EDMUNDS.COM 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E55 AMG
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 Summary
What Edmunds.com Says
The speed of an exotic and the practicality of a four-door make this latest AMG creation one of the most enticing Mercedes yet.
Pros
World-class performance, luxurious interior, state-of-the-art safety features, everyday drivability.
Cons
Firm ride for a luxury sedan, touchy brakes, some confusing controls.
What''s New for 2004
Introduced late last year, the newest-generation E55 continues into 2004 without change.
Overview
Introduction:
AMG. Those three letters are as revered by auto enthusiasts as ERA or RBI are by baseball fanatics. But what do they stand for and what are they doing affixed to various Mercedes-Benz vehicles? The first two letters stand for the names of the founders: Hans-Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, and the last letter signifies where the company was born: Grossaspach, Germany, back in 1967. What Mr. A and Mr. M did was modify Mercedes-Benz automobiles for better performance, be it for road use or racing, in which they were heavily involved. As the years went on, AMG became known as a premier tuner of Mercedes-Benz automobiles, and eventually offered interior and exterior modifications, such as custom instruments, steering wheels and seats as well as ground effects, spoilers and wheels. The company did such a great job that Mercedes-Benz brought it in house in 1990, and as a result, AMG now has its own high-performance skunk works, similar to rival BMW''s "M" division. There is now an AMG version of nearly every Benz model, from the C-Class'' C32 to the CL-Class'' CL55, and they all feature powerful engines, agile suspensions and subtle accents inside and out to set them apart from their more common brethren. The fact that the newest E55 AMG is one of the fastest Mercedes ever built is enough to get most enthusiasts'' attention, but just to make sure that it didn''t get lost in the current crowd of European super sedans, Mercedes also made it one of the sharpest-handling, shortest-stopping and arguably best-looking four-door sedans ever to wear the three-pointed star.
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For Pricing information, see Edmunds'' Pricing page. |
Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options:
The E55 comes only as a four-door sedan sold in a single trim level. Subtle enhancements set the E55 apart from its other E-Class stablemates, such as more aggressive front and rear fascias, flared rocker panels and gorgeous dual-spoke 18-inch wheels. Interior upgrades include dark bird''s eye maple trim, napa leather upholstery and an Alcantara suede headliner and pillar trim. Other amenities include 10-way power-adjustable front sport seats with memory and heating, four-zone climate control and a 10-speaker sound system with a CD player. A number of high-tech options are offered, such as Keyless Go, a device that allows the car to be started without a conventional key, and a Distronic adaptive cruise control system that automatically maintains a preset distance between the Benz and the car in front of it. Items like an in-dash CD changer, parking sensors and a DVD-based navigation system are also optional.
Powertrains and Performance:
Rated at 469 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, the E55''s supercharged 5.5-liter V8 is one of the most powerful production engines ever offered in the U.S. Mercedes claims a 0-to-60-mph time of just 4.5 seconds -- we''re talking Ferrari territory here. The never-ending stream of power is put to the ground via an AMG-fortified five-speed automatic transmission complete with three driver-selectable shift modes: standard, sport or manual.
Safety:
In addition to expected premium features such as stability control and side curtain airbags, the E55 boasts electronic braking (first seen in the 2003 SL500). This system provides a more precise interface between the brakes and the antilock and stability control hardware, enabling more effective individual wheel braking. In government crash tests, the E-Class received four stars (out of five) for driver and front-passenger protection in frontal impacts and five stars for side impacts.
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For more Safety information, see Edmunds'' Safety page. |
Interior Design and Special Features:
Already well laid out in standard E-Class guise, the E55 adds dark wood trim, higher-quality leather and 10-way power-adjustable sport seats to the mix. Four inflatable air bladders offer infinitely adjustable thigh and lateral support. Combined with the three-stage seat heaters and optional ventilation, these seats can''t be beat. The rest of the interior is standard E-Class, which means plenty of high-quality materials and an elegant if not completely intuitive control setup.
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For more Interior Features information, see Edmunds'' Specifications page. |
Driving Impressions:
This is a car that blurs the lines between luxury sedan and sports car like few other four-doors on the road. Its ability to effortlessly summon triple-digit speeds while retaining all the poise you would expect in a Mercedes is nothing short of phenomenal, and the fact that it remains equally as amiable around town makes it all the more impressive. We have a few minor quibbles -- the steering is a bit overboosted, with a jiggly on-center feel that never seems quite right. And the electronically controlled brakes could be a bit smoother in their actuation. Hard-core enthusiasts might consider the E55''s lack of a manual transmission a roadblock to super sedan supremacy, but then again, 469 horsepower does have a way of changing your mind in a hurry.
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For more Driving Impressions, Recent Articles and Car Awards from Edmunds'' editors, see Edmunds'' Road Tests page. |
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