What Are They?
2003 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG, S55 AMG and CL55 AMG
What's Special About Them?
Mercedes-Benz chose Paris as the place to unveil an energized line of AMG products. The E55 is the most interesting as, if for nothing else, it is the most powerful E-Class ever. Dropped into the engine bay of the new E-Class sedan is a supercharged 5.5-liter V8 worth 476 horsepower and 512 pound-feet of torque. In case you're not up on your relevant power figures, those numbers are about equivalent to the 2003 Dodge Viper. Zero-to-60 mph acceleration is said to be less than 4.7 seconds.
The V8 is connected to a standard five-speed automatic with SpeedShift. There are shift buttons on the steering wheel, and Mercedes says this transmission shifts 35 percent faster than the normal unit.
To transfer this high engine performance to the road effectively, AMG has reworked the suspension and braking systems. The suspension is called AirMatic and it features springs and shocks that can be adjusted to maximize both ride comfort and performance during high-speed cornering. AirMatic operates automatically, though the driver can select three different preset modes. When it comes time to slow down, the E55 has the Sensotronic brake system as found on the SL55. There are also oversize rotors and eight-piston front brake calipers.
Other changes to the E55 include 18-inch wheels, 245/40ZR18 front tires, 265/35ZR18 rear tires, slight body modifications and unique interior trim.
For the CL55 and S55, Mercedes has fitted the same 5.5-liter V8 and five-speed SpeedShift automatic from the E55. Both cars have the latest generation of Active Body Control (ABC). They also benefit from the model-wide improvements made for 2003. The CL has new headlights, new crash sensors and slightly different front and rear styling. More on the S-Class, meanwhile, can be found in our separate and more detailed coverage.
Why Should You Care?
Mercedes-Benz now makes some of the most powerful luxury sedans in world. Just a few years ago, it seemed ludicrous that the BMW M5 has nearly 400 hp. Now here is the E55 with almost 500.
We're not sure how many owners are going to find the roads that are empty enough to fully utilize the E55 AMG, S55 AMG and CL55 AMG; but when we get our hands on these magnificent machines, we'll be searching really, really hard. — Brent Romans
2003 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG, S55 AMG and CL55 AMG
What's Special About Them?
Mercedes-Benz chose Paris as the place to unveil an energized line of AMG products. The E55 is the most interesting as, if for nothing else, it is the most powerful E-Class ever. Dropped into the engine bay of the new E-Class sedan is a supercharged 5.5-liter V8 worth 476 horsepower and 512 pound-feet of torque. In case you're not up on your relevant power figures, those numbers are about equivalent to the 2003 Dodge Viper. Zero-to-60 mph acceleration is said to be less than 4.7 seconds.
The V8 is connected to a standard five-speed automatic with SpeedShift. There are shift buttons on the steering wheel, and Mercedes says this transmission shifts 35 percent faster than the normal unit.
To transfer this high engine performance to the road effectively, AMG has reworked the suspension and braking systems. The suspension is called AirMatic and it features springs and shocks that can be adjusted to maximize both ride comfort and performance during high-speed cornering. AirMatic operates automatically, though the driver can select three different preset modes. When it comes time to slow down, the E55 has the Sensotronic brake system as found on the SL55. There are also oversize rotors and eight-piston front brake calipers.
Other changes to the E55 include 18-inch wheels, 245/40ZR18 front tires, 265/35ZR18 rear tires, slight body modifications and unique interior trim.
For the CL55 and S55, Mercedes has fitted the same 5.5-liter V8 and five-speed SpeedShift automatic from the E55. Both cars have the latest generation of Active Body Control (ABC). They also benefit from the model-wide improvements made for 2003. The CL has new headlights, new crash sensors and slightly different front and rear styling. More on the S-Class, meanwhile, can be found in our separate and more detailed coverage.
Why Should You Care?
Mercedes-Benz now makes some of the most powerful luxury sedans in world. Just a few years ago, it seemed ludicrous that the BMW M5 has nearly 400 hp. Now here is the E55 with almost 500.
We're not sure how many owners are going to find the roads that are empty enough to fully utilize the E55 AMG, S55 AMG and CL55 AMG; but when we get our hands on these magnificent machines, we'll be searching really, really hard. — Brent Romans
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