Mercedes-AMG E53 W214

Based on the W214 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the all-new Mercedes-AMG E53 is the only AMG-fied E-Class you'll be getting for this generation...for now.

2025 Mercedes-AMG E53

2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Estate

The all-new Mercedes-AMG E53 is a significant departure from its predecessor. What's underneath has changed, and the price has increased. Starting at 109,242 Euros plus additional costs, it's definitely a luxury car.

The E53 features styling and interior design similar to the standard E-Class range. It includes a signature AMG grille at the front, distinctive AMG aerodynamic enhancements on the exterior, and an AMG Performance flat-bottomed steering wheel with AMG-specific rotary controls. 

The vehicle comes with power-adjustable AMG sports seats, with the option for AMG Performance bucket seats. Inside, you'll find Artico faux leather and Microcut suede upholstery. Additionally, you can opt for the MBU Superscreen, which includes AMG-specific features such as a lap timer.

Under the hood, the all-new E53 is powered by a 3.0L turbo six-cylinder engine with a powerful electric motor. This electrified setup produces 449PS of power and 560Nm of torque. Arm it with the AMG Dynamic Package with Race Start launch control, and the power output is shot to 612PS. Mated with the AMG Speedshift TCT 9G and AMG Performance 4Matic+, it does 0-100kph in 3.8 seconds and up to 280kph of top speed. Without it, it's just four seconds and an electronically-limited 250kph top speed.

Thanks to its 28.6kWh battery pack, the fuel economy is 8.6 to 9.2 liters per 100 km and the driving range on electric power alone is up to 101km.

On its own, the all-new E53, equipped with AMG Ride Control adaptive dampers, offers a respectable driving experience, even on track days. However, when you add the AMG Dynamic Plus package—which includes dynamic engine mounts, an electronic locking rear differential, composite front brakes (with 390 mm discs and six-piston calipers), and the Race Start feature—the performance becomes exhilarating.

Even in its six-cylinder PHEV setting, the all-new E53 is proven to be as fun as the outgoing V8-powered E63. It may be as posh as the normal E-Class but with AMG credentials only drivers at the same level as George Russell can take advantage of, it feels like every day's a race day for this one.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz AG.

My FH5 Log: Quartet JUNK

Christmas celebrations in Forza Horizon 5 are officially ruined because of the arrival of The Four Horsemen of the Scrap-o-calypse. 

Four older-generation luxury cars have invaded Horizon Mexico to darken our Yuletide celebrations. Who are this update's nightmares during the Christmas celebration?

Week 1 of the Horizon Holidays Mix-up saw the first horseman of the scrap-o-calypse: the third-generation Bentley Flying Spur. The last W12-powered Flying Spur.

Week 2 saw the arrival of the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG Wagon. This German junk is powered by a supercharged 5.4L V8 engine producing 469HP of power and 516ft-lb of torque. This is more than your auntie's basic W211 E-Class saloon.

Week 3 shocked Bimmer fanatics in Forza with the wrong M5. It's the previous-generation F90 M5 CS. This limited-edition M5 is based on the facelifted F90 M5 and is the first to have four seats. The tuned 4.4L V8 Twin Turbo engine produces 627HP of power and 553ft-lb of torque, sprinting form 0-60-mph in 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 190mph, making it the fastest-accelerating M saloon ever made.

Lastly, the final week of the Horizon Holidays Mix-up brought us another "clunker" wagon; the Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon. Even in its estate setting, it carries the same features from the CTS-V sedan and coupe such as control arm front suspension, Multi-Link rear suspension, Brembo brakes, dual-mode Magnetic Ride Control, Bose 5.1 surround sound system, standard navigation system, and a choice of two transmission types; a 6-speed 6L90 automatic or a 6-speed Tremec TR-6060 manual. It even packs a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine from the C6 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, producing 556hp power and 550ft-lb of torque.

It's time to unleash the ghosts of Christmas past around Horizon Mexico. These four horsemen of the scrapyard are going to give us a taste of what they're made of.

Welcome to the dark side of the Horizon Holidays.

It's typical Forza. They've shunned the evolution of automobiles and shocked the younger generation of car enthusiasts by dumping older-generation cars into games like Forza Horizon 5. As the year 2025 approaches with nothing from the Forza producers, I guess this is what they called the death kneel.

That's right. The Forza franchise is officially DEAD in 2025 because none of the games featured every single 2025 Model Year vehicle. This means that the new Forza Motorsport game and Forza Horizon 5 are the last Forza games they'll ever make as the Forza franchise is set to permanently close its doors in 2025.

