Mercedes expands its EQ lineup with an SUV version of its EQE battery-electric sedan. The Alabama-built BEV goes on sale in March 2023.
Mercedes-Benz unveils the ’23 EQE SUV on the eve of the 2022 Paris auto show, confirming plans for a five-strong model range, including the rapid 677-hp AMG EQE from its performance-car division.
Set for North American sale in March 2023, the EQE SUV is Mercedes-Benz’s ninth electric model. It is the fourth model based on the German automaker’s second-generation Electric Vehicle Architecture (EVA) platform, joining the EQS and EQE sedans and the recently launched EQS SUV.
The EQE SUV will be offered with the choice of either rear- or all-wheel drive in combination with three standard electric drivetrains. The base EQE 350+ is powered by a single, rear-axle motor producing 288 hp and 417 lb.-ft. (565 Nm) of torque.
The more powerful all-wheel-drive EQE350 4Matic provides the same horsepower but adds 147 lb.-ft. (199 Nm) of torque for a system total of 564 lb.-ft. (765 Nm). At the top of the non-AMG range is the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive EQE500 4Matic rated at 536 hp and 633 lb.-ft. (858 Nm).
They will be joined in mid-2023 by the ’24 AMG EQE SUV employing dual electric motors, including an AMG-engineered six-phase rear electric motor employing specialized windings and unique cooling.
The AMG model produces 617 hp and 701 lb.-ft. (950 Nm) of torque with a boost function pushing output to 677 hp and 738 lb.-ft. (1,001 Nm) in combination with an optional AMG Dynamic Plus Package. Mercedes-Benz says the 5,930-lb. (2,690-kg) AMG EQE is capable of 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.4 seconds.
The EQE SUV receives the same 90.6-kWh lithium-ion battery unit used by the EQE sedan. It supports DC charging at up to 170 kW, providing the most efficient model, the rear-wheel-drive EQE350+, with an estimated range of 298-366 miles (480-589 km) on the WLTP test cycle.
Stylistically, the EQE SUV adheres closely to the look established by the larger EQS SUV, albeit with a more steeply sloping roofline and angled tailgate.
Key exterior design elements include a black panel grille (with optional star pattern treatment), angular headlamps joined by a thin horizontal light bar across the leading edge (optional with Mercedes-Benz’s Digital Light functionality) as well as largely unadorned surfacing and large wheelhouses accommodating wheels up to 22-in. in diameter.
The hood is designed to be opened only during servicing. It abandons the clamshell design of other EVA-based models for a more conventional setup with shut lines within the top of the front fenders rather than within the upper edge of the front wheelhouses.
As with the EQE and EQS sedans and EQS SUV, it has a washer bottle port behind the lefthand side front wheelhouse. Narrow running boards are an option. They’re claimed to contribute to aerodynamic efficiency by smoothing the airflow along the sides.
The AMG models receive their own individual styling cues, including a new-look Panamericana-style grille, restyled bumpers and unique wheel designs among other changes.
Inside, the SUV draws heavily on the EQE sedan with the choice of two different dashboard layouts. Standard versions receive separate instrument and central infotainment displays with Mercedes-Benz’s Hyperscreen, which supports up to three individual displays in an optional 55.5-in.- (141-cm-) wide panel.
The displays operate in combination with the Mercedes-Benz MBUX operating system, which offers conversational speech commands via a “Hey Mercedes” prompt as well as over-the-air software update functionality via an embedded SIM card.
Latest enhancements to the MBUX system include the integration of major music streaming services, including Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music, among other online services. Mercedes-Benz also is launching a new optional Burmester sound system featuring Dolby Atmos surround sound in the EQE.
Standard EQE models receive a steel suspension featuring adaptive damping. Buyers will be able to order an optional air suspension, which comes as standard and with unique tuning on AMG models.
Other developments include electromechanical active roll stabilization and four-wheel steering – the latter supporting a turning angle of the rear wheels of up to 10° (9° on the AMG models due to wider wheels and tires).
The EQE SUV (pictured, below) is produced alongside the EQS SUV at Mercedes-Benz’s Tuscaloosa, AL, plant. Production of standard models for the Chinese market is planned to take place at the automaker’s joint venture operations with Beijing Automotive Industry Corp. in Beijing.
– with Bob Gritzinger
Keyword: Mercedes-Benz Rolls Out Battery-Electric EQE SUV