Following the reveal of the new E-Class at Geneva last week, the Mercedes-AMG E 43 has broken cover boasting 295kW and 520Nm.
THE NEW MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS was revealed at the recent Geneva Motor Show, yet the German car maker kept its powder dry and has only now revealed the Mercedes-AMG E 43. Boasting 295kW, which is an increase of 25kW, and 520Nm of torque from 2500rpm, the E 43 will hit 100km/h in just 4.3 seconds.
The twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine has been tweaked via larger turbos being located closer to the engine to minimise spool-up time, and a new cylinder coating supposedly reduces friction and thus improves efficiency. In addition to the engine tweaks, the E 43 gets all-wheel drive which, in Merc-speak is 4MATIC, and it runs a rear torque bias setup of 31:69 with the transfer case now a separate unit (in the previous-gen E63 with seven-speed auto it was integrated into the gearbox). There’s a nine-speed automatic and air suspension, which offers three modes: Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus.
The nine-speed auto is pretty clever with its multiple downshift function which “enables more spontaneous short bursts of speed,” this really just means that if you give the throttle a decent prod it’ll skip gears to get to the right one. There’s also a double-declutching function in “Sport” and “Sport Plus” transmission modes and when in manual mode and the driver is shifting via the steering wheel-mounted paddles, the gearbox will stay in the selected gear until the drive chooses the next gear.
The driver can choose from five DYNAMIC SELECT transmission modes “Eco”, “Comfort”, “Sport”, “Sport Plus” and “Individual”.This modifies the response of the engine, transmission, suspension and steering.
“The new E 43 4MATIC offers impressive driving dynamics coupled with cutting-edge efficiency. Twin turbocharging, features adopted from motorsport and the characteristic AMG design immediately indicate to our customers that the new E‑Class from AMG offers pure Driving Performance coupled with cutting-edge technology and intense emotion,” notes Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.
Sit it side by side with the E-Class and the E 43 stands right out with typical AMG styling cues. There are three big scoops in the front apron for improved cooling as well two cross fins on the outer edge of the apron. There are 19-inch AMG five-spoke light-alloy wheels painted in high-gloss black. The rear end also features characteristic highlights, with two chrome-plated quad-flow exhaust tailpipes conveying a particularly sporty aesthetic. The rear apron trim in diffusor look comes in silver chrome, while the standard-specification spoiler lip on the boot lid is painted in the body colour.
The Mercedes-AMG E 43 is expected to arrive Down Under, but locally Mercedes hasn’t said when we can expect to see it, but it won’t be until next year at the earliest.
Why doesn’t the C43 get the same tune? Not that it’ll be hard to get these things making much bigger numbers; 400kW will be relatively easy.
Just marketing, unfortunately, godafoss (‘interesting’ name, godafoss!). Same engine but with the higher price on the E they feel they need a boost (pardon the turbo-pun). Yes, would be an easy wave of the magic tuning wand, very easy, to give the C 295Kws. One would think, from Merc’s viewpoint, it would be yet one more good money-spinner to offer the big numbers on the C as a performance option. Can’t see what that would hurt and would make them more money. Maybe exclusivity comes into it and offending the higher price-paying E clients? Would make sense given far too much snobbery and false ego is invested into these overblown badges.