I just remembered: the Horizon Extremes update next week will have just one prize car, and it's a rotten piece of junk from the depths of the inferno: the DeBerti Chevrolet C10 Slayer. Still, this is the beginning of the end—the end of not just Forza Horizon 5 but THE END OF THE FORZA FRANCHISE.

Good luck enjoying the final days of the Forza franchise. It was a fun racing franchise while it lasted...

My FH5 Log: Euro Trash

Would you look at that? The European Automotive update of Forza Horizon 5 is constantly littered with European junk cars out from the junkyard and into the ever-growing FH5 car roster. The cesspool of junk cars keeps on growing.

First up is the Lancia Fulvia from the Hot Season Playlist. Powered by a 1.3L V4 engine, it's the car that made Lancia win its first World Rally Championship. Not bad for a front-wheel-drive coupe that costs more than the Jaguar E-Type when it was new.

Next up is the Citroen DS 23 from the Storm Season Playlist. This is the iconic hatchback that first introduced Citroen's signature hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension system which uses liquid hydraulic and gas-pressured suspension instead of springs, giving it a comfy ride on all kinds of road surfaces. It was the first to use disc brakes.

Fresh from the Dry Season Playlist is the Series 4 Lotus Esprit, the last V8-powered Lotus ever made and one of the last production cars with pop-up headlights.

The Hot Season Playlist featured a double bill of German garbage; the Volkswagen Double Cab Pick-up and the Mercedes-Benz 500 E. The Doka is basically the pickup variant of the Volkswagen Type 2 minibus while the 500 E is the V8-powered variant of the W124 E-Class made from a Porsche factory.

Let's give the quintuplet of European garbage a good dirty driving, and showcase just how good these rusty beaters from the Old Continent were. Roll the tapes.

These rusty beaters proved their point but as it turned out, they were nothing compared to the worst European toxic waste of the pack; the AMG Hammer Wagon from the European Automotive DLC Pack.

The AMG Hammer Wagon is a one-off W214 wagon built for a client from the USA. Started out in life as a diesel-powered W214 wagon until the original owner commissioned AMG to convert it into a super wagon, armed with a 6.0L V8 engine producing 375hp of power while mated to a 4-speed AT. It even comes with a locking differential to help the rear axle endure the punishment from the V8 engine, among others.

Want to see how the AMG Hammer Wagon roars? You're in luck because let's get the tape rolling.

The latest batch of toxic waste dump proves that the cesspool of rusty beaters never stops growing, giving Gen Z players uncontrollable anxiety, complaining about why the Forza producers keep dumping junk cars in such a wonderful racing game.

Are we seeing more junk cars in the next FH5 series update next week? Yes, there will be junk cars next week so brace yourselves for more rusty beaters ruining your FH5 experience.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class W214

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class W214 signals the evolution of the E-Class lineage and with dramatic changes inside and out, it's no doubt becoming the most advanced E-Class ever made.

2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Starting at 61,999 Euros plus additional costs, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class W214 is the most advanced E-Class ever made thanks to the dramatic improvements inside and out, making it capable of tackling the demands of the new normal.

2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate

2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain

Just like the previous version, the W214 E-Class is offered in three different body styles such as the sedan, the estate, and the outdoor-oriented All-Terrain with slightly increased ground clearance. Whichever E-Class you're on, you will still be greeted by the new design that looks like it's been borrowed from its sedan relatives, the C-Class and the S-Class. Not bad for a middle child of the family tree. Although it's hard to distinguish between the three, the sizing makes it easy to differentiate it from its relatives because, as I said, this is the middle child of the Mercedes sedan range and it deserves extreme attention to detail at first contact.

2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class interior

2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate interior

Unlike its C-Class and S-Class brothers, the new interior prefers the dashboard layout inspired by the Mercedes-EQ range and with the rather controversial Superscreen equipped, it now behaves just like its EQ relatives because with two touchscreens on the dashboard, it's the ideal time-waster for those who love to play around the car's insides. Care for some Netflix and chill while stuck in traffic, I presume?

While the added Superscreen is deemed too flashy for speedo boys behind the wheel, the passenger side is classic E-Class comfort, and with the added Energizing Comfort wellness program, Energizing Coach program, and Thermotronic climate control with Digital Vent Control, the out-on-a-limo feeling truly hits the W214's sweet spot.

2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The W214 E-Class, depending on which body style you're on, offers a wide range of petrol (E200), diesel (E220d), and PHEV configurations (E300e and E400e). All are mated to a 9G-TRONIC gearbox.

