The Mercedes-Benz W211 is one of the most popular sedans of the early 2000s, and it’s known as the car that broke all the rules of performance on sedans. Back in those days, sedans were supposed to be practical, relaxed, and crummy as always– so we thought. The idea of attaching more horsepower wasn’t particularly appealing to most automakers at the time.
When other producers were creating the same dull sedans, the Mercedes took the high road and made the E-Class performance-oriented, equipping it with a robust engine and a lively drivetrain to match. It caught us off guard, to say the least.
By 1997, the Mercedes-Benz E55 was just a concept. After ages of development and design work - all of which accumulated around $2.3 billion in costs - the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG rolled out of the production line. Launched in 2002, the W211 E-Class debut at the Brussels Motor Show as the 2003 model sedan and the third generation of its kind.
The first time North Americans caught a glimpse of the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG was when Agent Jay was driving it through the streets of New York City, chasing down aliens and wiping people’s memory.
When the E55 was finally released, it didn’t grab much attention. It just appeared to be nothing more than a replacement of the E-Class (W210) model, at least not until its performance specs surfaced.
The update came with a redesigned appearance, luxury interior, and plenty of storage compartments. And our favorite part; the E55 was built with a V8 engine that pumped out 400+ hp, which put it above models like the Jaguar S Type and Ferrari Modena. With a top speed of 150 mph, the Mercedes-Benz E55 became the fastest sedan of 2003.
The Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG came with a speed stat sheet and power fitting of a sports cars. The powertrain and drivetrain used turned the E55 into an iconic sedan of the 2000s. Let's dive in and learn more about this awesome ride.
The Best Feature Of The Mercedes E55 AMG Is Its Awesome 469 HP Engine
The 2003 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG was equipped with a 5.4-liter Supercharged V8 engine that could churn out a staggering 469 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. And this was the early 2000s, so most brands were still years away from surpassing 400 horsepower, let alone reaching 469 hp. To give you an idea of how much power this was, the E55 was right about above other 2003 industry classics, such as the Jaguar S type, whose engines only whipped out as much as 235 hp. The Audi RS6 offered 19 hp less than the E55, at 450 hp.
In time, The E55 marked the beginning of a horsepower rivalry that still goes on to this day. Nowadays, popular brands such as BMW and Dodge offer several sedans that pump out 600+ hp, with a few over the 700 hp mark.
The 150 MPH Top Speed Of The E55 AMG Still Stands Against New Age Giants
Another thing 2003 sedans didn’t usually have was a lot of speed. The Mercedes-Benz E55, however, had a top speed of 155 mph, which made it the fastest sedan in the world during its time.
Furthermore, the top speed was electronically limited to 155 mph, and according to Motorbiscuit, it could go all the way up to 180 mph. To unleash this true top speed, you’d have to disable the limiter and add the right tires, both of which were achievable at dealerships.
Automatic Transmission And RWD Felt Different On A Mercedes AMG
According to Car and Driver’s road test, the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG went from 0-60 in about 4.5 seconds. This was with thanks to its 5-speed automatic transmission, 5.4-liter engine displacement, and the massive amounts of torque on offer.
But of course, in order to get the perfect acceleration and performance, all those ponies had to be kept in check. In this case, the AMG was given a standard adaptive air suspension, which combined with the strong brakes to improve handling on Motor Trend’s report.
While this sedan offered awesome performance, the AMG wasn’t exactly perfect. Car and Driver also reported that the E55 didn’t have sharp steering - at least not like that on the M5s – and the brakes were pretty hard to control. Other than that, the AMG was extremely stable at high speeds. To offer more practicality, the brand released an AMG wagon model.