2023 Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 pricing and specs: Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S-rivalling electric car costs as much as top-spec S-Class

Mercedes-AMG has released final pricing and option details of its first all-electric performance car, the EQS 53.

The first AMG electric car to use a dedicated EV platform (the EVA2 platform), the EQS 53 joins other Mercedes-Benz EVs including the EQC and EQA. Those vehicles are, of course, based on conventionally powered chassis', making the full-sized EQS the first AMG designed exclusively as an EV.

With a pair of electric motors driving the front and rear wheels, the EQS is a huge car that fundamentally claims its place as the electric version of a conventional Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

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In its base format, the EQS 53 musters a monstrous 484kW of power and an equally phenomenal 950Nm of torque. Mercedes claims a 0-100km/h time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 220km/h. As well as the variable all-wheel-drive layout afforded by using a motor on each axle, the EQS also runs to adjustable air suspension, and rear-wheel-steering. The EQS claims a 587km range according to official testing protocols.

Option up to the Dynamic Plus Package and power jumps to 560kW/1020Nm in Race Start mode. In that configuration, AMG claims the 0-100km/h time drops to 3.4 seconds, while top speed extends to 250km/h.

The first AMG electric car to use a dedicated EV platform (the EVA2 platform), the EQS 53 joins other Mercedes-Benz EVs.

As much as 300kW of power can be recuperated during braking and the battery is huge at 107.8kWh, thanks to the latest lithium-ion technology and a 400-volt configuration. That allows for potential 200kW charging where available, and a claim that as much as 300km of range can be added in just 19 minutes.

Pricing for the EQS 53 starts at $328,400 before on-road costs and brings with it an enormous list of standard equipment including the huge, one-piece animated dashboard, panoramic sunroof, 21-inch alloy wheels and every piece of driver-assistance we've yet encountered.

Options include carbon-ceramic brakes at $9990, an augmented reality head-up display at $2690 and charging options including a wall-box and a 22kW onboard charging option.

The optional packages start with the Dynamic Plus bundle that adds that extra power and torque, and incorporates extra cooling capacity for the motors and battery to achieve this.

With a pair of electric motors driving the front and rear wheels, the EQS is a huge car.

The Energising Comfort Package, which can link to common wearable devices to check a driver's vital signs, also incorporates heated seats front and rear, heated steering wheel, air purifier, rear-seat entertainment unit and wireless headphones. It costs $9290.

The $3990 Night Package brings 22-inch wheels and tyres and blackouts around the exterior of the body.