Benz does the double by showing off standard and AMG-developed editions.

SET to enter the New Zealand market in around a year’s time and cited already as having potential to ultimately stand as the biggest sales star.

That’s the EQE, effectively an all-electric version of the popular Mercedes Benz GLE large sports utility, unveiled overnight in lead-up to its public debut at this week’s Paris motor show and set to position above the EQC that has been flying the flag for Benz here for several years.

While the EQE SUV shares components with the seven-seat EQS SUV recently unveiled and also due to hit our market in mid to late 2023, it is not purely a scaled-down reproduction.

Even though key components and dimensions are very heavily EQS-based, panels are not shared.

Realistically, it’s just as much a higher-stepping, bulked spin from the EQE electric sedan, that’s about to join the EQS AMG53 sedan in New Zealand.

Another difference is that the EQE SUV also delivers in the bespoke AMG version revealed alongside the mainstream choice. Both are pictured together today, along with individual images of each. The AMG obviously has all the usual performance addenda expected from the skunkworks, but also breaks ground with the badge on the leading edge of the bonnet no longer being the Mercedes three-pointed star, but the Affalterbach-AMG logo.

The hot-rodded EQE SUV is dual motor, so all-wheel-drive, and rates as AMG’s first bespoke electric sports utility. It is set to deliver with two states of tune; the lower making 354kW and the ultimate creating 512kW – both with up to 1000Nm of torque.

The ‘mainstream’ EQE, meantime. will roll out with three electric motor options, starting with a single motor (160kW, 565Nm) rear-drive model and a choice of two 4Matic all-wheel-drive models with two motors, featuring outputs of 218kW and 765Nm or 302kW and 858Nm.

 The Mercedes-AMG version, also four-wheel drive and dual motor, meantime comes in 43 4Matic and 53 4Matic Plus formats, the first with maximum power of 354kW and the second with a whopping 512kW - and up to 1000Nm of torque.

The standard EQE SUV's range on one charge will be up to 590km for the longest-range model, and as with the sedan it will be able to charge at DC speeds of up to 170kW, adding as much as 220km of range in just 15 minutes, hooked of course to 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.

The AMG versions max at 240kmh and shift more smartly off the line – AMG claims 0-100kmh in 3.5 seconds for the ‘53’, making it a second faster to that target than the alternate. Both models use a 90.6kWh battery pack that has the same charging speeds as the standard edition, but ranges are more modest, at ‘up to 488km’ for the ‘43’ and ‘up to 470km for the 53.’

The EQE stands as one of the most aerodynamic electric cars in production, beaten – just – by Hyundai’s Ioniq 6. the EQE SUV is also wind-cheating, with a drag co-efficient of 0.25Cd, with tweaks including the wheels – which range in size from 19 to 22 inches - being flush with the outer body panels.

EQE (and EQS) sedans comes from Germany. The EQE SUV, on the other hand,  is from the United States. It will be built at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, also provisioning the EQS SUV.

The EQE SUV is obviously taller than the sedan, yet is also a touch shorter, the wheelbase by 90mm. A cited 520 litres; capacity suggests the boot is the same size as that of the GLC. The maximum towing weight is 1800kg.

With the standard models, air suspension is available as an option, as is rear-wheel steering, which can turn the back wheels by 10 degrees, enabling a 10 metre turning circle. With air springs, the EQE SUV's ride height can be raised by an additional 30mm.

Both AMG models come with active four-wheel drive, which monitors how the power is split between either end 160 times per second. The Sport and Sport Plus settings bias towards the rear wheels.

The AMG Ride Control active dampers are from the AMG GT Coupe. In Sport and Sport Plus, the car hunkers 15mm closer to the road. The ‘43’ is on 21-inch wheels and the ‘53’ has 22s, both with Michelin Pilot Sport EV MO1 tyres.

AMG’s standard braking system comprises six-piston brake callipers and 415x33mm brake discs at the front and single-piston brake callipers and 378x22mm brake discs. The optional AMG ceramic high-performance composite brake system uses even larger brake discs.

As with the EQE sedan, the SUV can be delivered with the massive, full-width 'Hyperscreen' dashboard. The navigation has what Mercedes calls 'Electric Intelligence', which can not only plan a route with charging taken into account, but can even route a driver via the best-value charging points.

Other tech includes 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 a 'soundscape' which replaces traditional combustion engine noises. Here it is called 'Serene Breeze. AMG versions come with a more bombastic cabin noise simulation. 

The AMG editions have 'Artico' synthetic leather with contrast red stitching, with Nappa leather optional. The steering wheel gets the little satellite rotary controls for selecting driving and chassis modes. Dolby Atmos sound is standard in AMG versions.

AMG is pushing hard to enforce that the electric models are easily as capable and as enjoyable as the combustion-engined product it has done so well with.

"The AMG EQE SUV is another milestone in our future of driving performance. The new model is our first all-electric SUV … 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,” said Philipp Schiemer, Mercedes-AMG chief executive.

“It is Mercedes-AMG's most versatile electric vehicle. A real all-rounder - a real AMG!”