Mercedes-AMG is consistently pushing ahead with the Future of Driving Performance and expanding its product portfolio with battery-electric performance models. New to the range is the Mercedes-AMG EQE 43 4MATIC and the Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4MATIC+. They are based on the electric-exclusive Mercedes architecture of the luxury and premium class (EVA2). AMG-specific solutions – particularly in the areas of drive, suspension, brakes, sound, exterior and interior design, and equipment – ensure a dynamic and emotively appealing AMG driving experience. Both new Mercedes-AMG EQE models offer a performance-oriented drive concept with two electric motors. The powerful electric drivetrain (eATS), with a motor on each of the axles, also offers fully variable all-wheel drive, which optimally transmits the drive power to the asphalt under all driving conditions. The power spectrum ranges from 350 kW (476 hp) in the EQE 43 4MATIC to 505 kW (687 hp) in the EQE 53 4MATIC+ with optional AMG DYNAMIC PLUS Package and boosts function. The maximum torque ranges from 858 to 1000 Nm.
“With two new models, we are expanding our range with purely electrically powered performance vehicles and are thus addressing additional target groups. The EQE 43 4MATIC is the entry-level model for electric Driving Performance from Mercedes-AMG. The EQE 53 4MATIC+, on the other hand, focuses on even more sportiness and greater driving dynamics. And that’s not the end of our Future of Driving Performance: After performance hybrids and all-electric AMG derivatives based on EVA2, stand-alone AMG electric vehicles will follow in the not too distant future. These are based on AMG.EA, our new, completely in-house-developed platform,” says Philipp Schiemer, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.
“The compact format of the EQE forms the perfect starting point for realizing a highly agile and very emotional driving experience with our AMG-specific solutions. This applies in particular to the areas of drive, chassis, brakes, and, above all, sound. This ensures that our customers can also look forward to our brand’s hallmark Driving Performance in our second all-electric model series,” says Jochen Hermann, Chief Technical Officer of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.
The AMG RIDE CONTROL+ air suspension with adaptive adjustable damping is based on a four-link front axle and multilink rear suspension. Both are optimized with AMG-specific wheel carriers, suspension links, and anti-roll bars with higher rigidity. It corresponds in its basic features to the suspension of the AMG EQS and the AMG GT Four-Door Coupé, but its set-up has been adapted to the AMG EQE. The rear axle carrier is connected to the body shell with 50 percent stiffer bearings and reduced bearing clearance to create even more direct road contact. The AMG engineers have specifically tuned all components to meet the special requirements of AMG customers. This applies to ride comfort as well as driving dynamics. The adaptive adjustable damping uses two so-called pressure limiting valves. These continuously variable control valves located outside the damper allow the damping force to be adjusted even more precisely to different driving conditions and drive programs: one valve controls the rebound phase, i.e. the force generated when the wheel rebounds; the other controls the compression phase when the wheel compresses. The rebound and compression phases are controlled independently of each other. This technology makes it possible to increase comfort on the one hand, but also to make the driving dynamics even sportier on the other hand.
The suspension control unit analyses data – including data from the acceleration and wheel path sensors – to adjust the damping force for each wheel in a few milliseconds to suit the situation. The AMG developers were able to significantly increase the spread between sportiness and comfort. Among other things, by widening the spread between minimum and maximum damping force characteristics, as well as even greater flexibility in characteristic mapping. By using the two adjustment valves, the damper can provide damping force adjustment across the full range of wheel vibrations. Thanks to the special design of the valves, the damper reacts quickly and sensitively to changing road surfaces and driving conditions. Efficiency also feeds into intelligent driving level control, which enables better aerodynamics and lowers power consumption. In the S and S+ drive programs, the Mercedes-AMG EQE models already drive at the low level (-15 mm) from 0 km/h. In drive program C, speed-dependent control takes place with lowering from 120 km/h and rising from 80 km/h. The high driving dynamics potential is also enhanced by the special tires, which are specifically adapted to the requirements of the all-electric AMG Performance vehicles, including the MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV designed for sports cars with electric drive.
The driving characteristics can be changed by the driver at the touch of a button to suit the situation or their preferences. This is made possible by the five AMG DYNAMIC SELECT drive programs “Slippery”, “Comfort”, “Sport”, “Sport+” and “Individual”. The programs cover a broad spectrum from high comfort to pronounced sportiness. Important parameters such as drive and performance characteristics, suspension settings, AMG DYNAMICS with, among other things, steering torque characteristics, and AMG SOUND EXPERIENCE are included in the selected drive program accordingly. The maximum drive power can be called up in the Sport+ drive program, or all drive programs via kick-down. In the other drive programs (except Sport+), the maximum power is adjusted to increase efficiency and reduce consumption. The driver can also pre-select the basic suspension setup via the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT drive programs: at the touch of a button, the driving style varies from maximum dynamics in “Sport+” mode to smooth gliding in the “Comfort” setting, for example. Depending on the drive program, the central drive control unit automatically activates different de-rating and cooling strategies: in “Sport” and “Sport+”, the cooling system is activated sooner and the cooling capacity is increased to maintain delivered power for longer.
Both new models can be optionally equipped with the innovative MBUX Hyperscreen. This large, curved screen unit extends from A-pillar to A-pillar. Three screens sit under a glass cover and appear to merge into one. With adaptive software, MBUX adapts completely to its user and offers personalized suggestions for numerous infotainment, comfort, and vehicle functions. With the so-called zero layers, the most important applications are always displayed situationally and contextually on the top level in the field of vision. In Europe and China, dynamic content is also permitted on the passenger display while driving. Unrestricted viewing of films, text messages, or presentations, plus internet surfing, is therefore possible. The so-called “blanking function” prevents the driver from being disturbed by the displayed content. But even without dynamic content, the passenger display remains an attractive eye-catcher with a new AMG-specific screensaver. MBUX offers a range of additional AMG functions that emphasize the performance character. This is particularly true of the distinctive displays in the instrument cluster, as well as the multimedia display and the head-up display. Quick access to the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT drive programs is provided by the corresponding direct-entry button in the center console.
