, the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ electric sedan is underpinned by the AMG.EA platform. It is equipped with two electric motors, one mounted on each axle and is coupled to a fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive (AWD) system. The basic version belts out a maximum total output of 658 bhp with a maximum torque of 950 Nm. The suspension of the new Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ features a four-link axle at the front and a multi-link axle at the rear and the AMG engineers have specifically improved the components and configured it to make the electric car as mental as it possibly gets. This applies to ride comfort as well as driving dynamics while the AMG Ride Control+ suspension combines electronically controlled adjustable damping together with rear-axle steering.

Finally coming to what all of it translates to, the new Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ does the 0-100 kmph sprint in 3.4 seconds with a battery charge level of at least 80 per cent. The top -peed is limited to 250 kmph with the optional package. In the basic version, the AMG EQS clocks triple-digit speed in 3.8 seconds with the top-speed being limited to 220 kmph. All this is achieved from a 107.8 kWh battery pack with AMG specific wiring adapted for high-performance capacity. The Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ also comes with five AMG Dynamic Select driving modes- Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual and the system also collects data and adjusts the damping force for each wheel to significantly increase the spread between sportiness and comfort.