Price + spec news – E43 is the first Mercedes-AMG model of the new E-Class

If you were wondering where the more powerful new-shape E-Class models are and find the recently-added E400 still too mild, and see no sign of an E500 V8 model (there probably won’t be one)… or if the upcoming AMG E63 is a bit too lairy or scary, then Mercedes-AMG is happy to oblige with a less over-powered / overpowering E43 model.

43 drill

If you followed the news of the staggered introduction of the new 43-labelled mid-AMG models in the C43, SLC43, GLC43 and GLE43, then you know the drill by now:  a 3-litre turbo V6 with some AMG tuning feeding through the 9G-Tronic auto ‘box, with AMG diamond grille and aerodynamic body kit, black and red sports interior, and a position somewhere at the top of the Benz models though below the 63-badged V8-engined AMG variants.

Except, the E43 gets preferential treatment – the already-strong 270kW of the other letters+43 models is upped for the Mercedes-AMG E43 4Matic to 295kW.  Torque stays at 520Nm.

Of importance is that the E43 will also benefit from the 4Matic 4-wheel-driven setup, helping it get from stand to 100 km/h in 4.6 sec on the clock.

The bootlid will carry AMG left and E43 right badges, so never mind the photographed car which has the model-badge-delete option.  As per a previous announcement, the Mercedes-Benz E400 4Matic (245kW / 480Nm / 0-100 5.2) is priced at R 989 500 excluding emissions tax of R 6 726, which amounts to R 996 226 in either Avantgarde or Exclusive lines, or, when adding the AMG Line option, comes to R 1 026 126.

E43 price

The new Mercedes-AMG E43 4Matic has a price of R 1 154 300 + R 8 208 envirotax = R 1 162 508, putting it within a few Rands of its main direct rival – the haven’t-seen-one-on-the-road-yet Audi S6 quattro (4.0 turbo V8 / 331kW / 550Nm / 4.4 sec) at R 1 161 500.  The other clearly sporty executive sports sedan:  the “isn’t-it-too-expensive?” Jaguar XE S (3.0 supercharged V6 / 280 kW / 450 Nm / 5.3-sec) at R 1 283 092 (that’s about 10% or R120k+ above its rivals).

In the hole left by the E500 and the time gap before the full-on AMG E63 S 4Matic+ arrives in 2017, the Mercedes-AMG E43 4Matic gives a performance E-Class plug…  with more subtle looks and a much lower price.