The second battery-electric vehicle wearing an AMG badge has arrived. Called the Mercedes-AMG EQE, the smaller of the two sedans focuses on agility and fun driving dynamics. That doesn’t mean this AMG won’t have prodigious power because this has a lot of it. In North America, we’re only getting the most potent version, the 2023 Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4Matic+. Europe will get a less powerful version called the AMG EQE 43 with 469 hp.
Slotting above the single-motor EQE 350, the 2023 Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4Matic+ features a dual-motor setup and a 90.6-kWh lithium-ion battery. The powertrain makes up to 617 hp and 701 lb-ft of torque, enabling it to hit 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. In case that’s not enough, add the AMG Dynamic Plus package, raising the car’s maximum output to a healthy 677 hp and 738 lb-ft. That also cuts the 0 to 60 mph time to 3.2 seconds and raises the top speed limiter to 149 mph from 137 mph.
Both electric motors are AMG-specific permanently excited synchronous (PSM) units tuned for performance applications. It gets unique adapted windings and laminations, higher currents, and a specific inverter to allow for higher speeds and generate more power. The rear motor is more powerful thanks to its six-phase design based on two windings that have three phases each. A stator with pull-in winding ensures the generation of a strong magnetic field. These motors also have excellent thermal management, allowing them to perform repeated acceleration maneuvers consistently. A water lance within the rotor’s shaft helps cool the motor. Special ribs on the stator and a needle-shaped pin-fin ceramic structure on the inverter are two additional AMG-specific cooling components. There’s also a transmission oil heat exchanger that can cool or preheat the motors depending on the weather to improve overall efficiency.
The battery features an AMG-specific management system and can receive improvements via over-the-air (OTA) updates. In Sport and Sport+ modes, it focuses on improving performance while Comfort emphasizes long-distance driving. An AMG-specific wiring harness has been added to increase the battery’s performance capabilities. Mercedes also reduced the amount of cobalt being used in the pack by 10 percent and optimized the nickel, cobalt, and manganese ratio to 8:1:1. Peak DC charging rates remain at 170 kW just like the EQE 350, enabling the AMG EQE 53 to regain 180 km or 112 miles (WLTP cycle) in 15 minutes. You can also fully charge the vehicle via a level 2 AC charger overnight at rates of up to 22 kW.
Mercedes optimized the thermal management of the batteries to shorten charging times. If you activate Navigation with Electric Intelligence, the pack gets preheated or cooled while driving to get to optimum charging temperatures before you reach the station. This is done via a cooling circuit and an integrated PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) booster heater. The battery frame also has defined cavities that allow coolant to flow into to help maintain high charging currents for long periods. An Eco Charging function reduces the load during charging and minimizes the load and wear on the pack during charging. You can also schedule the car to start charging during hours when electricity costs less.
The AMG EQE 53 features strong energy recuperation during regenerative braking, reaching up to 260 kW. There are three levels that the driver can select via a switch on the steering wheel and you can also make the strength situational via the ECO Assist function. One-pedal driving will be available, allowing the vehicle to come to a standstill without using the brake pedal
Like most vehicles on a dedicated BEV platform, the EQE 53’s battery is under the passenger compartment embedded in the body shell structure. The housing is rigid, double-walled, and composed of energy-absorbing structures in the front and side to provide additional protection. A separate multilevel safety system has also been added to monitor everything from temperature to insulation and voltage during daily operations. The battery switches off if a fault happens. It also has a crash monitoring system that activates when the car is stationary and charging.
Like the larger AMG EQS 53, the EQE 53 gets a performance-tuned AWD system that continuously distributes torque between the two axles depending on the driving conditions. The system also reacts quicker, checking torque levels 160 times per second. Each drive mode also changes the way power is distributed. Comfort mode focuses on maximum efficiency while Sport and Sport+ send more power to the rear wheels. The AMG EQE 53 gets rear-wheel steering as standard for better handling and maneuverability. This is done by turning the rear wheels 3.6 degrees to minimize steering effort. When driving under 37 mph, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the front, tightening the turning radius and enabling the car to change directions quickly. At higher speeds, they turn in the same direction as the front to improve stability.
The AMG EQE 53 gets the AMG Ride Control+ air suspension with adjustable dampers as standard. In this application, it gets AMG-specific wheel carriers, suspension links, and more rigid anti-roll bars. The basic features are similar to the larger EQS 53 and the AMG GT Four-Door Coupe but set up specifically for the EQE 53. Its rear axle carrier is connected to the body shell, which has 50 percent stiffer bearings and reduced bearing clearance to allow for more direct road contact. The adjustable dampers use two pressure limiting values to allow for more precise damper force adjustments to match the driving conditions and specific drive modes. One valve independently controls the rebound phase while the second manages compression, increasing comfort levels while retaining sporty road manners.
