Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 priced

Mercedes-Benz performance division AMG has finally embarked on its EV journey in Australia by unleashing its first-ever battery-electric vehicle: the ballistic 2022 Mercedes-AMG EQS 53.

Combining the luxury and technology of a top-shelf Mercedes-Benz S-Class with an AMG-tuned dual-motor powertrain that delivers up to 560kW of power, the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ arrives in local showrooms from mid-July priced at $328,400 plus on-road costs.

Beyond the powertrain, headline features for the flagship electric sedan – which will be joined by the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 later this year – include 21-inch aero alloy wheels and a mammoth 1.4-metre-wide tri-zone ‘Hyperscreen’ OLED digital display system.

There’s also a host of AMG-specific elements: body work, cabin appointments, air suspension, adaptive dampers, all-wheel drive system, performance brakes, various brake regeneration settings (the strongest allowing for one-pedal driving), driving modes and e-motor EV ‘sounds’ – or no sound at all.

Drawing energy from a 108kWh battery pack, the driving range of the EQS 53 is rated at 587km (ADR), while its 400-volt electrical architecture allows for ultra-fast charging rates of up to 200kW.

Mercedes says it takes 31 minutes to recharge the battery from 10 to 80 per cent.

Performance figures for Affalterbach’s first EV are considerable, its twin e-motors delivering 484kW/950Nm (combined) to enable 0-100km/h acceleration of 3.8 seconds.

This is despite the 5.2-metre-long sedan tipping the scales at 2655kg.

Order the AMG Dynamic Plus upgrade ($7690) – which brings launch mode, race launch control, AMG-specific driver systems and more – and power and torque increase to a stratospheric 560kW/1020Nm in certain situations.

This reduces the 0-100km/h sprint to 3.4 seconds, which although rapid still can’t match other flagship electric sedans like the Tesla Model S Plaid (2.1sec) and Porsche Taycan Turbo S (2.5sec).

The main rivals of the AMG-fettled EQS will, however, be larger sports-luxury limos such as the incoming BMW i7 M70 xDrive.

Pitched as an all-electric alternative to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan, the EQS 53 is based on a new EV-specific platform (EVA2), boasts a futuristic design inside and out and is a crucial vehicle for AMG, previewing its EV direction.

Other standard items include a 15-speaker Burmester sound system, fingerprint security scanner, TV tuner and Nappa leather AMG sports seats with heating, cooling and massaging functions.

There’s also a wireless phone charger, interactive ambient LED cabin lights, an ultra-large head-up display, adaptive multibeam LED headlights, heat and noise insulating glass, augmented reality sat-nav and much more.

All models sold in Australia will come with a three-year complimentary Chargefox subscription.

Despite all the fruit, there’s a fairly hefty options list, including ceramic brakes ($9990), 22-inch alloy wheels ($2490), a 22kW charging upgrade ($2490), augmented reality head-up display ($2690) and AMG carbon-fibre interior trim ($2990).

Of the 10 available exterior paint colours spanning various grey, silver, blue, black and white tones, three ‘Manufaktur’ finishes cost extra: diamond white bright ($1990), hyacinth red metallic ($1990) and selenite grey magno ($9490).

Optional equipment bundles include an AMG Night package ($3990) that adds 22-inch alloy wheels and gloss black exterior body accents, as well as an Energising Comfort package ($9290) that brings heated rear seats with a massage function, twin touch-screens and a HEPA filter.

Despite its huge 5216mm length, which is almost as long as the extended-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz S-Class (5290mm), the whisper-quiet luxury land yacht has a relatively tidy 11.5-metre turning circle thanks to rear axle steering, which allows the rear wheels to be turned by up to nine degrees in either direction.

Mercedes-Benz Australia won’t say how many orders it’s holding for the EQS 53, but company representatives said customer demand is “really strong” along with plenty of “customer excitement” around the EQ series.

The first AMG EV is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, while the battery is covered for 10 years/250,000km.

Stay tuned for our first local drive of the 2022 Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 on July 14.

For everything you auto know about EVs, listen to carsales' Watts Under the Bonnet: the electric car podcast