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New Mercedes-Benz E55
AMG Makes Debut in Chicago
'Kompressor' Engine Makes E55 AMG the Fastest
Mercedes Ever
CHICAGO, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- A new-generation
E55 AMG makes its North American debut today at the
Chicago Auto Show. The new E55 AMG represents the
next chapter in a proud history of high-performance
Mercedes-Benz vehicles. While it delivers the same
stylish design and brand-exclusive technology found
on the popular E-Class sedan, it also packs the
power of 469 horses and 516 lb-ft of torque.
Standard equipment on the E55 AMG includes
cutting-edge Mercedes-Benz safety technology such as
electronic braking, ESP stability control, adaptive
front airbags, two-stage belt force limiters,
curtain airbags, and a rollover sensor.
V8 Kompressor - The Dual-Personality Powerhouse
The 5.5-liter supercharged V8 engine with a sport
exhaust coupled with the Formula One style
steering-wheel-mounted gearshift buttons, AMG-developed
four-stage Airmatic air suspension and AMG 18-inch
twin-spoke polished alloy wheels assure an
unforgettable driving experience.
Each E55 AMG engine makes a towering 469 hp and a
massive 516 lbs.-ft. of torque, making easy work of
the 0-60 mph sprint in just 4.5 seconds. Its
5.5-liter, supercharged and intercooled V8 engine is
hand-assembled one at a time by expert technicians
at Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach, Germany and is
bench-tested to ensure top performance. The sturdy
V8 engine uses a positive-displacement, Lysholm-type
(or screw-type) belt-driven supercharger with
scrolling aluminum rotors, providing usable boost
virtually from idle speed, and generates a maximum
of 11.6 psi (or 0.8 bar) of boost pressure.
The Kompressor V8 also uses a specially developed
air-to-water crossflow intercooler located in the
"V" of the engine block beneath the
supercharger. The intercooler reduces intake air
temperature, creating a denser charge and further
boosting power. Other developments for the
Kompressor V8 include a fast-acting electronic
throttle, revised cam timing, high-rate valve
springs and lightweight valves.
SpeedShift Gear Selection at the Steering Wheel
The E55 AMG's prodigious torque requires a
high-capacity five-speed automatic transmission with
SpeedShift programming that nets 35-percent quicker
gear changes. In manual mode, gear changes can also
be made by pressing either of the two steering-wheel
mounted shift buttons -- left side for downshifts
and right side for upshifts. If asked (by holding
the gear lever to the left when in Drive), the
SpeedShift transmission can also switch to an
"Optimum Gear Selection" program,
automatically downshifting and determining the best
possible gear for maximum acceleration in any
situation. The SpeedShift transmission will also
hold a selected gear under high cornering loads,
preventing an upshift in mid-corner. As well, a
lightweight torque converter can lock up in all
forward gears when conditions warrant. This makes
for the liveliest, most dynamic performance possible
when needed, yet exhibits refinement when driven
under normal conditions.
Like all Mercedes-Benz cars, the E55 AMG uses ESP
stability control to prevent skids and spins in poor
weather driving. However, because the E55 AMG
expands the performance envelope, ESP is programmed
specifically for the model, with high power,
handling grip, dynamics and braking performance all
playing a crucial role in its new programming.
New Design Is Unmistakably E-Class
The prior-generation E-Class sparked a design
trend with its distinctive elliptical headlights,
and the new car features an even sleeker
interpretation. The oval headlights are tilted back
even more sharply, and the E-Class line exudes a
fresh, sporty design theme.
The E55 AMG can be differentiated from other
E-Class models by its sculpted side skirts, front
bumper and rear apron. Completing the exterior look
are blue tinted glass, LED brake lights and optional
bi-xenon headlights with headlamp washers. Inside,
special AMG gauges and sport seats finished in nappa/nubuk
leather upholstery hint at the performance that's
always on tap.
Stronger and Safer Than Ever
Underneath the sleek, elegant E-Class exterior is
an even stronger body structure than before,
providing a solid foundation for occupant safety.
