Masilo Makola
Mercedes recently gave us the AMG 43 range which featured a 3-litre twin-turbo V6 engine. These cars were for the folks who didn’t want the hardcore, shouty and crude 63 AMGs but still wanted a bit of AMG lunacy.
Now Mercedes has introduced the 53 AMG range with a 3-litre twin-turbo straight 6 engines but with a twist – some hybrid assistance. But this is not a traditional hybrid like the Toyota Prius or the like. One of the turbochargers are conventional (feed air atmospheric air) whereas the other one is supplied air from an electric compressor, essentially eliminating the arch-nemesis of turbocharged cars that is turbo lag. The compressor is kept going by a 48-volt electrical system which is fed its juice from an EQ boost (EQ is the department in Mercedes responsible for all their green motoring) starter-alternator. This is situated between the engine and the 9-speed automatic gearbox and is capable of providing an additional 16kw and 250NM leaving the maximum output of the car at a monstrous 336kw of power and 770NM of torque, considering the CLS is about 2 tonnes in weight, that is pretty impressive.
On the outside there is not much that can tell it apart from the other CLS cars in the range apart from a subtle body kit and front air curtains to reduce lift at the front end. Other treatments include the addition of AMG ride control+ suspension, which lifts the car over speedhumps, making owning the car less of a nightmare as you won’t have to worry about damaging the front end of it.
If you aren’t a CLS kind of person, the E53 coupe and convertible offer almost identical performance so one will definitely not be missing out on some 4-door fun with the AMG 53 range.
Mercedes’ nomenclature is getting a bit more complicated now but as long as they are pumping out good cars people will find a way to distinguish them. Yes, I am referring to the 911 range. But anyways, this is definitely something to be excited about.
The car lad 