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The E55 AMG is placed in the Mercedes-Benz record books as the most powerful E-class of all time. However, quoting a Pirelli tagline, power is nothing without control; and so Mercedes-Benz and AMG have developed a brand new semi-active suspension system called AIRMATIC DC with ADS II. This new air sprung suspension system allows the driver to opt for a more comfortable or very sport ride. The damping and springing automatically adjusts to the given situation in fractions of a second. Required tuning can also be selected manually in three stages with a touch of a button. To stop the E55 AMG, Mercedes-Benz upgraded the car’s Sensotronic Brake Control with internally ventilated perforated brake discs all around, sized 14 inches for the front and 13 inches for the rear. Eight fixed piston calipers give the front brakes a brake pad surface almost twice as large as the normal E500. Meanwhile, its bigger brothers, the S55 and CL55 also gain a totally different character. The same supercharged V8 in the SL55 and E55 develops 500 bhp at 6,100 rpm and 700 Nm of torque at 2,750 rpm to 4,000 rpm on both of these models. Both of these cars can sprint to the 200 km/h mark in just 16.3 seconds. Standard on both of the S55 and CL55 is Mercedes-Benz’s Active Body Control system or ABC, tuned by AMG to take on the heavier punishment these cars have to endure. The ABC significantly reduces the amount of pitch and roll. The driver can also select comfort-oriented or sporty characteristics by pressing a button on the dash, similar to the E55 AMG. Both of these cars also receive high-performance brakes with cross-drilled discs all around with eight-piston fixed calipers at the front. To give all three AMG brothers an added muscular stance, Z-rated 18-inch tires are standard. The front 245/40 ZR 18 tires and rear 265/35 ZR 18 tires are mounted on new light-weight AMG twin-spoke alloy wheels. In addition, they all receive some discreet aerodynamic and styling touches such as AMG badging, a new front apron with larger air intakes and clear-glass fog lamps, aggressive side skirts and a distinctive rear apron topped off with two chromed twin exhaust pipes (the E55 AMG gets two chromed exhaust pipes on either side). The CL55 AMG gets a sportier diffuser at the rear as well. Like all AMG cars, the interior of the E55 AMG, S55 AMG and CL55 AMG have been given more luxurious appointments such as nappa leather (the E55 AMG gets a nappa / nubuck leather combination); front sports seats with heavier bolstering; a new 320 km/h instrumentation cluster; bird’s eye maple wood trim and an AMG ergonomic sports steering wheel. All three of these new breed of Mercedes-Benz AMG road rockets will be available starting the fall of 2002 as part of the company’s 2003 line-up. After that, it should come to no surprise as the German countryside won’t be as tranquil as before, as the eerie sound of a howling V8 Kompressor will go charging through the picturesque Bavarian landscape. |
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