Although the E-Class has added more standard safety
and luxury equipment, extensive use of lightweight
materials has helped keep the new car within 50-100
pounds of its predecessor. The E-Class is the first
large-scale Mercedes-Benz model to make extensive
use of aluminum, which accounts for 10 percent of
the car by weight. Aluminum parts include the hood,
front fenders, trunk lid, as well as the front
subframe and bumper crossmembers. In addition, the
amount of high-strength steel has been nearly
doubled, from about 20 percent of vehicle weight to
about 37 percent.
Advanced Restraint Systems
Adaptive front airbags deploy with lower force in
less severe accidents and with higher force in more
serious collisions. Taking its signal from a special
sensor in the front passenger seat, the front
passenger airbag even takes passenger size into
account. In addition, new crash sensors help
determine the severity of the collision, controlling
seat belt tensioners and belt force limiters
accordingly. In more severe collisions, the seat
belt tensioners remove slack sooner, and the belt
force limiters then loosen the belts progressively,
reducing chest loads and gaining greater benefit
from the front airbags. The 2003 E-Class is equipped
with a new rollover sensor that can deploy the
curtain airbags and belt tensioners if it detects an
imminent rollover.
Large-Scale Use of Electronic Braking
An innovative electronic braking system --
another Mercedes safety first -- is standard
equipment in all 2003 E-Class models. The new
electronic braking system provides faster, more
sure-footed response, especially in emergencies.
Although electronic braking made its industry debut
on the SL roadsters, equipping all E-Class models
with electronic braking represents the first
large-scale use of this revolutionary technology.
With electronic braking, the brake pedal works
with an array of sensors, an electrically driven
hydraulic pump, a high-pressure reservoir and a
computer that tells four fast-acting valves exactly
how hard to apply the brakes on each wheel. With
split-second accuracy, the system can change brake
pressure on each wheel over uneven surfaces and can
even increase brake pressure on the outside wheels
when braking in turns.
S-Class Derived Dual-Control Air Suspension
The E-Class rack-and-pinion steering, four-link
front suspension, and patented five-link rear
suspension are similar to that of the S-Class. A new
AMG-developed four-stage version of the Airmatic air
suspension from the S-Class provides unparalleled
wheel motion control on the E55 AMG. Airmatic
suspension uses sensors that monitor road
conditions, driving style and cornering forces to
ensure that the system always chooses the best air
spring and shock absorber settings. The system can
switch between different suspension modes in a
fraction of a second, and the driver can also select
from four pre-set suspension response programs. In
essence, the Airmatic suspension system eliminates
the compromise between handling and ride comfort,
because it continually and automatically optimizes
both.
Even Greater Luxury
All E-Class models feature a stylish interior
with a sweeping dashboard and center console,
soft-touch trim surfaces, elegant wood and chrome
trim elements as well as a full array of power
amenities such as power tilt and telescoping
steering wheel, power windows with one-touch up/down
operation and auto-dimming mirrors. The E55 AMG
comes with standard four-zone climate control that
allows different temperature settings for the rear
outboard passengers as well as the driver and front
passenger. Also standard on the E55 AMG is a Harman
Kardon Logic 7 audio system that features
seven-channel surround sound, concert-quality output
and 12 high-end speakers.
About Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA, headquartered near New York
City in Montvale, NJ, is responsible for the sales,
service and marketing of Mercedes-Benz cars and
light trucks as well as Maybach super-luxury sedans
in the United States. The company employs just over
1500 employees in approximately 20 locations
nationwide. The company sold 213,225 vehicles in the
U.S. during 2002, setting the highest-ever sales
volume in its history for the sixth consecutive
year.
Source: Mercedes-Benz
USA
CONTACT: Fred Heiler, +1-201-573-2245, or
Michelle Murad,
+1-201-573-4320, both of Mercedes-Benz USA,
1-888-MBNEWS-1
Web site: http://www.mbusa.com/
NOTE TO EDITORS: This story and high-resolution
photos can be down-loaded from the MBUSA news-media
website at: http://media.mbusa.com
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