Mercedes has taken the covers off the new EQE SUV and, unsurprisingly given its name, it's based on the all-electric EQE saloon.
The EQE SUV will come with three electric motor options - a single motor (215hp, 565Nm) rear-drive model and a choice of two 4Matic all-wheel-drive models with two motors, featuring outputs of 292hp and 765Nm or 407hp and 858Nm. That not enough for you? Don't worry, there's also an Mercedes-AMG version, packing four-wheel drive, two motors and maximum power outputs of either 476hp or 687hp - and up to 1,000Nm of torque.
Add 220km of range in 15 minutes
The EQE SUV's range on one charge will be up to 590km for the longest-range model, and as with the saloon it will be able to charge at DC speeds of up to 170kW, adding as much as 220km of range in just 15 minutes, if you can find a sufficiently rapid public charger. An 11kW on-board AC charging system is standard, with a 22kW one available as an option. A heat-pump heating system comes as standard, too, which should help to preserve range on colder days.
The EQE SUV might be taller than the saloon, but it's actually a little shorter overall, and the wheelbase is 90mm shorter. In spite of that, Mercedes claims that it is "one of the most spacious representatives of its class." The boot is, perhaps, a little but disappointing; at 520 litres, it's the same size as that of the smaller Mercedes GLC crossover. It's bigger than that of the EQE saloon, though, and obviously that bit more versatile given the EQE's four-door saloon layout.
Air suspension is available as an option, as is rear-wheel steering, which can turn the back wheels by 10 degrees when needed, and which trims the turning circle to a supermini-sized 10 metres. If you go for the air springs, you can raise the EQE SUV's ride height by as much as 30mm for extra off-road clearance. The maximum towing weight is 1,800kg.
Hyperscreen dashboard
Inside, as with the EQE saloon, the EQE SUV can be fitted with the massive, full-width 'Hyperscreen' dashboard as an option, but you'll get standard over-the-air software updates even with the basic model. Mercedes says that those updates may be able to liberate a little more battery performance as time goes on.
The navigation has what Mercedes calls 'Electric Intelligence', which can not only plan you a route with charging taken into account, but can even route you via the best-value charging points. The EQE also comes with a new 'soundscape' for the interior, which replaces traditional combustion engine noises. This one is called 'Serene Breeze.'
Other tech includes high-end LED lights that can project warning symbols onto the road ahead, a HEPA air filter for the cabin, a Dolby Atmos surround-sound stereo and Merc's 'Energising Comfort' system that mixes heat, air conditioning, cabin scents and massaging seats to either rev you up or calm you down, as needed.
With the EQE being one of the most aerodynamic cars in production, the EQE SUV was always going to follow suit, and thanks in part to wheels fitted flush with the outer body panels (and available in sizes from 19- to 22 inches), the EQE SUV has an impressively low coefficient of drag of just 0.25. The EQE SUV will be built at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and will get its batteries from a factory in nearby Bibb County (the same goes for the larger EQS SUV). Both of these factories are claimed by Mercedes to be CO2-neutral in production.
High-performance AMG models
The AMG versions of the EQE SUV come with four-wheel drive as standard, as well as the air springs, rear-wheel steering and an active anti-roll system. Both the Mercedes-AMG EQE 43 4Matic and EQE 53 4Matic+ get a cool-looking black-panel radiator grille with hot-stamped vertical struts in chrome. In an AMG first, the badge on the leading edge of the bonnet is no longer the Mercedes three-pointed star, but the sporty brand's own Affalterbach-AMG logo.
The AMG models get either 21- or 22-inch wheels, and an AMG body kit. Inside, there is 'Artico' synthetic leather with contrast red stitching, or you can spec them up with Nappa leather. The steering wheel gets the little satellite rotary controls for selecting driving and chassis modes. The Dolby Atmos sound system is standard in AMG versions, plus there's online streaming services thanks to Mercedes-AMG's linkup with California-based streaming experts ZYNC.
Both AMG models come with active four-wheel drive, which monitors how the power is split between either end 160 times per second. The further you go up the Sport and Sport + settings, the more power is biased towards the rear wheels. The AMG Ride Control active dampers have been taken from the AMG GT Coupe and recalibrated for the taller, heavier EQE SUV. In Sport and Sport + modes, the air suspension lowers the car an extra 15mm closer to the road, while both AMG EQE SUV models have been designed around Michelin Pilot Sport EV MO1 tyres.
The braking system is almost as impressive as the 1,000Nm of torque that it's going to have to control - six-piston brake callipers and 415x33mm brake discs at the front and single-piston brake callipers and 378x22mm brake discs at the rear are claimed to deliver first-class deceleration values with high fade-resistance and endurance. The optional AMG ceramic high-performance composite brake system uses even larger brake discs measuring 440x40mm at the front. Another high-tech feature is the electromechanical brake booster Mercedes calls iBooster.
And never mind 'Serene Breeze' - the AMG versions come with a more bombastic cabin noise simulation, which can be tweaked into different modes: Balanced, Sport, Powerful or Performance.
Both AMG versions get maximum speeds of up to 240km/h, and the EQE SUV 53 4Matic+ can get to 100km/h from rest in 3.5 seconds (the '43' model takes an appropriate 4.3 seconds). Both models use a 90.6kWh battery pack that has the same charging speeds as the standard EQE SUV. The EQE SUV AMG 43 has a range of up to 488km, while the EQE SUV AMG 53 can officially go for up to 470km.
"The AMG EQE SUV is another milestone in our Future of Driving Performance. The new model is our first all-electric SUV. And, after the AMG EQS and AMG EQE Saloon models, this is already the third performance model that we have realised as a derivative on the Mercedes-EQ electric platform. With its variable interior and high-performance all-wheel drive, it is Mercedes-AMG's most versatile electric vehicle. A real all-rounder - a real AMG!" says Philipp Schiemer, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.
"The compact format of the EQE SUV, the short wheelbase and the performance-oriented drive concept form the perfect starting point for realising an agile, highly emotional and luxurious driving experience with our AMG-specific solutions. This particularly applies to the drive system, suspension, brakes and sound. It ensures that our customers can look forward to the Driving Performance that is a hallmark of our brand," says Jochen Hermann, Chief Technical Officer of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.