For the exec that wants to go fast without and without fuss.
Mercedes-Benz and their recently launched all-new fifth-generation W213 E-Class has been lauded pretty unanimously by the motoring media set. There’s nothing really glaring to complain about other than perhaps how it doesn’t fly or does its owners laundry.
In the real world, it does everything you can reasonably expect from a mid-size luxury saloon pretty darn well. No easy feat, when both BMW and Audi have been continually pushing the game forward to stay at least one half step ahead of each other by some metric, if only for a brief period.
Now Mercedes-Benz has tapped their in-house go-faster wizards at AMG to make their E-Class handier at doing exactly that, resulting in the Mercedes-AMG E 43 4MATIC. It will make its official debut at the New York Motor Show in late March.
Starting with the main ingredient to extra speed, its engine is a 3.0-litre bi-turbo V6 that produces 295kW and 520Nm that’s able to pull the 1840kg E-Class from stationary to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds and to an electronically-limited top speed of 250km/h.
Power reaches the wheels – all four of them but with a rear bias, hence the 4MATIC moniker – via a 9G-TRONIC torque converted automatic transmission with, surprise surprise, 9 forward ratios. That’s a lot, and its also the same box used in the standard E-Class.
This highlights the retention of comfort and refinement as a paramount concern with the E 43 4MATIC in spite of the Mercedes-AMG link. Further along this theme is the car’s air suspension that now includes a a Sport and Sport Plus should the driver be inclined to temporarily exit Comfort mode.
In fact, there’s multiple levels of control that the driver can select to alter the car’s balance of comfort and agression. AMG Dynamic Select is the overriding force that shifts the car into predetermined settings depending on whether its toggled to Eco, Comfort, Sport, or Sport Plus.
From there, smaller tweaks can be made at the level of steering, suspension (as was previously mentioned), and transmission shift ferocity.
On the outside, you’ll notice just how nondescript the E 43 is, and would be forgiven for thinking it a normal E-Class upon first glance. Stealthy would be a perfect description. Tasteful too, and a real departure from some other Mercedes-AMG offerings such as the A 45. Having said all that, though, the E 43 just isn’t as fast, accelerative, or powerful as the older V8-equipped E63 AMG. Does that leave room its direct replacement?
No word as yet for an international release timeline or firm pricing for the E 43, but you’ll hear about it when we do.
Need a good answer as to why the hot A-Class called the 45, and the more expensive and more powerful fast E-Class called the 43? So do we.
