Test Drive: The 2019 Mercedes-AMG 53 Series
High-performance in a subtle, sophisticated package
High-performance cars are meant to be fun, but brake calipers colored like Skittles and giant spoilers are a little overt for many drivers who don’t want their car to scream speed. For Mercedes-AMG—the performance arm of the Stuttgart-based brand—all that performance is available in more subtle designs. While not exactly impervious to the call of a fixed rear wing (the GT R coupe comes to mind), the carmaker offers a sophisticated take on performance vehicles. Those cars are the new AMG 53 models.
The AMG 53 badge denotes a vehicle with a smaller, more efficient inline-six engine, rather than the V-8-powered 63 models. There’s still plenty of power, but the designs skew toward the real world rather than the racetrack.
The secret here is the engine itself, a trick piece of technology. The 3.0-liter inline-six has a tiny lithium-ion battery inside the assembly, which starts the car and can also give it an extra boost of power. This electric-assist feature acts as a mini-supercharger which functions in tandem with an exhaust-drive turbocharger, allowing for a consistent surge of power from low rpms.
From there, it’s really a matter of aesthetics and space—perhaps the E 53 four-door suits your lifestyle, or a subtle flex with the coupe seems fun. If you’re lucky enough to live in sunny climes, there’s even a convertible version—the E 53 Cabriolet. And, if you want a different form altogether, there’s the AMG CLS 53. It, too, is a four-door, but with the sloping roofline and a funkified rear end.
Whichever model of 53 appeals, each offers the ability to pass other cars in elevated style, while indulging your speed-loving, inner-child at the same time.
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