Meet The New E43

The 10th-generation Mercedes E-Class sedan introduces a new pecking order with two AMG models in the lineup.

- Erick Ayapana

From the preceding pages, you got the first sniff at the makeover of the mighty E63. But instead of an all-or-nothing approach to high performance, the automaker is taking AMG’s extreme nature down a notch by launching the all-new Mercedes-AMG E43 sedan, which packs close to 400 horsepower and a long list of performance tweaks.

As its name suggests (Mercedes-AMG, not Mercedes-Benz), the E43 has the stamp of approval from Mercedes’ performance division in Affalterbach, Germany, and is a legit member of the AMG family. But the E43 can’t be lumped in with AMG’s “one man, one engine” philosophy, a reference to the brand’s long-running custom that each power plant is built solely by one AMG technician. That practice will only apply to the potent turbo-fours, V-8s, and V-12s powering AMG 45, 63, and 65 models, respectively.