New Mercedes-AMG E 43 saloon gets 396bhp

The new Mercedes E-Class saloon is one of the most significant cars of 2016 and we’ve now been treated to a look at the first high-performance version – the four-wheel-drive Mercedes-AMG E43.

Set for launch in September, around four months after the standard E-Class, the E43 will have a 3.0-litre V6 engine with two turbochargers that produces 396bhp. That power will propel the car from 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.

The car is equipped with 4MATIC four-wheel drive and the system will send more power to the rear wheels, to try to satisfy driving purists when it comes to the car’s cornering ability. Mercedes’ 9G-TRONIC automatic gearbox will be the only one on offer, but it does offer manual mode that allow you to change gear with paddles behind the steering wheel.

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Five driving modes – called Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual – will be available, allowing you to tailor the car’s setup to your mood and the conditions. In Eco mode, stop-start technology and a ‘gliding’ function reduce fuel consumption, while the Sport modes sharpen acceleration and gearchanges and firm up the suspension to make the car quicker and more responsive.

Revisions to the bodywork of the standard E-Class are relatively subtle. A new front bumper, a high-gloss black diamond grille and two twin exhaust pipes have been introduced, while the most striking element of the E43’s design are the high-gloss black 19-inch AMG alloy wheels.

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The interior of the E43 boasts sports seats in a mix of man-made leather and microfibre, a multifunction leather sports steering wheel, the trademark AMG instrument cluster and red stitching to contrast with the mainly black interior.

Options will include seat upgrades, Nappa leather upholstery and 20-inch alloy wheels.

The Mercedes-AMG E43 4MATIC will go on display to the public for the first time at the New York Motor Show later this month.