When BMW launched the E39 M5, it produced 400 HP from a naturally aspirated V8 engine. That was a very strong figure indeed, but Audi then released their new RS6 with a more powerful turbocharged V8 engine producing 450 HP. Suddenly Mercedes were left behind with it’s E55 AMG producing a measly 350 HP. This did not sit well amongst the folks in Affalterbach, so when their refreshed E class hit the market, AMG laid down the gauntlet and whacked a supercharged V8 with 469 HP into the E55. No longer were they sitting at the bottom of the large sports sedan segment, and it sent shockwaves through Germany. It kicked off an intense three-way standoff that still continues today.
AMG got it’s start when 2 Germans, Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, got together and said: let’s tune a big Mercedes sedan and put it out on track with smaller, more agile machinery. The idea was totally insane, but it worked and the legendary “Red Pig” set the template for all AMG models to come. Mercedes eventually brought AMG in house, carrying on the tradition of mad sedans. In 2004, the sucker punch came in the form of the E55, which in many ways can be considered an ancestor to the original AMG. Like a lot of those before, the E55 didn’t have a dozen badges to tell you what it was – all you had was a more aggressive front bumper and 4 absurd tailpipes that unleashed a biblical growl when you put your foot down.
Out of all the cars to showcase, why would I choose a 4 door sedan instead of mid-engine sports car? Well you see, mid-engined supercars are aspirational cars that can be extremely hard to get a hold of and even if you do, there’s no guarantee that you’d keep them for very long. Only those with deep enough pockets can enjoy them on a regular basis. Sedans, although perhaps not the most desirable choice today, are far more common and many are low performance versions used for daily duty. Putting a high-performance engine into a sedan and sprucing it up with stiffer springs and bigger brakes is always going to excite just for the sheer hilarity of it. Who says that the Germans don’t have a sense of humour?
It’s been a while since I’ve seen an E55 like this one. I honestly do like the way this car looks, because the lines are smooth but still very much Mercedes in terms of the overall form of the vehicle. It doesn’t have a fastback rear end like those horrid “4 door coupes”, but a proper rear end with an obvious boot. In my humble opinion, it’s a classy and clean rendition of the 3 box style that Mercedes is known for with their sedans. I think the current design language has gone too far in the wrong direction, but at this time, they struck a good balance between the old and new. The dark green metallic paint is an interesting choice but I’m not complaining.
Maybe I am slightly biased because this car was featured in Gran Turismo 4, and I very much remember racing it with my brother in an RS6. However I’d like to think that I’m not biased because a 469 HP supercharged sedan is always going to cause a ruckus with car enthusiasts. The tale of competition and oneupmanship that led to this thing’s creation will always be a cornerstone of the German automotive story.
DevMacCars 