Mercedes-Benz: On the lap of luxury and performance


With the recent reopening of interstate travel, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia held a drive from Petaling Jaya to Ipoh and back for the media to reacquaint themselves with the German brand’s line-up in Malaysia.

They were the Mercedes-Benz range with a slant towards presence and elegance, and the Mercedes-AMG horde that overflows with heaps of power and motorsports-derived driving dynamics.

Here is the quick overview of some cars in the troupe that came in sedan, sports utility vehicle (SUV) and hatchback bodystyles.

E 300 (left) and E 200.
E 300 (left) and E 200 at the Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Ipoh.
E 200 Avantgarde and E 300 AMG Line

As the latest arrival to the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia family at the time of the drive, the locally assembled face-lifted E-Class sedan gets a revised front that now features redesigned LED head and tail lights, a more expressive hood, sleeker-looking grille, new steering wheel and new alloy wheels among others.

Aside from having the latest generation of the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) multimedia system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the new Widescreen Cockpit that includes two 12.3-inch displays, has higher resolution and is easier to read.

The much sought-after executive sedan is available in the E 200 Avantgarde and E 300 AMG Line variants, priced on-the-road without insurance and with SST exemption at RM327,850 and RM376,717 respectively.

Inside, the E 200 is spacious and plush, featuring Artico man-made leather upholstery with longitudinal-grain aluminium trimming and open-pore ash wood inserts at the centre console.

E 200.
E 200.

Powering the E 200 is 2.0-litre turbocharged engine delivering 197hp and 320Nm of torque, mated to a nine-speed 9G-Tronic transmission, for a 0-100kph dash of 7.4 seconds and a top speed of 240kph.

Meanwhile, the E 300’s 2.0-litre turbocharged block pumps out more oomph at 258hp and 370Nm of torque.

Transmission is also the nine-speed 9G-Tronic but the 0-100kph sprint time has been reduced to 6.2 seconds and maximum speed increased to 250kph.

E 300.
E 300.

While both variants feature the Agility Control suspension for sharp handling, the E 300 returns a firmer ride due to the one-size larger 19-inch wheels and to cope with the increased engine power output in comparison with the E 200.

Inside, the E 300’s trimming is open-pore black ash wood with leather upholstery while the LED headlights are the Multibeam type that feature Ultra Range high beam.

Overall safety features of the E-Class include Blind Spot Assist and Active Brake Assist, while the E 300 gets additional Active Distance Assist Distronic and Active Lane Assist among others.

GLE 450.
GLE 450.
GLE 450 AMG Line

Featuring a “diamond” grille with all-round aprons and large 21-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels, the Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4Matic AMG Line conjures up a distinguished and yet sporty appearance.

For a luxury full-size sports utility vehicle with three seating rows, the GLE is spacious and gets a 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder engine that delivers 367hp and 500Nm of torque to push the heft around.

GLE 450.
GLE 450.

Transmission is the nine-speed 9G-Tronic with an all-wheel drive system to pin the power onto the road for a 0-100kph sprint in 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 250kph.

The Airmatic air suspension system, while ensuring a comfortable ride on rough terrain, can also be set to be firmer at high speed cruising.

GLE 450.

GLE 450.

The upholstery in Artico and Dinamica mircofibre combination along with anthracite open-pore oak wood elements round up the opulent interior of the locally-assembled GLE 450 that is priced at RM475,501.

Other premium equipment include the Widescreen Cockpit display, MBUX, Burmester Surround Sound System. LED Multibeam headlights and class-leading safety features such as 360-degree camera view, Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Tracking package and Active Distance Assist Distronic.

E 63 S.
E 63 S.
AMG E 63 S 4Matic+

Easily the “baddest” boy of the drive, the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 4Matic+ is a brute force machine that rewards adventurous drivers with explosive acceleration, exhilarating exhaust soundtrack and dynamic handling.

Under the bonnet of this high-performance sedan is a 4.0-litre V8 bi-turbo engine that cranks out a whopping 612hp and 850Nm of torque for a 0-100kph sprint in just 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 300kph.

The engine also came with a cylinder deactivation feature that allows four cylinders to be shut down during leisurely drives to increase fuel efficiency when outright performance is not needed.

E 63 S.
E 63 S.

Its nine-speed AMG Speedshift MCT gearbox features a lighter wet multi-plate start-off clutch that is more responsive and delivers every bit of grunt onto all four 20-inch wheels.

As the E 63 S is a full-fledged creation of AMG Motorsports tuning division, expect the ride quality to be much firmer compared with comfort-biased suspension settings of typical Mercedes-Benz models.

At high speeds and fast corners, the E 63 S stays planted on the road and this easily increases the driver’s confidence and driving enjoyment.

The AMG Performance Seat package ensures the driver and the front passenger are well-tucked in during high speed maneuvers.

E 63 S..
E 63 S..

AMG carbon-fibre trimming for the interior and exterior is standard along with nappa leather upholstery, red seatbelts, Widescreen Cockpit display, MBUX and Burmester Surround Sound System.

At RM1.12mil, the E 63 S also gets AMG high performance compound brake system, AMG Performance exhaust system, AMG Driver’s package and Multibeam LED headlights.

GLC 43.
GLC 43.
AMG GLC 43 4Matic Coupe

Getting a coupe-like rear, the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4Matic Coupe certainly cuts a prettier and more pleasing appearance compared with a typical two-box SUV design.

With a 3.0-litre V6 bi-turbo engine under the bonnet that pushes out 390hp and 520Nm of torque coupled to a nine-speed AMG Speedshift TCT 9G transmission, the GLC 43 Coupe can complete the 0 to 100kph dash in 4.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 250kph.

While not as spacious as the GLE 450, the GLC 43 Coupe is still roomy inside and gets tastefully trimmed with open-pore black ash wood and Artico-Dinamica combination upholstery.

GLC 43.
GLC 43.

The large AMG grille with vertical slats takes prominence along with restyled Multibeam LED headlights with daytime running lights, aluminium-look running boards with rubber studs and 21-inch wheels.

Priced at RM508,597, other features of the GLC 43 Coupe include AMG Ride Control+ system, driving assistance package, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, Burmester Surround Sound System and hands-free operation tailgate.

A 35.
A 35.
AMG A 35 4Matic Edition 1

Said to be among the cheapest entry into the world of Mercedes-AMG high-performance vehicles, the A 35 oozes with unrestrained driving thrills in a compact package.

Its hatchback styling with short wheelbase might sacrifice some interior space but increases the A 35’s cornering prowess and fun-to-drive factor.

A 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine serves up a generous dose of 306hp and 400Nm of torque and is mated to a seven-speed AMG Speedshift 7G dual clutch transmission with an all-wheel drive system.

A 35.
A 35.

Though the engine is not the most powerful compared with other AMG models, the A 35’s higher power to weight ratio allows it to scorch the 0-100kph sprint in 4.7 seconds.

Its hunkered appearance with large 19-inch wheels, front splitter and aggressive-looking rear spoiler lend credence to its athletic capabilities.

Inside, there is the Widescreen Cockpit with MBUX as well as a flat-bottom AMG Performance steering wheel, AMG Performance Seats and plenty of Artico-Dinamica upholstery.

Coming in at RM366,785, other goodies include AMG Ride Control suspension, Multibeam LED headlights, Active Brake Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist.
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Autos Mercedes-Benz