The three-pointed brand has given us a look at the newest E53, which has gained their electrified combination but with a few more cylinders, allowing you to conquer the track and everyday life with ease and efficiency on your side.
Exterior features
The front features a blacked-out AMG-specific grille with vertical slats and an illuminated surround as standard. The wheel arches host wider front fenders that accommodate the larger track width on the front axle. The lower front bumper has two air inlets on either side, each with two horizontal fins that channel air through the car, while the central A-wing characterizes the independent AMG front apron. The lower section also includes a large central inlet to direct air to the additional AMG front cooler, along with an external opening for the wheel arch cooler.
The side view showcases a smooth and edgeless design flow that integrates the recessed door handles, which work in combination to improve the drag coefficient. AMG-specific side skirt panels, along with Hybrid-specific badges on the front fenders and rear, indicate the electrified drive.
The E 53 HYBRID 4MATIC+ comes with 19-inch light-alloy wheels as standard. Wheels measuring 20 inches and forged wheels with a diameter of 21 inches are also available as options. It features red AMG high-performance ventilated sports brakes (brake discs measuring 370×36 millimeters on the front axle with four-piston fixed calipers; on the rear axle, there are 360×26 millimeters with single-piston floating calipers), an AMG spoiler lip on the trunk lid, and a lower AMG rear apron with a diffuser and two round double tailpipe trims on the left and right. Additionally, 20-inch forged wheels with a diameter of 21 inches are available as an option.
Interior features
The cockpit design features the impressive MBUX Superscreen and the high-resolution instrument cluster we have all come to know. A passenger screen setup will be available later as an option. The infotainment screen offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity and displays various vitals, including AMG-specific displays and the new hybrid-specific displays that show the charging menu, charge status, and temperature of the high-voltage battery, as well as the electric range. Additionally, there are exclusive AMG Performance and AMG TRACK PACE menus available (optional).
In terms of technology, you are equipped with the AMG performance steering wheel in Nappa leather, featuring AMG steering wheel buttons. Notably, as standard, there is an E 53 HYBRID-specific illuminated trim in grey open-pore ash wood with an AMG logo. Electrically adjustable AMG sports seats are standard, with upholstery covered in ARTICO man-made leather/MICROCUT microfibre, highlighted by red contrasting topstitching and unique AMG seat graphics. If you find the sports seats insufficient, you can upgrade to electrically adjustable AMG performance seats. The basic equipment includes the AMG performance steering wheel in Nappa leather with AMG steering wheel buttons.
AMG Performance 4MATIC+ All-wheel drive
The new E53 debuts the newly developed and tuned AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension with adaptive damping adjustment that Mercedes states should enhance driving stability and safety on dry roads as well as on wet or snowy roads. How exactly is the new setup changed? Well, firstly, it’s important to understand that this setup features an electromechanically controlled clutch that variably distributes the driving force to the front and rear axles in each driving program. This ensures maximum traction and improved driving dynamics for all different road conditions.
The steel suspension with a sporty spring-damper setup and adaptive two-valve adjustable damping combines high driving dynamics and smart damping on each wheel, which adapts to the current driving situation and road conditions swiftly and precisely via separate valves for the tension and compression directions in the dampers. The damper characteristic curve can be pre-selected in three levels: “Comfort,” “Sport,” and “Sport+,” thus enabling a clearly noticeable differentiation between high long-distance comfort and sporty driving dynamics.
Standard active rear-axle steering combines stability and agility
Depending on the speed, the rear wheels steer either in the opposite direction to the front wheels (up to 100 km/h) or in the same direction (over 100 km/h). The system, therefore, enables both agile and stable driving behavior. The toe angle change ranges from 0.7 degrees (parallel steering) to 2.5 degrees (opposite steering). A high-tech feature is the electromechanical brake booster.
It ensures that the braking system efficiently combines electrical recuperation with the hydraulic brake. Depending on the driving situation and braking requirements, the vacuum-independent braking system automatically controls the flexible transition between hydraulic braking and electrical recuperation. This means maximum recuperation performance can be achieved more frequently and over longer periods. The system variably reduces the braking power of the hydraulic brake, even with constant pedal pressure, to maintain a high level of recuperation performance as speed decreases. The driver does not notice this automatic change.
The Drive
Under the hood sits a 3.0L turbocharged six-cylinder engine with an electric motor that produces a total figure of 430 kW and 750 Nm. Shifting is taken care of by a 9-speed automatic transmission. It’s worth mentioning that charging the electric motor can be quick; the 21.2-kWh battery is capable of going from 10% to 80% charge in about 20 minutes using a DC fast-charger. The combined fuel consumption output is a claimed figure of 9.2 L/100 km.
By default, the electrified 53 model starts silently in the “Electric” driving program when the electric motor is switched on, and you will be notified by seeing a “Ready” icon in the instrument cluster to signal that the vehicle is ready to drive. The electric-only range of the 120 kW electric motor is said to cover over 100 km. The intelligent operating system switches automatically, starting the combustion engine when the driver requests more power by overcoming the pressure point of the haptic accelerator pedal or when the charge level of the battery is too low.
By simply changing the driving program, drivers can decide when they want to fully use the battery charge again, for example, for inner-city traffic. When driving in the “Battery Hold” program, the combustion engine and electric motor operate in a coordinated manner, depending on the situation, keeping the battery charge level almost constant, as this allows the electric motor to be limited and optimized for low energy consumption.
The E53 sprints from rest to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds before hitting the limiter at 280 km/h or 140 km/h in EV mode. In RACE START, the drive technology pulls out all the stops to achieve the best possible acceleration as the software retrieves the full power of the electric motor (120 kW) and the combustion engine (330 kW), as well as the maximum torque in each case.
Pricing:
Mercedes-AMG E 53 HYBRID 4MATIC+: R 2 499 596
Total Price incl. VAT Tax and 5 year/100 000km PremiumDrive Comfort Care Service and Maintenance Plan