Luxury alone isn’t enough anymore; Indian buyers who want high-end premium-segment sedans also demand high-performance levels these days. And Mercedes-Benz is ready to deliver. To augment its bestselling E-Class range, the German company has now launched two new AMGs in India – the E 53 4Matic+ and the E 63 S 4Matic+, both engineered to deliver outstanding levels of power and driving dynamics. With these new launches, Mercedes-Benz now has 11 AMG cars in its India line-up, which underlines the growing demand in the country for high-performance cars and SUVs across multiple price segments.
The new Mercedes-AMG models launched in India feature several design and styling updates, including 20-inch alloy wheels for the E 63 (19-inchers for the E 53), a revised front end and an AMG-specific front grille with vertical louvres and prominent three-pointed star. Inside the cabin, the cars get Mercedes-Benz’s new widescreen cockpit, 13-speaker Burmester sound system, AMG performance steering wheel and MBUX infotainment with touchscreen and touchpad input, as well as and voice commands. Seats are upholstered in high-quality Nappa leather, with classy metal trim on the dashboard.
Under the hood, the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S packs a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which produces a supercar-rivalling 612 horsepower and 850Nm of torque. Zero to 100kph comes up in 3.4 seconds, and the top speed is 300kph. The E 53 gets a 3.0-litre straight-six that makes 435bhp and 520Nm of torque. Zero to 100kph takes 4.5 seconds, and the top speed is 250kph. Both cars get 9-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive for excellent grip and stability in all kinds of road and weather conditions.
As you might expect, this new AMG duo also has a whole host of electronics helping the driver, including a 3-stage electronic stability program, an adaptive damping system, reversing camera and multiple driving modes that allow the driver to tailor-make the cars’ performance according to his or her requirements. In addition to regular modes like comfort, sport and race, there’s also a drift mode on the E 63; when this is engaged, all the power is sent to the rear wheels, allowing the car to get sideways during high-speed cornering.
‘Both these sedans not only offer exceptional performance and vehicle dynamics but also increased comfort while retaining the hallmark AMG character. With the AMG E 63 S 4M+ and AMG E 53 4M+, we further rejuvenate our AMG portfolio, especially for those performance purists who always wanted a fine balance between racetrack performance and daily drivability,’ says Santosh Iyer, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz India. ‘Having expanded the AMG portfolio to new customer groups, we are confident of maintaining the growth story of AMGs in India by offering an unmatched brand experience to our customers,’ he adds.
The Mercedes-AMG E 53 4Matic+ comes with an ex-showroom price of Rs 1.02 crore, while the E 63 S comes in at a much higher Rs 1.70 crore. The cars do have some competition in India, including the very aggressively styled Audi RS7, and the animalistic, beautifully balanced BMW M5 Competition. Together, the German trio has elevated automotive performance art to ever-higher levels in recent years, and the new Mercedes-AMG cars are an example of just how far things have come. All you have to do now is find a spare couple of crores and an extra parking slot or two.
