● Maximum 603bhp from PHEV● Saloon and Estate available
Jordan Katsianis Jordan_Katsianis@autovia.co.uk
MERCEDES-AMG has taken the wraps off its new high-performance E-Class – the E 53 4MATIC – introducing a brand-new plug-in hybrid powertrain in the process.
This tech is accompanied by some major chassis and styling upgrades for the saloon and estate models. Prices have yet to be confirmed, but the E 53 is likely to start at over £100,000 when it arrives this year.
The new E 53 matches the outgoing V8-powered E 63 S with a peak power output of 603bhp. However, the manner in which the pair generate that figure could not be more different. Replacing the previous twin-turbocharged V8 is a new 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine, paired with a powerful electric motor mounted into the transmission housing.
On its own, the petrol engine is able to generate 442bhp and 560Nm of torque, joined by a peak of 160bhp and 450Nm of torque from that electric motor. But there is a caveat to that combined figure, which is that it’s only available in ‘Race Start’ mode – itself offered only with the optional AMG Dynamic Plus Pack. AMG quotes a peak power output of 577bhp at all other times.
In contrast to the compact AMG-developed battery you’ll find on the rear axle of a C 63 S E Performance, the E 53’s pack is from the standard E-Class PHEV, with a generous 25.4kWh usable capacity.
This has its upsides, like the impressive 60-mile electric range, but also its downsides. AMG has yet to confirm the weight of the E 53, but we were told to expect a figure in the region of 2,300kg – 400kg more than the previous E63 S.
Power is sent to AMG’s nine-speed auto transmission, connected to a rear-biased 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. AMG quotes 0 to 62mph in 3.8 seconds – 0.4 seconds slower than the old E 63 S, with the estate adding a further 0.1sec to that time.
Due to the plug-in’s large battery pack, official fuel economy is rated at 348mpg, with CO2 emissions of 18g/km. But as with all PHEVs, your actual economy will depend on how often the batteries are charged; with the engine running in one of the high-performance driving modes, you’re unlikely to see even 10 per cent of that figure.
On top of the powertrain upgrades, AMG has also given the chassis some attention, starting with an 11mm-wider front track hidden under pumped-up wheelarches. This has allowed AM
