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2003 Mercedes-Benz E Class E320, E500 and E55 AMG Mid-Size Luxury Sedans
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Mercedes-Benz E Class sedans debut with two dazzling models
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A familiar horizontal grille in chrome marks the face unmistakably as a Mercedes, but it's raked and streamlined to match smooth lines sweeping rearward. So much streamlining works for this package, in fact, that it's one of the most aerodynamically efficient production cars in the world.
The pentagonal grille is flanked by pairs of articulated oval headlamps.
This is a fresh and clean interpretation of double-bubble headlamp clusters on preceding E Class cars as 1996 models and subsequently applied in variations to most models in the Mercedes fleet.
The canted hood and bulging fenders incorporate striking curves of the headlamps and extend them rearward in taut lines. Stylists from Mercedes say these lines were inspired by human anatomy and the smooth ripples compare to toned muscles on an athlete.
Images of an athlete in action come to mind when pushing the E320 through a demanding course, such as the endless wiggles of the PCH, and a similar trek in the E500 only magnifies the experience due to the significant boost in power.
Nomenclature for Mercedes vehicles consist of alphanumeric designations, with the class size defined by an alphabetical letter and the engine volume expressed in liters and translated into three digits.
Thus, the E320 takes its name from the E Class of mid-size sedans and its 3.2-liter V6 engine turns into the numbers 320.
Likewise with E500, it packs a 5.0-liter V8.
The V6 -- with single cam on top and an electronic throttle device dubbed "adaptive accelerator" -- produces 221-hp at 5,700 rpm plus 232 lb-ft of torque peaking between 3,000 and 4,800 rpm.
The V8, also found in a number of other Mercedes products, runs up to 302-hp at 5,600 rpm with 339 lb-ft of torque between 2,700 and 4,250 rpm.
Both engines earn the ULEV (ultra low emission vehicle) certification.
Transmission employed with either plant is the impressive Mercedes five-speed automatic, which brings one-tap clutch-less shifts through a TouchShift stick.
There are devices aboard to stabilize forward movement and tire traction, smart brakes and adjustable suspension settings, plus multiple air bags to cushion the human cargo.
Sensors in the suspension system determine vehicular payload, speed and road conditions, and they can adjust dampers on shock absorbers to smooth out or firm up the ride quality. Still other devices measure wheel speed and lateral acceleration and can brake an individual wheel to correct potential skidding or spinning of the car.
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