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.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Suraj Viswanathan
Uday Singh
Hormazd Sorabjee
Kiran Murali
