Update 12/13: Mercedes-AMG has kicked off the next phase of development for its high-performance electric SUV, marking the second model to ride on the AMG.EA platform. Prototypes of both the SUV and the mechanically related GT 4-Door are now undergoing cold-weather testing in northern Sweden, close to the Arctic Circle. Sub-zero temps are putting key components through their paces on both public roads and specialized tracks, giving engineers a proper workout.

To mark the occasion, AMG has decided to give us a peek at the prototype itself—well, kind of. It’s still wrapped in enough camouflage to make a spy movie jealous, but we can already catch the design vibes in the fresh video that they dropped. It looks set to borrow heavily from the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door EV in terms of styling, with soft, rounded lines and a fairly low-slung silhouette for an SUV.

Original story follows below.

Previously, Mercedes-AMG dropped a teaser for its first standalone electric SUV, scheduled for a 2026 debut. Built on a dedicated AMG platform, this model aims to go beyond the typical formula of adding special touches to a standard Mercedes SUV. Instead, it’s designed from the ground up with AMG’s performance DNA at its core.

Developed “entirely in-house” on the AMG.EA architecture, it will be a bespoke AMG offering, rather than the performance derivative of a Mercedes SUV. The brand’s insistence on it being “AMG first, all-electric second” hints at a potential rethink of what an electric performance SUV can actually deliver.

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The teaser sketch gives us a few clues. It reveals a muscular profile with a long hood, aggressive fender lines, and a sweeping roofline that’s a bit more Purosangue-inspired than you’d expect from a German SUV. Still, it’s less ostentatious than Ferrari’s take—AMG has always preferred a slightly more understated approach to menace.

The AMG.EA platform features an 800V architecture and is expected to support both the upcoming, yet-to-be-named SUV and the electric successor to the 4-Door AMG GT. Both EVs will be equipped with lightweight axial-flux electric motors, custom-developed for AMG by UK-based company Yasa.

A quad-motor setup is expected to produce over 1,000 hp (746 kW / 1,014 PS), offering all-wheel-drive and advanced torque vectoring abilities. The model will also benefit from four-wheel steering, active suspension, and an AMG-specific battery.

The SUV is expected to be similar in size to the 2022 Vision AMG concept, measuring around 5.1 meters (200 inches) in length, with a wheelbase stretching over 3 meters (118 inches). This gives it a larger footprint than the ICE-powered Mercedes-AMG GLE 63, edging it closer to the scale of the fully electric EQS SUV flagship.

On paper, its rivals span both ends of the propulsion spectrum. It’ll face off against gas-powered heavyweights like the Porsche Cayenne GT and Aston Martin DBX, as well as hybrid and all-electric contenders such as the BMW XM, Lamborghini Urus, and the Lotus Eletre.

We’ll likely get more breadcrumbs from AMG in the months to come, as the slow-drip teaser campaign ramps up. The company has confirmed that development test drives are set to begin this winter.

An SUV that's 100% born in Affalterbach is coming. Built on the AMG.EA platform, it’s the first fully electric SUV crafted entirely in-house by AMG.#MercedesAMG #AMGThrill pic.twitter.com/L73TDjJ8MS

— Mercedes-AMG (@MercedesAMG) November 7, 2024

SAIC-MG has introduced a new electric SUV in China, which is expected to serve as a replacement for the ZS EV in export markets including Europe, UK, and Australia. The MG ES5 shares its EV-dedicated underpinnings with the MG4 hatchback, featuring a larger footrprint and a sleeker design compared to its predecessor.

The MG ZS got a new generation for 2025, but went hybrid-only, dropping the fully electric option. Instead of adopting a similar design for the successor of the fully electric ZS EV, the company chose to launch a completely different model, benefiting from the latest advancements in its EV technology.

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The ES5 adopts a clean styling language, with a grille-less face differentiating it from MG’s ICE-powered models. The bumper intakes are reminiscent of the MG Cyberster roadster, while the split LED headlights are slimmer and more aggressive than before. The profile is pretty generic, while the full-width taillights have a similar shape to the MG4.

The electric SUV measures 4,476 mm (176.2 inches) long, which makes it 162 mm (6.4 inches) longer than the outgoing ZS EV. Most of the extra length goes the wheelbase, which has been stretched to 2,730 mm (107.5 inches).

Inside, there is a flat-bottom steering wheel, a digital instrument cluster, a large infotainment touchscreen, and a floating center console.

The MG ES5 shares the Modular Scalable Platform (MSP) underpinnings with the MG4 hatchback. It is powered by a single electric motor at the rear axle, producing 168 hp (125 kW / 170 PS) and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque. It is not clear if the model will gain more powerful dual-motor versions in the future.

In China, the SUV will offer three options for the ultra-slim lithium iron phosphate battery pack, manufactured by the SAIC-CATL joint venture. According to fillings in the Chinese MIIT, the largest battery will have a capacity of 62.2kWh, offering a maximum range of 525 km (326 miles) under the CLTC protocols.

The market launch of the MG ES5 in export markets is expected to take place in 2025. In Europe, rivals will include subcompact SUVs like the Kia EV4 and the Peugeot E-2008, although its size is more comparable to models from the compact SUV segment.