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 at the Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Ipoh.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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..
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