The cheapest version, the E200 Avantgarde Advanced, features a 2.0L turbo engine with mild hybrid, producing 204PS of power and 320Nm of torque with a fuel economy of 6.4L/100km. The most powerful version for the time being is the E400e with the 4MATIC four-wheel-drive system, where the said engine is bolted to an electric motor and a 25.4kWh lithium battery, capable of producing 381PS of total power output, 650Nm of torque, a 0-100kph time of 5.3 seconds, and an electronically-limited top speed of 250kph.

To make the E-Class W214 capable of driving like every E-Class should, it has a front four-arm suspension, rear five-link suspension, and Agility Control steel-sprung for MHEV vehicles, but to get the most out of it, it comes with the available Airmatic air suspension with ADS+ continuously variable damping and rear-axle steering setup. Such setup will bring dynamism to the all-new E-Class and looks like high-rollers can't wait to get their hands on it.

Because this is the E-Class for the new normal, the W214 features a wide range of ADAS such as Active Distance Assist, Attention Assist, Active Brake Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Parking Package with reverse camera, Speed Limit Assist, Attention Assist, Active Emergency Stop Assist, and the available Driving Assistance Plus with Active Steering Assist that vibrates the steering wheel when lane markings are no longer clearly visible and Active Steering Assist is no longer available.

The all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class W214 is the most advanced E-Class to date thanks to its dramatic improvements inside and out. It really is the E-Class for the new normal and like it or not, it's prepared for almost everything life throws at it.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz AG

My FH5 Log: A German super saloon and a vintage racer

Having fought my way through the FH5 Series 2 Wet Season Playlist, I got my hands on two exclusive vehicles such as the W213 Mercedes-AMG E63 and the ancient Maserati 8CTF race car. Let's get to know my new prized possessions.

The W213 Mercedes-AMG E63 sets the standards of fast executive-class super saloons as the rear-wheel-drive layout of the past has been ditched in favor of its AMG-tweaked 4MATIC+ four-wheel-drive system with a special Drift Mode feature that allows this sedan to oversteer like a rear-wheel-drive car. It is powered by the same 4.0L V8 BiTurbo engine as the Mercedes-AMG GT sports car but in the S version, it produces up to 612PS of power and 850Nm of torque. With the nine-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT, it does 0-100kph in 3,4 seconds and it is electronically limited to 250kph or with an additional extra, the limit can be raised up to 50kph more, resulting in 300kph.

The 8CTF is Maserati's attempt to take on the likes of the Germans on the Grand Prix scene of the thirties. Taking advantage of Adolfo Orsi's acquisition of Maserati, the 8CTF is derived from the team's voiturette chassis while powered by a 2991cc eight-cylinder in-line engine with double overhead camshafts and twin Roots-type superchargers. It is capable of hitting 131.2mph of top speed during its maiden campaign at Tripoli with Count Felice Trossi behind the wheel. Despite its unsuccessful run, the 8CTF dominated Indianapolis and Pikes Peak in the late '30s.

Now that I had my word on these two new beauties, let's give them a quick run just to see what's like to be with these machines. Roll the tapes.

Enjoy your new ride!

Forza Horizon 4: The new breed of super saloons

The Mercedes-AMG E63 signals the new breed of super saloons where the glorious FR layout of the past has been ditched in favor of four-wheel drive but still offers the same rear-wheel-drive feel with a special device planted to it. Sacrilege by some, the new E63 sets the new benchmark for executive-sized fast saloons, something that the latest BMW M5 followed suit.



Having won this car from the Series 21 Horizon Winter Playlist, let's get to know more about the Mercedes-E63 AMG W213.



Following where the previous model left off, the new Mercedes-AMG E63 sets the standards of fast executive-class super saloons as for the latest model, the rear-wheel-drive layout of the past has been ditched in favor of its AMG-tweaked 4MATIC+ four-wheel-drive system with a special Drift Mode feature that allows this sedan to oversteer like a rear-wheel-drive car. The new model is powered by the same 4.0L V8 BiTurbo engine as the Mercedes-AMG GT sports car but in the S version, it produces up to 612PS of power and 850Nm of torque. With the nine-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT, it does 0-100kph in 3,4 seconds and it is electronically limited to 250kph or with an additional extra, the limit can be raised up to 50kph more, resulting in 300kph.



Although it feels more mature to drive than the M5, the E63 sure is as quick as any German super-saloon should and still enjoy some serious super-saloon stuff even with a four-wheel-drive standard. You can really spend lots of time getting hooked to its dynamics like a man possessed and still get out unscathed. I'm starting to understand why Mercedes opted to make the W213 E63 a four-wheel drive only super-saloon and how the current BMW M5 stole the E63's recipe for success but forget about it because it's time to see which of the German 4WD super saloons is the king.



