EQS Sedan

Segment
Sedan

Mercedes redefined luxury EVs a few weeks ago when it presented the new flagship EQS. In its most powerful 580 4MATIC guise, the EQS produces 516 hp and 611 lb-ft, generated from two electric motors. This won't be the most powerful version of the EQS for very long, however.

Earlier this year, Daimler's R&D chief Markus Schafer confirmed that Mercedes EQ models will spawn high-performance variants enhanced by AMG, and now our spies have spotted a Mercedes-AMG EQS prototype being tested at the Nurburgring for the first time. At first glance, it's difficult to tell the AMG EQS apart from its standard sibling, especially as there are no exhaust pipes.

However, there are some subtle styling enhancements that indicate this is no ordinary EQS. The most obvious giveaways are the larger carbon-ceramic brakes and the yellow AMG-branded brake calipers. The AMG-enhanced EQS also appears to be riding lower to the ground than the standard car.

Camoflague is covering the front and rear, suggesting the AMG EQS will have a more aggressive front bumper and a rear spoiler hinting at its enhanced performance. It could also have darker inserts in the headlights. Mercedes has already confirmed a high-performance performance EQS is in development with 630 hp, so this will likely be the range-topping AMG version.

It remains to be seen how this will affect the range: on a single charge, the EQS offers an electric driving range of 478 miles according to WLTP estimates, but we're expecting the EPA estimate to be around 335 miles.

Potentially, AMG could be cooking up multiple EQS variants with different power outputs, as the automaker has registered trademarks for the "EQS43," "EQS53" and "EQS63," mirroring the nomenclature for its modified combustion cars. Since the EQS only debuted a few weeks ago, we're expecting the AMG variant to arrive later this year or early next year.