COUPE TO THE POWER OF 53 (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 77

The Mercedes-AMG E 53 4MATIC+ Coupe is a rare kind of performance sporting car. Not only can it sprint to 62mph in under 4.5s to the accompaniment of an emotive soundtrack but it also has a relatively efficient mild hybrid engine and can properly seat four people. It all delivers a pretty special and rather different Grand Touring experience. There's a sense of class, quality and style here that makes this car unique at its price point.

Modelsword count: 4

2dr Coupe (3.0 petrol])

Historyword count: 127

Back in 2018, it'd been a long time since we'd had a Mercedes E-Class that was a proper AMG-fettled serious driver's car but this, the Three-Pointed Star reckoned, was it, the Mercedes-AMG E 53 4MATIC+ Coupe. It wasn't the first Mercedes-AMG version of the fifth generation E-Class Coupe; this '53' variant directly replaced the previous E 43 4MATIC version of this model. That had a V6 engine and 367hp. Here though, you sense that Mercedes' Afalterbach luxury division got a lot more serious about developing this car. There was a change to inline six cylinder power and a power hike to 435hp. At the same time as this E-Class variant future-proofed itself with a switch to mild hybrid technology. The E 53 4MATIC+ Coupe sold until 2022.

What You Getword count: 256

Visually, the 53-series model has a unique look. AMG-specific side sill panels deliver a more dynamic silhouette and there's a twin-blade radiator grille finished in silver chrome, previously a feature reserved only for the V8 Performance models. The front apron, which has an A-wing design, is equipped with black flics and a front splitter in silver chrome. The outer air intakes have two horizontal fins in silver chrome. At the rear, the classic round twin tailpipes are finished in high-gloss chrome and there's a body coloured spoiler on the boot lid, which was optionally available in carbon-fibre. Inside, there's a AMG-specific seat upholstery and red seat belts, plus trim elements in carbon fibre or a glass fibre and matt silver combination. The interior is rounded off with an AMG Performance steering wheel in nappa leather, a tiller which offered individualisation options such as wood inserts in piano lacquer or DINAMICA microfibre in the grip area. As with an ordinary E-Class Coupe, you get a Widescreen Cockpit (two high-resolution 12.3-inch displays are merged under a single lens). But here, this set-up also includes a specific AMG menu. In the back, there's just about space for two adults to be reasonably comfortable - certainly far more than you'd get in a C-Class Coupe - or indeed a Lexus LC. As for the boot, well that's 425-litres in size. Should you want to carry longer items, the split-folding rear seat has two larger outer sections and a narrower middle portion that's ideal for pushing through skis or golf clubs.

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