With that, the F90 BMW M5 has been rejoined to settle this personal debate once and for all in the streets of Edinburgh.




I remember a certain Top Gear episode where Harris drives the E63 while Business Stig drives the M5 and in the end, the AMG is the winner. Now that we're in the city center, let's see if the AMG still beats the M5 by setting a fast time through the Edinburgh city sprint. Let's roll the tape.

After a quick sprint in the heart of the city, here are the results;

F90 M5 - 2:49.837
E63 W213 - 2:49.403



To the winner, the spoils. With the three-horsepower gap between them, it's no wonder the E63 managed to claw through the tail-happy F90 M5 by a narrow margin and nicks it with a scratch, not a slash. Judging by the close result, the Benz really grabs it by the nose faster than the BMW and looks like Mercedes is still king in making super saloons even at this brave new age where four-wheel drive is the norm.

The more your know.

Forza Horizon 4: Gifts from Top Gear

The recent Forza Horizon 4 update introduces us to a brand new Horizon Story I'm sure most are interested to play it, whether they like it or not. It's the Top Gear Horizon Special and with voiceover by Top Gear presenter Chris Harris, players will take on challenging stuff to win prizes from this new Horizon Story.







The Top Gear Horizon Special features a series of unpredictable, challenging, chapters to clear, leading up to the climax where players will drive a truck carrying a special surprise at the back to the target destination. Perform outstanding results and they can win prizes such as The Stig's costume, the "I Am The Stig" shirt, and the cars lined up from the Top Gear Horizon Special.



This is the Track-tor, a V8-powered tractor Matt LeBlanc made from a certain episode of Top Gear and with its 87.2mph top speed, it was verified by Guinness World Record as the world's fastest tractor. It took two years to build it, did you know.



Next on the list is the "Project E-AT", a current-generation Mercedes-Benz E350d All-Terrain lightly modified by the Top Gear Magazine staff for their trip to the very eastern edge of Estonia on the Russian border or tracking bears, whatever the TG magazine staff said.

And now, the special surprise...



A first in Forza; a six-wheeler in the form of a previous-generation Mercedes G-Class. It's called the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x6, a 5.5L V8 BiTurbo-powered, six-wheeled, monstrosity only the privileged few can conquer the ends of the earth with its signature 6x6 technology, independent and neutral chassis, portal axles, five differential locks, 7G-TRONIC gearbox, and more. What more can you ask from this colossal Graz titan?

Anyway, now that I got my hands on these three prize cars obtained for performing outstanding results on the Top Gear Horizon Special (just nail three stars on all chapters, okay?), let's give these three Stig-approved machines a quick drive to see what they're made of.







The "I Am The Stig" shirt, The Stig's costume, and three new prize vehicles are yours to keep after nailing all three stars per chapter on the Top Gear Horizon Special and if you got them all, what's your favorite so far? Most say you love the G63 6X6, others like the Track-tor, but a few like me like the Project E-AT. Still, these three are really awesome to drive and they are Stig-approved for your Stig-ness.

Enjoy!

Mercedes-AMG E53 Coupe and Cabriolet (C238)

The previous-generation E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet were all lovely weekend would-be grand tourers fit enough to drive on the country club to play golf or to a Michelin-starred restaurant to spend a date but the lack of the AMG variant really means that they're less fun to drive as the sedan and wagon equivalent where they both have hard-boiled AMG variants at play. Realizing this is a fatal mistake, today's E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet have been given the AMG treatment they've longly deserved, except for one thing.

2019 Mercedes-AMG E53 Coupe

2019 Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet

Instead of giving it a V8 like every AMG 63 range or the basic 6-cylinder from the AMG 43 range, they've been given some mild-hybrid science to the 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder turbo engine and as a result, the Mercedes-AMG 53 range is born and the E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet were the firsts to don it.

Normally, I would like to talk more about what these two look like apart from looking like the same as their normal equivalents with some AMG treatments inside and out but life is short so let's focus more on the powertrain in question. The E53 range is powered by a new 3.0L in-line six-cylinder engine with EQ Boost electric auxiliary compressor.. That's right, there is now a mild-hybrid AMG in the stable and while this is not a Prius in tuxedo, they're still AMGs at heart and they produce a modest 457PS of power and 520Nm of torque. That's V8 power in a very small six-cylinder engine and that's miniaturization done right for the boys from AMG and also, when mated with a SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G-Tronic, it does 0-100kph in four and a half seconds and top speed normally limited to 250kph. An optional extra will have the limit raised to 270kph so that's 911 stuff in a mild and tangy AMG grand tourers fit for weekends at the nightclub or at the track. Fuel efficiency combined is around less than nine liters per 100 km so that's quite impressive for a straight-six AMGs.

