Jonathan Gitlin
A few months ago, we tested Mercedes-Benz’s EQE SUV, the German automaker’s mid-size electric car. It was a very good performer, not exactly fun but comfortable and equipped with one of the best infotainment systems. It has now been given the AMG treatment, operated by Mercedes’ in-house tuning division. There are visual tweaks, suspension upgrades, and AMG-style electric motors that increase power to 677 hp (505 kW). But could Affalterbach’s changes bring more excitement to the EQE SUV secret?
You can tell you’re looking at a Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV and not a Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV in a number of ways. The black front fascia is new, with chrome-like stripes reminiscent of the radiators on the AMG air intakes. The front bumper is sporty, and a gloss black tone is used instead of chrome, as well as for aerodynamic pieces such as the various air vents and diffusers.
Jonathan Gitlin
There’s an AMG badge on the hood instead of the usual three-pointed star, and the highlight of the AMG treatment, for me, were the AMG 21-inch wheels, which come wrapped in EV-specific Michelin Pilot Sport. tires. But overall, the tweaks are subtle and won’t be visible to the casual viewer.
If you take out the AMG EQE SUV, the front and rear axles, you can find electric motors that will forever delight those who drive the regular EQE SUV, with new curves and ignition. The inverters modified with high current translate to the speed of the car, and there is also additional cooling-including the water shaft-fixed-allowing it to be repeatedly driven hard without running into thermal problems. There is also a conventional heat pump.
Power and torque peak at 677 hp and 738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm), even in “race start” mode – starting to improve control – it’s a performance boost. Without boost, the power is set at 617 hp (460 kW) at the start of the race and sports +; sport mode gives you 555 hp (414 kW), comfort limits this to 493 hp (368 kW), and if you need a slippery surface, the AMG EQE SUV gives you 308 hp (230 kW)—50 percent more power. .
Jonathan Gitlin
The battery is made up of 360 lithium-ion pouch cells, with AMG-style wiring and power management software. It has a capacity of 90.6 kWh, and can run as fast as 170 kW. Charging times and EPA ratings won’t be available until the car arrives in the US in Q3 2023, however. Driving mixed back roads and then the highway from San Diego to Santa Monica, I averaged 2.5 miles/kWh (24.9 kWh/100 km).
However more work has been done on the suspension. The AMG EQE SUV is equipped with new transmissions, wheel bearings, suspension links, and electronic shock absorbers that can be adjusted for comfort or stiffened for better performance, depending on the individual’s mood. As you might expect, the suspension is stiffer for sport and sport +, which also lowers the ride by 0.6 inches (15 mm). (This also happens in Comfort if you exceed 75 mph/121 kmh.) Mercedes has also chosen to fit rear-wheel steering as standard on US-spec AMG EQE SUVs; This can be adjusted up to 9 degrees, turning with the direction of the front wheels above 37 mph (60 km / h) for maximum stability, and the opposite side of the limit under the door to increase the power.
On the streets and highways of California, the ride of the AMG EQE SUV is much firmer than the standard EQE SUV, mainly due to the wider gaps. There was also a lot of road noise, even when you play with sports + modes the powertrain makes a loud noise that reminds you that you are driving something with a lot of oomph. And it has plenty of oomph in those ways—easily enough to squeeze you as a backseat passenger into the driver’s seat at full stop. At initial acceleration and power, you can expect to hit 60 mph in about 3.4 seconds.