The suspension control unit analyzes data, including acceleration and information from the wheel path sensors to adjust the damping at each wheel in milliseconds to suit every driving condition. Depending on the mode you select the air suspension will lower or raise the vehicle to maximize its wind-cheating capability and lower the center of gravity. In Sport and Sport+ modes, the car is automatically lowered by 0.6 inches. Leaving it in Comfort mode keeps it situational and will drop the ride height above 78 mph or raise it below 50 mph
There are five drive modes in the EQE 53. Slippery limits the output to 50 percent (308 hp) while Comfort keeps it at 80 percent (493 hp). Sport mode ups that to 90 percent (555 hp) and Sport+ gives you the full 617 hp. There’s also an Individual mode to enable you to customize every aspect of the vehicle. Race Start (launch control) also gives you the car’s full power and is the only way to get the full 677 hp if you have the AMG Dynamic Plus package. Sport and Sport+ modes also activate the cooling system sooner and increase the cooling capacity so that the car can deliver its full power for longer periods.
When it’s time to stop, the EQE 53 relies on standard six-piston brakes with massive 16.3-inch by 1.3-inch front discs and single-piston rear units measuring 14.9 inches by 0.87 inches. If you’re looking to take your car to the track, Mercedes also offers AMG carbon-ceramic front brakes measuring 17.3 inches by 1.6 inches. However, they’re only available with the optional 21-inch wheels. An intelligent i-Booster brake booster blends regenerative and hydraulic braking and has been tuned specifically for AMG models to provide a better feel.
Since BEVs are silent, Mercedes decided to give you special soundtracks via the AMG Sound Experience. This allows the driver to select a specific sound generated by the vehicle to create a unique mood depending on the selected drive mode. You can further change the characteristics made by the sound by choosing between Balanced, Sport, and Powerful settings, similar to what you’d find in an internal combustion AMG model with an active exhaust. Race Start also creates a unique sound to match the car’s acceleration. A Performance sound setting is included in the AMG Dynamic Plus package along with special ones specifically for actions like locking the vehicle and turning it on or off.
You’ll be able to distinguish the EQE 53 from the more pedestrian EQE 350 via AMG-specific design cues. The most prominent one is the black enclosed grilled with hot-stamped vertical chrome struts, an integrated three-pointed star, and an AMG badge. The LED headlights get an AMG-specific projection when opening and closing the car. Body-colored front bumpers with gloss black accents, chrome trim, and larger air curtains. On the side, the sills are finished in gloss black while the rear gets a spoiler. You’ll be able to choose from several appearance packages including the AMG Night package and a choice of 20- or 21-inch alloy wheels.
Changes inside include the addition of AMG-specific seats finished in MB-Tex leatherette with microfiber inserts or Nappa leather. The instrument panel and beltlines are done in Space Grey MB-Tex leatherette and feature red topstitching. You get black microfiber inserts on the center door panels with red contrast stitching. A standard two-spoke, flat-bottom AMG steering wheel is finished in Nappa leather and features silver paddles to toggle the regenerative braking levels and a set of AMG Drive Unit buttons. AMG sports pedals, floor mats, and door sills round out the interior changes. Mercedes’ MBUX Hyperscreen is optional on the EQE 53 and houses three massive displays under a single glass panel on the dash measuring 56 inches in total. It gets AMG-specific functions to emphasize the car’s sporting nature along with unique displays and gauges, and easy access to the AMG Dynamic Select drive mode selector.
In the EQE 53, MBUX will also be available with Navigation with Electric Intelligence. This feature plans the fastest and most convenient route, and will also include charging stops. It takes into account several factors including traffic flow, your driving style, topography, and energy demand. The car will also be able to record traffic jams and road closures during your trip. Drivers will be able to edit the route individually including manually adding charging stops, excluding suggested charging stops and estimating charging costs per stop. You’ll also be able to set the additional reserve charge that you want when you get to your destination with 10 percent being the default. The Charge at Destination function could also undercut the set reserve when you reach your destination. In case you won’t reach your destination with your selected route settings, the car will inform you ahead of time and tell you to activate its Eco driving functions.
The components of the EQE 53 make extensive use of renewable and recycled materials. The interior, for example, utilizes yarn made from regenerated nylon for the floor coverings while the body is 80 percent secondary steel, most of which came from scrap metal. Once the batteries have finished serving in vehicles, Mercedes will find secondary uses for them. This includes utilizing them for energy banks operated by Mercedes-Benz Energy GmbH. That division has brought three large-scale energy banks totaling around 50 MWh to Germany’s electricity grid in collaboration with its partners. The first one was connected in Oct. 2016 in Lünen, Westphalia, Germany.
Expect the 2023 Mercedes-AMG EQE 4Matic+ to go on sale later this year. It will slot above the single-motor EQE 350 as the new range-topping model. Between these two vehicles, a non-AMG dual-motor variant, likely wearing the EQE 450 badge, could join the lineup after the EQE 53.
