It was only a matter of time before Mercedes-AMG turned up the wick on the new E-Class, and the first performance model — the AMG-lite E 53 Hybrid 4MATIC+ — has finally been unveiled. Like the old E 53, it features a three-liter inline-six up front, has a nine-speed automatic transmission, sends power to all four wheels, and is a big sedan for serious businesspeople. However, that’s largely where the similarities stop. As you can probably guess by its name, the new E 53 Hybrid 4MATIC+ has gone electrified, and unlike the C 63 S E Performance, there’s absolutely nothing to be nervous about here.
Under the hood, plug-in hybrid electrification and a three-liter turbocharged inline-six work together to offer 576 combined horsepower, except if the E 53 Hybrid in question is equipped with launch control. Dubbed Race Start, it temporarily whacks output up to 603 horsepower, the same as in the old E 63, and cuts the claimed zero-to-62 mph dash time from four seconds flat to 3.8 seconds. Sure, that’s not E 63 pace, but it’s certainly nothing to sneeze at.
Mind you, both the claimed straight-line performance and the enormous battery pack suggest a curb weight somewhere in the vicinity of lots. Mercedes-AMG hasn’t divulged an official figure, but British outlet Auto Express reports “We were told to expect a number in the region of 2,300kg,” which works out to around 5,070 pounds in freedom units. Any number around the 5,000-pound mark is enormous, but it comes with a big perk over the incoming 4,654-pound C 63 AMG E Performance that Mercedes-AMG told us is coming to America in the first half of this year. The E 53 Hybrid actually seems useable as a plug-in hybrid.
The controversial new C 63 features a 6.1 kWh battery pack, and as a result, has an estimated electric range of eight miles on Europe’s optimistic WLTP cycle. In contrast, the battery pack in the E 53 Hybrid features 21.22 kWh worth of usable all-electric capacity, and Mercedes-AMG says it’s good for 60 miles of all-electric range on the WLTP cycle. That’s a significant tangible benefit that actually makes a difference in everyday operation.
Oh, and there’s more good news for people actually looking to buy and keep an E 53 Hybrid — this thing doesn’t ride on expensive-to-sort air suspension. Coil springs, two-valve dampers, job done. Add in a wider front track than a regular E-Class and four-wheel steering, and this large sedan suggests it won’t make a hash of things in the corners. Keep in mind, this isn’t a full-fat AMG, nor is it particularly small, two factors that give it some leeway.
Speaking of go-fast bits, the aforementioned launch control is bundled into a parcel of equipment called the AMG Dynamic Plus package, and this is one option box you’ll certainly want to tick. Not only does it add a limited-slip rear differential to prevent one-tire fires, it adds magnetorheological engine mounts, upgrades the front brakes from four-piston calipers clamping 14.6-inch discs to six-piston calipers clamping 15.3-inch discs, and includes steering wheel buttons for drive mode stuff so you won’t have to hunt through the MBUX infotainment system.
Mind you, this new Mercedes-AMG does suggest that the numbers after each model name don’t seem to mean a whole lot anymore. Keep in mind, the incoming Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 coupe makes 443 horsepower from a mild hybrid inline-six, the current Mercedes-AMG SL55 has a V8 making 469 horsepower, and this E53 Hybrid makes 603 horsepower from a plug-in hybrid inline-six powertrain. Your guess is as good as mine.
However, here’s something that makes sense: A sensible, spacious electric sedan for day-to-day use and a tarmac-rippling plug-in hybrid bruiser for when a good occasion arises. With a place to plug in at home, an E 53 Hybrid driver could endure weeks of commute drudgery without using any gasoline at all, saving fuel for longer trips and great roads. Considering we only have so much oil left on this planet, that’s not a bad thing.
(Photo credits: Mercedes-Benz)
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Hard pass on those three pointed star logo tail lights. I know MB has really leaned into the showing off crowd of late, but this is just too far. At least the light up front emblem was optional.
Man that face is terrible! I just don’t get the black plastic trim around the grille, rather than blending into the car it looks like the car had a front end design and this was just pressed into it. Not we’ll integrate, and the white paint makes it look like the car is trying to spit the grille out
I’m actually more interested in the PHEV with a 6.1kwh battery. Less weight, less cost, comes with between 8 (that would be super low) and 18 miles of range, could be refilled in an hour on L2. Especially if it was an easily accessible batter that could be replaced fairly easily.
Depends on how you drive, but that would cover an awful lot of basic driving.
I guess it would come down to the cost/benefit vs a regular hybrid & no plug though…
To me, 8 miles of EV range is “why not bike then?” Sure, I make small trips like that all the time, if I’m in a hurry or need a lot of cargo capacity. But those trips don’t make up a meaningful amount of mileage. It’s commuting to work or running longer errands that does that, and the majority of people who drive to work have at least a 5 mile commute each way. It’s really nice not to need to plug in every single day to maximize efficiency. I went full EV rather than PHEV for that very reason, I could plug in for free at work, but there were only a couple spots so I didn’t want to count on it daily.
This seems a much more resolved car than the C63. Perhaps a tick slower, but, at least it has (somewhat of) a reason for being so heavy.
Counterpoint:
Five. Thousand. Goddamn. Pounds.
Yeah. I get that it has a larger battery and a better engine, but this is 600 pounds heavier than a 530e. It makes a lot more sense than the C63 weight, but still isn’t pretty.
Those exhaust tips are hilariously fake
More convincing than Audi’s horrendous fake tips.
I mean not really, on both you can look into the “tips” and see the wildly offset actual tips
Nah the SQ5 tips are literally filled in with plastic.https://www.topgear.com.ph/features/feature-articles/audi-sq5-fake-exhaust-tips-tguk-a2613-20210808
I’m more surprised to see real or real-looking exhaust tips than obviously fake ones these days.
My ’94 SHO had great factory exhaust tips. Always liked the aftermarket chrome “baseball bats” on Fox bodies.
I HATE fake performance features. Fake exhaust tips, brake cooling, scoops, every single one makes me think less of a car.