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Mercedes-Benz India has officially launched its AMG EQS 53 performance electric vehicle in the country today. The Mercedes AMG EQS 53 seeks to marry the best of AMG performance with the sheer opulence of an S-Class and, most significantly, have battery power at its very core. The AMG EQS 53 will sit at the very top of its EV portfolio across the world while the EQS 580 would also be brought in via CKD route later this year.
Check out key highlights from the launch event of Mercedes-Benz AMG EQS 53 here:
The launch event of the first all-electric AMG vehicle from Mercedes - the AMG EQS 53 - has come to an end. Read the full launch report here.
Mercedes-Benz has launched the AMG EQS 53 electric vehicle at ₹2.45 crore (ex-showroom). It now is the second all-electric offering from Mercedes in India after the EQC. The EQS 580 will be brought in via the CKD route later this year.
The Mercedes AMG EQS 53's biggest highlight is its 56-inch MBUX hyperscreen with Gorilla glass and comes powered by AI or artificial intelligence. The hyperscreen offers 3D maps, in-car gaming functionality, feed from the cameras and more.
Other features include active ambient lighting, AMG-specific steering wheel with a flattened bottom, comfortable seats in nappa leather, MBUX rear seat tablet, Burmester 3D surround system with 15 speakers and HEPA filter which filters air inside the air and also air that enters from outside.
The AMG EQS 63 has a silhouette that is largely similar to the EQS 580 that will be brought in by the company later this year. There is a front bonnet that overlaps the wings, the vertical slats on the grille. Tyres are specially developed to take care of rolling resistance and have a long life.
The Mercedes AMG EQS 53 comes as the first all-electric AMG car from the brand with zero emissions promise. It is also claimed to be the largest range EV in the country.
The 56-inch wide screen will the smartest display found on a Mercedes vehicle and will act as both the brain and the nervous system of the EQS EV.
EVs will comprise 25% of sales of the Mercedes-Benz India in next five years. The company will launch three new EVs in India this year, starting with the AMG EQS 53 today.
Mercedes India CEO Martin Schwenk addresses the event by revealing the company's sustainability goals. The company aims to have arbon neutarl production by 2022 and have up to 50% EVs by 2025.
On the inside, the Mercedes AMG EQS 53 gets MBUX Hyperscreen, AMG performance steering wheel, sport seats with four-way lumbar support, and ambient lighting, among others.
Once officially launched here, the AMG EQS 53 from Mercedes will lock horns against the likes of Audi RS e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan Turbo S.
The Mercedes AMG EQS 53 offers a total power output of 751 hp with the Dynamic Plus package. There is a scrumptious 950 Nm of torque on offer as well. It claims to fire from 0-100 kmph in around 3.8 seconds.
The AMG EQS 53 is powered by a 107.8kWh lithium-ion battery which can support charging speeds of up to 200 kw. In ideal conditions, the EV can go up to 360 kms.
Mercedes-Benz India will bring in the EQS 580 to our shores later this year but has opted to first bring in the more capable AMG version of the vehicle.
While both these models are essentially the same and are electric versions of the flagship S-Class sedan, there is also much that's different.
Obviously, the AMG offers a performance oriented drive and therefore has more aggressive power and torque outputs. But visually, there are bits that are different too. A chrome-slatted panel at the front, AMG-styled alloy wheels and a rear spoiler are just a few of these.
The AMG EQS 53 offers AMG Sound Experience package and one can select between three options - Balanced, Sport and Powerful.
Is electrically-tuned sound near same as the raw thunder of a V8 motor?
EVs may still be rather rare in the Indian automotive market but there have been some very big moves in this regard in the luxury space. And within this space is the even more niche category of performance-oriented luxury EVs. This is where AMG EQS 53 seeks to play the dominant role against the likes of Audi RS e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan Turbo S. Both these models have already touched down in India.
AMG technology has a massive and very dedicated fan following across the world. The roar from under the hood, the thunderous exhaust notes all have heightened adrenaline rush. But what about EVs which are silent operators?
Mercedes promises the same level of driving performance in the AMG EQS 53 as any AMG vehicle ever, if not more.
While almost every major car manufacturer has a stated objective when it comes to electric powertrain, Mercedes-Benz is a bit more ambitious than most. The company plans to have an all-electric model portfolio in markets ‘where conditions allow’ by the end of this decade. There is an increased focus on higher end luxury models within its range which could be exclusively powered by batteries instead of conventional fuels and engines.