Wheels magazine compares the new E55 AMG, against M5 and S-Type R.

[chris]

So, I just got the latest Wheels magazine, today.. (Australian motoring magazine).

Among the articles, was a comparison of the brand new E55 AMG Benz, against the well known BMW M5, and the Jaguar S Type R.

I must say, what a incredible car, that E55 AMG is.. It redefines the super-sedan category. Where the 300kW HSV GTS was once the king, for raw speed, this new E55 absolutely smashes the existing benchmarks, by a huge amount..

At 1500rpm, it already has 560Nm, more than a GTS or M5 at their peak torque outputs, and, 650Nm at 2000rpm, before peaking at an outrageous 700Nm from 2650-4500rpm.. If that isn't enough, you've got some 476hp on tap..

Get the magazine, if you can, and look at the acceleration figures(!!). :eek: Man, that thing is fast.. 0-400m in 12.9 seconds@182km/hr is awesome, especially considering it is straight from the factory, with a full load of fuel, and, 2 people sitting inside it. 191kW per tonne power to weight ratio, is equally awesome!

I hope I'll get the opportunity to experience this manic missile, some time soon..

And, on page 62, their is an interesting side-story, for those who believe the crazy E55 AMG is too slow.. The Brabus lot do an E-Class with, wait for it:

471kW!!

And the torque output on this ballistic monster is apparently in the region of 1000Nm. The top speed is said to be "at least" 330km/hr, "barging the E55 AMG into the autobahn slow-lane" to quote the article..

But, for those who want crushingly high-performance, with a solid, factory back warranty, it seems like the E55 AMG is the ideal choice. The poor M5, GTS, S-Type R and FPV Falcon GT have all just been relegated to also-ran status, so it seems.

The E55 AMG has me wondering, what will AMG bring out when the next E55 AMG arrives? 500kW?? 1500Nm??? As crazy as those power levels sound, I wouldn't be surprised, given the huge horsepower war that is erupting at the moment..

[VQ]

Yeha very inpressive but the aftermarket Commodores scene is making that kinda power with just a damn supercharger bolted on. But these cars are crazy!
The car sin't cheap so the GTS is still good as a result compared to the 300 odd thousand dollars to buy the car I eman for that cost u could get a Caprice and do it up to that level of power with supercharger or somehting and spend money ona good stereo and sound proofing and suspension upgrade to maybe a really good Hydrolic or airbag system and just amke the car all round good and it would still cost less then this thing! But the only company that I could imaginge doing that would be CSv and they would if some1 asked I reckon. Just an idea ne way.
Nice article but.

[chris]

Yes, the E55 is indeed very exxy.. AUD$219,900, and you can still add options, that will no doubt increase the price higher still.. In case you're not aware, the options lists for Benz cars are not a place for the faint hearted..

A AUD$115,000 CLK320 can be increased in price to AUD$170,000, just by adding all the options.. :eek:

But, at least the Benz's do repay the extravagant cost with very good resale values (especially the CLK, and SL models).

I suppose, if you compare the E55 AMG to a Maserati Coupé Cambiocorsa, it starts to look a little bit overpriced. Still I'd take one, if it were offered.

Goes to show how much Benz has changed, these days.. A bit of competition from others, and, suddenly, Benz is putting supercharging on everything from fours to eights, and, sticking twin-turbocharging on V12s! :eek: Looks like Benz is fighting its rivals with huge power and torque outputs.. Have a look at an S600L.. 368kW, 800Nm.. And that in a luxury car. That's one of the twin-turbo V12s. Then, their is a CL65 AMG, with 450kW, and 1000Nm, direct from the AMG people, with a factory backed warranty. Just insane.

Still it's a wise move by Benz, and they capture the sales, especially from a lot of cylinder-counting, kilowatt and newton-metre counting customers..

[VQ]

Yeah not to mention long term and loyal customers as well.

[chris]

That's true, too.

Benz does have a lot of long term and very loyal customers, who've always purchased Mercedes Benz cars.. Some of them have probably owned 6 or more Benz cars, from various model generations.

When you look at cars, like the SL Class, and E-Class, CL-Class, and S-Class, for instance, you can see why they have so many loyal customers. These are what I believe are Mercedes Benz' core models, the ones that signify the Mercedes Benz brand. These are usually the ones that the most loyal or long term Benz customers usually own.

I think it's important that Benz doesn't do anything too radical with the design of these cars, unless it wishes to damage it's reputation, like BMW has, after the Bangle experiment.

Looking at the initial pics of the new 3 series (E90) shows that BMW has decided that conservatively styled, handsome cars, as was once traditional for the Bavarian marque, is the best way to proceed, into the future, after the debacle of the 7 series, and the controversial Z4.

But, BMW does take a risk, however.. It appears that the new convertible and coupé versions of the next 3 series may be called 4 series.. That's not official, but, rumours are suggesting it. Why mess with something as successful as the 330Ci, for instance. The 330Ci is one of the most popular and most frequently seen BMW cars. It's certainly one of the best looking, especially in it's first E46 form.

BMW should look back at cars like the 8 Series coupé, and learn. The 8 series is very old, now, but, look at one on the road, now. It still looks handsome. The message here, is if you have a successful style/product line, don't mess with it.

