1999 Mercedes E55 AMG Does The Twist

 

1999 Mercedes E55 AMG Does The Twist

From the March 1999 issue of Car and Driver.

German engineers mining for torque deposits near Affalterbach must have hit a mother lode. At least, that's what it feels like from behind the AMG-monogrammed steering wheel of this E55. Somewhere between here and the three­-pointed gun sight at the leading edge of the hood is housed 391 pound-feet of torque, available from 3000 rpm onward.

This is the kind of urge that prompts you to adjust your head­rest—and those of the passengers—because a careless thrust at the throttle pedal will, in most circumstances, produce a lunge that snaps back heads faster than a space-shuttle launch.

Press the ESP button located on the console, disabling the stability-control system (lighting a prominent yellow tri­angle in the dash), and you can expect wheelspin if you mash the throttle from rest. That's with the five-speed automatic transmission that is standard equipment, folks. Brake-torque the E55 for a second before you go, and you'll light up the 35-series rear tires in a serious fashion.