Speaking of mild and tangy, both the E53 Coupe and Cabriolet are armed with 4MATIC+ which promises to be the best of both worlds. It can be transitioned to either all four wheels or to the back with its fully variable torque distribution and as a result, a moderately enjoyable car to drive if you are fully understand with all of the other stuff such as the AMG RIDE CONTROL+ Suspension and the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT that fits with your driving style. That is a pretty nice car to take it on the road and track but tread carefully because at some cases, that 4MATIC+ system might just lose its touch and as a result, some arm-breaking understeer you can't get away from. Talk abut being too much grip.

So, should you buy it? The Coupe will cost you 81,592 Euros while the Cabriolet costs 87,066 Euros so they are somewhat expensive to own but the pricing isn't the least of the problems here because to sum things up, these variants don't live up to their fire-breathing fantasies the E63 variants posses and although the mild and menacing character shows that it can be somewhat grippy and somewhat melodramatic but at least it was a start and it's more than enough to give the E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet the AMG treatment they deserve. If they need more, they won't hesitate to ask AMG to pump them up with some more stimulants. These E53 variants have a long way to go.

Photo: Daimler AG

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet (C213) vs AMG E63 (S213) Estate

Not too long ago, Mercedes-Benz brought us the above average E-Class Coupe which shares the same features as the saloon version but with less doors for that grand touring feeling a bachelor would want to feel, although not as exciting as it seems, and with the new Cabriolet version, looks like there's a similar feeling you're going to experience in the open-top version of the two-door version of the E-Class.

2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet

Like the coupe version, the all-new E-Class Cabriolet from Mercedes-Benz is all about cruising in a different approach for those who want to savor the moment when it comes to their weekend drives and because it offers the same choice of engines as the coupe version as well as the 9G-TRONIC gearbox, especially the the more powerful 3.0L V6 biturbo engine equipped with ECO Start/Stop on the E400, there's no telling how do you live with the open-top variant that is crisper to drive as the coupe version, even though it weighs more due to stiffer bodyshell structures for health and safety.

With the AIR BODY CONTROL multi-chamber air suspension, the E-Class Cabriolet can accommodate just about everything while driving such as raising the body when going over speed humps or lowering it if you are feeling ballsy through the corners. Whichever way you're going, you'd be sure that the Cabriolet isn't the most fun car to drive but the most civilized way of having a relaxing getaway from the city.

As a convertible, the E-Class Cabriolet features exclusive features such as the available AIRCAP electric draught-stop system, the AIRSCARF neck-level heating system, a specially-developed climate control, and a MAGIC VISION CONTROL that works well on the Cabriolet even when cruising on the rainy weather. All is nice but while it features the same safety tech as most of the E-Class variants, feels like the Cabriolet wants to do the talking for the driver for the time being and that sounds a bit average, especially when you look at the price tag that the Cabriolet starts at 54,228 Euros.

Yes, that car maybe nice to drive on the open roads but it can be somewhat average for the car enthusiast in you and because it's getting cold outside, cars like these would be pointless to take it out for a drive so instead of taking this cabriolet on the road in case the weather's gone windy, rainy, or chilly, perhaps you should go for one of these...

2018 Mercedes-AMG E63 Estate

This is the new Mercedes-AMG E63 Estate and with prices start at 112,907 Euros, it can be as pricey as supercars but this isn't a supercar, it's a balls-out station wagon that offers the same thrills as the saloon but with some added boot space for some stuff you bought in a middle of Boxing Day.

It maybe made for Boxing Day shopping but since this is the AMG, you can expect the same 4.0L V8 BiTurbo engine where in the S version produces 612PS of power and 850Nm of torque while mated to a nine-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT. It maybe limited to 250kph but for an additional cost, the limit can be raised to 290kph, which is ten less than the saloon version. I wonder why...

Still, even though it's a tad slower than the saloon, this is as enjoyable as the Ford Focus RS because 4MATIC+ four-wheel drive system with the fully variable torque distribution that makes it behave like two cars; either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive when needed most. Along with the three-chamber air suspension system, rear differential lock, AMG Sport speed-sensitive steering, and the AMG high-performance braking system, this all-weather AMG estate handles like a double-edged sword. It may not be perfect as it feels but all that AMG action pays off to create a super wagon that can outlast a parent-teacher conference or two.

As said, the E-Class Cabriolet is not an exciting car to drive but fit enough to relax a city dweller on a long drive but if you are brave enough to take on everything, you would go for the E63 Estate and with all that power and dynamics, this sounds like a hearty challenge brave enough for you to take on.

Photo: Daimler AG