MERCEDES-AMG E53 COUPE
It’s got swoopy style and a silky, slamming powertrain. BYO Gucci loafers, Prada man-bag and cravat
IT MIGHT BE self-defeating to disclose this so early, but the most dramatic change with the latest Mercedes-AMG E53 Coupe is the price. It’s $14,900 cheaper than the previous version and now covers the yawning price gap in the range left by the recently departed E450 Coupe.
Luckily, the E53 has not lost anything important in the process. Standard equipment remains as healthy as before, including the
Vision package that includes a headup display, Burmester sound and panoramic sunroof with heated glass. Nappa upholstery features as well.
There are no dive planes or spoilers, either. The E53 exterior is careful to preserve the understated elegance expected from an E-Class while balancing the need to deliver styling worthy of its AMG badge. It comes with a new 20-inch wheel design (in black, or grey with machined spokes), black mirrors and vertical Panamericastyle slats in the radiator grille. The rear bumper carries over the same quad-exhaust-tip arrangement for extra menace, while you can spot rear differential cooler fins from down low.
Inside, an MBUX infotainment system replaces the old rotary dial in the centre console with a trackpad. It teams up with a new steering wheel as access points to the dual 10.25-inch dash widescreens that come with the AMG Track Pace app. The steering wheel is smaller in diameter than the previous design and replaces the D-shaped traditional shift paddles with a new C-shape, but the real value is in the capacitive sensors on the spokes that replace fiddly keypads and their switches, buttons and dials.
While the carryover inline-six is described as twin-turbocharged, the second turbo is an electrically powered compressor plugged into the 48-volt electrical system to help instantaneously produce boost to aid torque down low. The engine offers 320kW and 520Nm, but an electric motor wedged between it and the nine-speed automatic transmission can deploy an extra 16kW and 250Nm.
Unleashing the E53 remains a delight despite its weight, and it sounds good, developing a dense howl as the revs unfurl towards a 6500rpm redline. We have no reason to doubt the claim it can run to 100km/h from rest in 4.4 seconds. It feels fast and has loads of grip.
In corners, though, it never fully capitalises on its rear-drive layout.
You struggle to wind up commitment beyond seven-tenths as broken surfaces and mid-corner bumps upset its hold on the road to remind us the E53 is not a backroad carver.
AMG-tuned air dampers and springs provide a sweet ride that underscore its purpose as a grand tourer on steroids, yet the low-profile tyres still do a terrible job of insulating the cabin from aggressive deflections. But they do contribute to some muchneeded steering feel.
It is a delight to use the shift paddles, their larger surface area making them easy to find. And you sometimes stay in manual mode just to enjoy their cool, metal touch.
The E53 is a nice day-to-day device, with an excellent driving position, frameless glasshouse and a torqueconverter auto that responds well to part-throttle inputs. It boasts excellent over-shoulder visibility and offers a cosseting ride on smoother roads.
The new cockpit offers a refreshing break from other AMGs. The steering wheel controls, minimalist centre console and steering-column gearlevers are a match for a paredback workstation that sets a new standard for simplicity. The cabin is spacious in the rear, though access is slow because the front seats take an eternity to fold forward.
In essence, the E53 ticks all the boxes it should. Between the gorgeous styling, sumptuous luxury and drivercentric cabin, it feels special just parked. But while the straight-six engine is smooth, sonorous and tuned to work with its hybrid system and electric compressor to perfection, there are times it can struggle to get moving under its own weight.
Of course, we knew the E53’s flaws going in, and what we should ask is if the facelift has done anything to compromise it as a performance grand tourer. It hasn’t. If anything, the steering wheel has unlocked extra functionality while freshening the cabin, and the paddles make using its powertrain even more enjoyable. Add in the fact it is now almost $15K cheaper and it’s clear the E-Class sweet spot is now even sweeter.