It may not look like an electric sports car, but the first all-electric Mercedes-AMG EQS does give a feeling. As a traditional model in the car brand's legendary lineup, it shows to the world that under the hood, it is obviously a car in the post-Tesla world.  

The German automaker announced on Sunday that a performance version of Mercedes’ first electric car will arrive in the United States early next year. It looks similar to the original EQS variant just launched this month, but the AMG configuration (which is the name of the Mercedes Performance series) has many gorgeous ways to attract highways and interstates. 

Some are superficial. Eyes trained with AMG will immediately notice the vertical struts on the front grille, indicating that it is a high-performance version. Inside, the seats have a sporty appearance, and you will find AMG graphics on the seats and headrests.

But earlier this month, during the two-hour drive from AMG EQS from Palm Springs to Manhattan Beach, California, I learned more about Mercedes’ newest electric car. From stylish door handles to impressive acceleration, it is downright electric luxury. With a battery life of more than 330 miles with a large battery of 107.8 kWh, it is an electric power country. 

Although the larger S-Class is equipped with a full trunk and spacious rear seats, its AMG function still exists. Technically speaking, this is not a sports car, but it can still accelerate from 0 mph to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds at a top speed of 155 mph. This is faster than the basic EQS ​​model which takes 5.5 seconds. 

Performance EQS has been around for a long time, and the expected (unannounced) price will definitely keep up with Mercedes-level expectations. The EQS starts at US$102,310, so the AMG version will be upgraded to a higher level.

The steering wheel is one of the significant differences from non-AMG. It has a thicker grip, a flat bottom and additional buttons, which can be used to quickly access different driving modes, such as slippery or comfortable, sports or sports+, suitable for different Driving situation. For true AMG enthusiasts, the secret way to uncover the "race start" function is still to press the pedals in a specific order-just like in other (non-electric) models.

Since it is an electric car without an internal combustion engine, the driving process is quite quiet. This must be why Mercedes added the so-called "AMG sound experience" (aka fake engine-inspired noise) when the car is in performance mode. It feels like a desperate attempt by Mercedes to maintain its traditional gasoline-powered legacy, and it was ultimately unnecessary. But for anyone mourning the engine speed, please turn up the volume.

Compared with the "AMG Sound Experience", the huge door-to-door dashboard shows that Mercedes is now firmly rooted in the 21st century. This screen is called Hyperscreen and is one of the standard features of AMG EQS (usually an add-on for $9,000). While traveling through the California desert, I learned about the "zero-level" touch screen experience. The zero-level layout attempts to understand your preferences over time and reduce sub-menus and other potential distractions. I quickly adapted to the large size, especially because it allows easy access to the massage settings of the driver and passenger seats while driving.

The huge screen width brings a unique passenger experience. The co-pilots have their own dedicated screen space, which means they can take over music and other media playback or browse different functions and settings. Passengers do not need the driver's permission to start the massage.

The large super screen really shines in the map mission. When using the built-in navigation system, I did not even miss Google Maps. I can add stops along the way, plan my itinerary based on the charging level, and check nearby charging stations.

On the screen behind the steering wheel (not the touch screen, but through the buttons on the steering wheel), I can set the display to display the map view. This kind of touch is very good, and it reminds me of the Google Maps integration in Polestar and Volvo. 

But as a luxury Mercedes, even for navigation, you have to work harder. On the 17.7-inch central main screen or the head-up display projected on the windshield in front of the driver, you can choose to view the augmented reality direction. So if you need to turn right, the huge blue arrow will point to the right. On the main screen, the real-time video image is displayed together with the AR layer, showing which lane you should be in or which direction you will be driving in.

Even though I only use less than half of the battery while driving (thanks to the efficient regeneration system when braking and downhill), I still head to the charging station to see what it looks like on a road trip. Through the built-in navigation system, I found a charging station in a nearby hospital parking lot. It said that there are some chargers available, which I confirmed with my eyes when I pulled it in.

These are standard level 2 chargers, but EQS can handle faster charging on a 200 kW DC fast charging plug, adding 180 miles in 19 minutes. 

Although I didn't charge it, I saw how easy it would be. When in the parking lot, two women came over and stared at the car. Seeing their interest, I took them to tour the vehicle and the big screen. Someone asked about the voyage, and I was very impressed when I told her it could travel more than 300 miles. When I said that I used the standard driver assistance system when driving on many highways, they were even more impressed. If I turn on the indicator light, it can even change the lane for me. 

When driving through the typical stop-and-go traffic in Los Angeles County, I didn't feel that movement, but every once in a while I needed to get to the exit or shake the tailgate and zip up. The drivers of those Los Angeles cars might roll their eyes at the classic Los Angeles situation: being defeated by a gorgeous Mercedes. But this is different from all other times. That is an electric Mercedes.