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Competes with: BMW 550i, Audi S6, Lexus GS F, Cadillac CTS V-Sport
Looks like: The redesigned E-Class, plus a new grille and exhaust splitters
Drivetrain: 396-hp, turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 with a nine-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive
Hits dealerships: Early 2017
Two months after Mercedes-Benz introduced the redesigned E-Class, the brand unveiled the car's first AMG version. But this isn't the fire-breathing V-8 E63; instead, the first AMG E-Class is an E43 with a turbo V-6. Mercedes will still market the car under its newish AMG sub-brand, as in the Mercedes-AMG E43.
Related: More 2016 New York Auto Show News
Judging by the specs, the E43 fits more along the lines of the brand's in-between AMG Sport variants, which seem headed toward joining the broader AMG family. (That would make Mercedes' AMG Sport moniker a rather short experiment.)
In any case, the E43 takes on cars like the Audi S6 and higher-output versions of the BMW 5 Series, Lexus GS and Cadillac CTS. We'll see the E43 up close when it debuts at the 2016 New York International Auto Show later this month, so stay tuned for our early impressions. The sedan goes on sale in early 2017 with pricing expected to start in the low-$70,000 range, according to Mercedes.
Exterior
The E43 looks similar to the E-Class, with three large, functional openings in the front bumper. The outer openings have two crossbars, while the grille itself has a single bar with a dotted chrome background — a layout similar to the C450 AMG Sport sedan. Nineteen-inch alloy wheels, dual split exhaust openings and a trunk-lid spoiler round out the look. Twenty-inch rims are optional.
Interior
Inside, the E43 has sport seats with faux-suede and vinyl upholstery. Nappa leather is optional, as are AMG performance seats. Red stitching lines the seats, door inlays, steering wheel and dashboard; the seat belts also are red. Optionally, the E43 can have a 12.3-inch gauge screen with simulated instruments.
Under the Hood
The E43 gets a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 that makes 396 horsepower and 384 pounds-feet of torque, up 34 hp versus the twin-turbo V-6 in the C450. (Torque remains the same.) It sends power to all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission and a rear-biased version of Mercedes' 4Matic all-wheel-drive system, which defaults 69 percent of its power to the rear wheels — even more than the usual split for rear-biased all-wheel drive. Add it all up, and Mercedes says the E43 hits 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. That's about even with manufacturer-estimated times for the S6, which has considerably more power but 341 pounds of extra curb weight.
The E43 gets variable-ratio power steering (not just variable assist, as is the norm) as well as an AMG-tuned adaptive air suspension. Selectable driving modes alter various drivetrain, suspension and steering systems to one of four driving modes, with a mix-and-match fifth mode if you want to configure your own.
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