Electric 450kW-plus Mercedes-AMG EQS on the way

Mercedes-AMG will unleash a faster dual-motor version of the upcoming electric EQS flagship that will produce at least 450kW and could set a new handling benchmark for fast luxury limos.

Claimed to be the first of a new series of AMG-fettled battery vehicles,

Previewed by the Vision EQS revealed at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show, the faster EQS is being readied to take on performance versions of the Tesla Model S and next-gen Jaguar XJ, plus rival the Porsche Taycan Turbo S that has reset the segment's benchmark for performance and handling.

Based on the most powerful EQS 550 4MATIC version that produces 350kW and 760Nm, insiders have told the Brit mag that AMG engineers have been given internal performance targets claimed to match or succeed the existing S 63 4MATIC.

That means the AMG EQS must, at the very least, match that car's 450kW and 900Nm of torque – although both of those figures sound somewhat lacklustre compared to the P100D Tesla Model S that's claimed to churn out 585kW and an incredible 1140Nm.

Helping it share costs over other future AMG models, sources suggest the EQS will feature a modular powertrain that will be shared in upcoming cars like the EQE or the EQ GLS SUV.

The AMG EQS will feature an advanced all-wheel drive system that is capable of varying power and torque to each wheel far quicker than its rivals.

As far as performance goes, expect a 0-100km/h time of less than 3.0 seconds and a top speed limited to 250km/h.

Feeding current to both its front and rear mounted motors will be the standard car's 100kWh lithium ion battery that is sandwiched beneath the flat floor on the car-maker's new dedicated EVA platform.

The range should be about 700km, with the advanced batteries supporting 350kW rapid charging that allows an 80 per cent top up in just 20 minutes.

Other new tech developed by AMG is an energy recuperation system lifted from the current Mercedes-AMG F1 race car that's capable of clawing back energy under braking far more efficiently than any existing technology.