Mercedes-AMG will introduce the latest E-class with the ‘E43’ moniker. What that translates to is a high-performance version of the executive sedan. Visually, you would easily mistake the sporty E-class for the regular sedan, the ’43’ differentiating itself only with a subtle body-kit. What gives it away however are the quad-exhausts and the five-spoke gloss-black AMG wheels.
Like in the GLE 450 AMG recently launched in India, this E43 packs a 3.0-litre V6 petrol under its hood, instead of the fire-breathing 4.0-litre, V8 bi-turbo which you’d find on fully-blown AMG models. The V6 though churns out a more than respectable 390bhp (30bhp up on the GLE 450 AMG) and 53kgm. A nine-speed automatic transmission transmits power to all four wheels via Mercedes’ AWD 4MATIC system. All of the hardware in conjunction propels the 1.8-tonne-plus sedan from standstill to 100kph in a sports car-like 4.5 seconds and a top-speed of 250kph.
The sedan also gets and beefed-up brakes and suspension with a three mode (Comfort, Sport, and Sport) adaptive damping to handle the extra fire-power.
World-debuting at the York Auto Show later in March, the E43 will hit European showrooms in September 2016. The fifth-generation E-class is slated for Indian shores in 2017, and given Mercedes’ aggressive strategy for our market, it would be safe to assume the E43’s arrival on our roads soon after.