The 2022 Mercedes-AMG EQS sedan: Brute-force EV misses the mark

DENVER—Looking again 5 years, I’m unsure anybody would have fairly predicted the place the electrical automobile market was headed. Cars just like the Chevrolet Bolt, Nissan Leaf, and Tesla Model 3 appeared to level towards mass-market EVs turning into increasingly widespread. Instead, EVs have gone additional upmarket, with gross sales costs pushed greater and better by a mix of provide shortages, huge batteries, and a frothy market of collectors combating automotive FOMO.

It’s probably not that shocking, on condition that revenue margins for giant luxurious vehicles are a lot bigger than for small, mass-market ones. Which is why all the things appears to be like so costly, as each startups and established automakers deliver their first EVs to market. Like the Mercedes-Benz EQS for instance, which is a extremely aerodynamic electrical various to the S-Class sedan that impressed us after we examined one earlier this yr. Now we have tried a extra excessive model of that automotive—the $147,500 Mercedes-AMG EQS sedan.

Like different automotive firms, Mercedes is within the means of determining what electrification means for all its varied divisions, and that features AMG. Originally an aftermarket tuning firm, Mercedes-AMG GmbH has been totally owned by the Germany automaker since 2005 however nonetheless continues to work its tuning magic on mercs, including some know-how switch from its all-conquering Formula 1 program.

The Mercedes-AMG EQS sticks to the twin-motor structure of the EQS 580. They stay everlasting magnet synchronous motors, however with new windings that enable for larger present. The management software program has been rewritten, too, all with the purpose of permitting the motors to spin sooner and subsequently ship extra energy. In this case, 649 hp (484 kW) and 700 lb-ft (949 Nm) by default, with bursts of 751 hp (560 kW) and 752 lb-ft (1,109 Nm).

Delivering that rather more energy requires asking extra of the 107.8 kWh (web) battery, and so the sooner powertrain is considerably much less environment friendly, shaving the EPA vary estimate right down to 277 miles (446 km), though that is a determine others have discovered conservative in testing.

In observe on a mixture of roads round Denver, I averaged 2.5 miles/kWh (24.9 kWh/100 km) on a automotive carrying 22-inch wheels. I in all probability might have bettered that by staying in consolation mode, which optimizes vary, however in sport and sport+ modes, AMG-specific battery wiring and battery administration prioritize energy supply over vary effectivity. And why trouble with an AMG until you are going to drive it in sport and sport+ modes?

AMG has additionally fettled the suspension in comparison with the common EQS. There’s a brand new rear beam axle, together with a brand new subframe and new motor mounts and different parts like wheel carriers and management arms that will also be discovered on different AMG fashions. And there’s AMG-specific software program controlling the air suspension, which makes use of separate valves to manage compression and rebound.

The upshot is a faster 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time of three.4 seconds, which feels very quick for nearly everybody. But it does not really feel as quick as another equally priced EVs—a Tesla Model S Plaid would present it a clear pair of heels, as would a Lucid Air Grand Touring. Or a Porsche Taycan Turbo. And a Taycan or Audi e-tron GT positively feels extra nimble on a twisting highway, regardless of the AMG EQS’ rear-wheel steering, which might add as much as 10 levels of steering angle on the again wheels to extend low-speed agility and high-speed stability.