[VQ]

Yeah but the 8 series is a heavy long car and the 6 series would be a lighter sportier, shorter car. Everytime I see a 330Ci I think itz a M3 and I see a lot of Bmw's and then I see a M3 and have trouble reconizeing it for some reason I dunno.
Also BMW might have a Diesel M3 in 10 years time from wt I read in the Herald son Cars guide with the review of the X5 3.0D and it was on a torture track and even with itz 20 CM ground clearance it sill mde it through BTW.

[chris]

A lot of people don't really give the 8 Series the credit it deserves, you know. They just say, oh, it was heavy, and, didn't sell very well, and, damn it because of that.

But, it was a very, very good car. It drove very well, especially the 850CSi model. The CSi even featured four-wheel-steering. It could change lanes at high speed, very well. The four wheel-steering really helped.

It was way ahead of its time, in terms of styling, and technology, too. A lot of the technological advances that it brough, filtered down into lesser BMW cars, such as the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control). Some things, such as the AHK (Aktive Hinterachs-Kinematik.

On this page, you'll find more detailed info:
http://www.e31.net/navmodelle_e.html

The only real reason it failed, was because the economy at the time crashed, severely, and, all expensive cars did not sell well. If it were being sold, now, as a new car, just introduced, it would be very successful.

If you look at the current Benz CL, you'll see that it is almost exactly the same concept as the 8 Series, but, less sporting.

Also, check the e31.net site, and, take a look at the videos. Or, take a ride in a real one, or drive one, if you can. It'll change your perception of the car.

The general reports on this car in the motoring media were quite unfair, from what I've seen of it. At 1865kg, it's not any heavier than many of its rivals, even todays rivals, such as the less practical Benz SL, and the large CL. And a 850CSi is still a very worthy machine, even judged against todays premium large coupés. I'm sure it'd outrun quite a few of them.

Even the latest Wheels Magazine, on page 145, was quite unfair. And the author of the report, had to admit, in the end, after his long and drawn out criticism before, that it wasn't a bad car.

And he in fact got his facts wrong. He incorrectly stated that it only had 20,000 sales to show for its prolonged career, when, in fact, 30,609 were shipped, and delivered.

Now, about the new 6 series, I don't know if it will do well. It seems to be stuck with the Bangled up styling elements, such as the ghastly bustle boot, and a disfigured C-pillar, featuring an awkward crease running along the base of it.

[VQ]

I'm not saying it was a bad car at all Chris. THanks for the link ne way.

[chris]

I wasn't saying that you were, but, rather, I was taking aim at some of the somewhat unfair reports in the media. They seem to emphasise a few little things, and, then, try to avoid the positive aspects of the car.

Wheels Magazine I think was guilty of this, and I've noted it, a few times.

John Carey of Wheels Magazine is a guilty party, too.. His recent report of the HSV Senator was particularly bad. He tended to dwell on a few things, without really explaining, how does it drive.. He deserved to be reprimanded, on that.

And I also don't mind giving the 8 Series some publicity. I particularly like this engine:

http://www.e31.net/pics/S701.jpg

6.0 litres, and about 550hp. It's the S70/1 engine that was in the prototype light-weight M8. This engine may be SOHC and 24 valves, though I don't think this is known. The S70/2 engine, in the Mclaren F1, is indeed a 48 valve engine.

However, the production M8 was badged as the 850CSi, and, was a quite different car.

The M8 even had fixed windows, I think. Visible in some of the photos of it, are smaller, separate sections of the main window, like what Mclaren F1 and Diablo SE30 had. This small section opened, and, the rest was fixed.

Just a pity that the only 1 that existed has never been seen, since, and, may have been destroyed, by BMW. (Unless it is still in storage). Word is, that is was to be destroyed. What a waste.. :(

Edit: Did some more research on the M8.. It seems that it weighed 1000kg, and was four-wheel-driven.. Some reports claim it had 660hp, and 800Nm of torque.. So it clearly appears to be a super-sportscar.

It appears to have huge brakes:

http://caroconcept.free.fr/images/photos_voitures/bmw_m8_4_g.jpg

Here is a normal 8 Series, for comparison:

http://www.angelfire.com/co/bmwfunpage/images/bmw850.jpg

Never mind the bodywork, but, look underneath it.. Notice the differences. The M8 may very well be 4wd.

[VQ]

Yeah them brakes are HUGE if the wheels are 18 inch but if they are smaller rims then they aren't that big brakes - comapred to a V8 supercar or the Aufdi S8 with the 8 pot caliper brakes (uhhhhhhh 8 pot brakes...) But I do like the look of this car, I have have it a as a toy model that was my borthers but he destoryed the wheels so I have stripped it back to bare metal and am going to repaint it whne I get a pressure pack for my air brush thing.
Nice enigne as well! reminds me kinda of the V8 Super car engine but thatz just me.

[chris]

On the photo of the S70/1 engine above, I think it is missing a cover, over the centre section of the engine, as well. The differences are obvious if it is compared to the S70/B56 engine:

http://www.e31.net/pics/850_17small.jpg

The 850CSi especially is amazing to see. So low at the front. In the rear view mirrors, you'd mistake it for an exotic sportscar of some type.

[Radical-Al]

I saw the Jag S-type R in my neighborhood about 3 weeks ago, I liked it :)