Test drive Mercedes-AMG E 43

It seemed that he would remain unnoticed in the shadow of the ultra-fast and uncompromising E 63. We decided that this was at least unfair

It was not immediately possible to find the E 43 in the underground parking lot of the Moscow office of Mercedes. The car lurks among the usual modifications of the E-Class, from which there are not so many visual differences. Large wheels, black mirrors and side window frames, and twin exhaust pipes. That's the whole simple set of paraphernalia. By the way, such a uniform is provided for all AMG models with an index of 43, of which Mercedes-Benz has already accumulated 11 pieces. But, like the older versions, all the fun is hidden under the hood.

The Mercedes-AMG E 43 is no longer a chauffeur-driven corporate taxi, but not a mature AMG either. It is somewhere on the verge between the civilian modifications of the E-Class and the top version of the E 63. But if the latter is a pumped-up bruiser on steroids, walking around in a wrestler all day long, then her closest relative easily changes sports polo to smart casual at the first command of the driver ... Sport for the youngest of the AMG sedans E-Class is by no means a profession, but rather a hobby with which he knows how to please himself and those around him. In a sense, the E 43 is the entry ticket to the high-tech world from Affalterbach for those who value not only a powerful engine, but also a spacious interior.

It is also a long-awaited and very logical response from Mercedes-AMG to rivals from Audi Sport and BMW M. They have long discerned an empty niche between conventional models and expensive top versions with a supercar price tag, as a result of which the heated Audi S6 and BMW M550i appeared on the market. And they are warmed up a little better than the E 43. And all because both rivals are equipped with V-shaped "eights" with double turbocharging, developing 450 and 462 hp. respectively.

The engine in the E 43 is also V-shaped and is equipped with a pair of turbochargers. But the cylinders here are not eight, but six. In fact, this is the same engine that the manufacturer installs on the E 400 version with a reconfigured control unit and larger turbines. As a result, the output of the power unit increased from 333 to 401 horsepower. It was not possible to reach competitors either in power or in acceleration time from 0-100 km / h. The E 43 takes 4,6 seconds, while Audi does the same two tenths faster, and BMW does it in 4 seconds.

If we abstract from numbers and switch to subjective sensations, then the AMG sedan rides very confidently. Moderately sporty and extremely intelligent. It is also interesting that with an increase in speed, the acceleration intensity practically does not weaken. The 9-speed "automatic" provides almost seamless acceleration and methodically clicks gear after gear. It seems that acceleration will never end until you finally wake up to common sense.

Perhaps, it is worth mentioning the transmission separately here, because this is the rare case when each of the preset driving modes has its own gear shifting algorithm. Even the extreme Sport and Sport +, albeit a little, but differ from each other, and in manual mode, the electronics do not interfere with the process at all, even when the tachometer needle is close to the limiter. In general, everything is fair. From the gearbox, torque is transmitted to all four wheels, but for the E 43, the engineers slightly shifted the balance of traction in favor of the rear axle in a ratio of 31:69. In fact, the car has pronounced rear-wheel drive habits, but in critical modes, the help of the front wheels is felt. And what a pleasure it is - so early to open the "gas" in the corner!

Still, E 43 is not so much about drive as about comfort. Even when the right pedal is in the floor, and the speedometer arrow has long passed the 100 km / h mark, goose bumps do not run over the skin. Most of all at such moments you want to open an evening newspaper or call a friend. There is not an ounce of drama in linear acceleration, although the AMG sedan is trained to take corners to perfection. Involvement in the process of driving a car is present in minimal quantities, and this is what you most expect from such a car. The driver is carefully isolated from the outside world. Sometimes you wonder if this is not an S-Class? But a hard blow on the next road bump quickly puts everything in its place.

The suspension is perhaps the only thing that violates the pacifying comfort in the cabin. In theory, on bad roads, air bellows with electronically controlled shock absorbers should come to the rescue. The combination seems to be a win-win, but on the E 43, even in the most comfortable mode, the chassis is extremely rigidly tuned. As if this is not a business sedan, but some kind of track projectile. The car really writes turns perfectly, but only on condition that under the wheels is the same perfect asphalt. In the case of the test car, 20-inch optional wheels with ultra-low-profile tires added fuel to the fire. With 19-inch base wheels, the flaws in the coating are likely to be perceived less painfully, but it will hardly be possible to come close to the smoothness of the civilian versions.

Since the E 43 bears the proud name AMG, the manufacturer simply could not ignore the brake system. With a relatively modest size of the brakes (the diameter of the front discs is 360 mm), the car decelerates impressively from any speed. The pedal effort is extremely transparent and does not change even after a series of hard braking.

What remains in the end? That's right, just study the luxurious interior. By and large, it is here the same as in the civilian version of the E-Class: a pair of 12,3-inch screens, familiar multimedia control with an endless menu, and contour lighting with 64 shades to choose from. But there are also options that are unique to the AMG version. For example, a sports steering wheel with Alcantara trim at quarter to three and sports seats with active lateral support. Everything that symbolizes comfort is here. And if you want, you can add a little sport at any time. Within reasonable limits.

Body type	Sedan
Dimensions (length / width / height), mm	4923/1852/1468
Wheelbase, mm	2939
Curb weight, kg	1840
engine's type	Petrol
Working volume, cubic meters cm	2996
Max. power, l. with.	401/6100
Max twist. moment, Nm	520/2500 - 5000
Drive type, transmission	Full, 9-speed automatic transmission
Max. speed km / h	250
Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h, s	4,6
Fuel consumption (mixed cycle), l / 100 km	8,4
Price from, USD	63 100