The hottest version of Mercedes-Benz’s flagship battery-electric vehicle has finally been announced. Starting at $148,550, the 2022 Mercedes-AMG EQS is the priciest member of the lineup and it’ll be available only in Exclusive and Pinnacle trims when it arrives this spring. This means the car will include a long list of standard features including the MBUX Hyperscreen, which houses three screens under a single curved glass panel totaling 56 inches. It will also include special displays on the digital gauge cluster and an augmented reality head-up display.
Every 2022 Mercedes-AMG EQS gets a performance-tuned 4Matic+ variable AWD system as standard equipment. It continuously distributes drive torque between the front and rear axles based on the driving situation. Since it’s been tuned specifically for BEVs, this unit is tuned for faster responses and checks torque 10,000 times per minute before making any necessary adjustments. The hot EQS also gets the AMG Ride Control+ air suspension with adaptive dampers featuring a four-link front and multilink rear setup. Its calibration is unique to the AMG EQS and has been fine-tuned to meet the requirements of performance-minded customers. Standard rear-wheel steering turns the rear wheels up to nine degrees, helping the car turn in better.
Power comes from two electric motors, one mounted on each axle. These are essentially the same units found in the EQS 580 but massaged for high-performance duty. In standard form, the AMG EQS makes up to 649 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque. Using launch control and activating the Boost function will briefly increase the combined output to 751 hp and 752 lb-ft. This is achieved thanks to the AMG Dynamic Plus package, which is standard on the U.S.-spec AMG EQS. Stand-alone performance-oriented options include the AMG Track Pace app and AMG ceramic composite brakes.
Since this is a flagship, the AMG EQS also gets a long list of standard creature comforts. This includes heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, a Burmester 3D surround sound system, wireless charging, and pillows on the headrests. A full suite of driver assistance features is also standard. That consists of adaptive cruise control, lane centering, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, automatic lane changing, cross-traffic alert, and evasive steering assist. For maximum comfort for all passengers, you can also get the Executive Rear Seat package, which adds heated, ventilated, and massaging rear seats, neck and shoulder heating, and a tablet mounted on the center armrest. Cosmetic extras include 21- or 22-inch alloy wheels and red brake calipers.
The AMG EQS marks the first entry of an all-electric vehicle from Mercedes-Benz’s performance division. It will be followed by the AMG EQE, which has up to 677 hp and 738 lb-ft when using launch control and boost mode. After the two sedans, AMG will release two battery-electric performance crossovers, hot versions of the upcoming EQS SUV and EQE SUV.
Like the standard model, every 2022 Mercedes-AMG EQS gets two years of free maintenance. Additionally, owners will also have two years of complimentary 30-minute DC charging with the Electrify America network. Charging the 107.8-kWh battery pack should take roughly 31 minutes via DC charger since the peak rate is 200 kW, the same as other EQS models. Using a level 2 AC charger will get you a full charge in just over 11 hours at peak rates of up to 11 kW.
