2025 Mercedes-AMG E 53 Upgrades to PHEV Power
How does up to 604 horsepower sound?
Mercedes has revealed the latest member of the AMG family in the shape of the 2025 Mercedes-AMG E 53. The mid-sized sedan returns with the familiar turbocharged inline-six of yore, but with a plug-in hybrid powertrain to push it up to the sort of power level reserved for the top-dog V8 models.
How much power, exactly? That 3.0-liter inline-six sees a minor muscling up, now spitting out 443 horsepower over yesteryear's 429 ponies. A 161-horsepower electric motor, integrated into the nine-speed automatic adds an extra burst of power. Total system output is 577 hp and 553 pound-feet of torque. Want more? The Race Start drive mode temporarily unlocks an additional 27 horsepower. It probably isn't a coincidence that the combined 604 hp eclipses the old E 63 by a single pony. Naturally, the E 53 features standard 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive.
Other tweaks to set the E 53 apart from the rest of the E-Class family: nearly an inch more width at the front fenders for a wider track, adaptive dampers with steel springs, additional structural bracing, and standard rear-wheel steering. The hotter E also features unique bumper designs front and rear, AMG side skirts, a larger grille with light-up slats, and your choice of 20- or 21-inch alloy wheels.
The plug-in portion of the powertrain pulls power from a 28.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack. Mercedes says just a little less than three-quarters of that capacity (21.1 kWh) is actually usable for everyday PHEV stuff; the rest is kept specifically for high-performance usage. Essentially, you'll never be left unable to access all 577 horsepower—something that's all too common in modern PHEVs.
Despite its ample power, the E 53's 0–62 mph (0–100 km/h) dash isn't anything shocking: 4.0 seconds without Race Start, which shaves an additional 0.2 s off. The top speed is up to 174 mph (280 km/h), though the E 53 will do 87 mph (140 km/h) on solely electric power.
Like the latest GLE 450e, the E 53 is capable of fast-charging at up to 60 kW, which can make for a 10–80 percent charge in around 20 minutes.
The cabin treatment is pretty standard AMG: a smattering of logos all around, standard sport seats (or even more bolstered optional items), available Superscreen, and a few unique AMG-focused pages and features within the infotainment.
Merc has brought back the "Edition 1" special production model for the E 53. Buyers opting for this limited-production version get a Manufacktur Moonlight White Magno sedan with black graphics, alongside a black-and-yellow interior. An "Edition 1" center console engraving and car cover round out the package.
Pricing for the 2025 Mercedes-AMG E 53 should be available closer to its launch in late 2024.
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Kyle began his automotive obsession before he even started school, courtesy of a remote control Porsche and various LEGO sets. He later studied advertising and graphic design at Humber College, which led him to writing about cars (both real and digital). He is now a proud member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), where he was the Journalist of the Year runner-up for 2021.
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