INTERNATIONAL LAUNCH: Mercedes’ E43 AMG is worthy of attention
THE Benz-built V6 turbo model is simultaneously a brave new world for AMG and a step too far for Benz’s go-fast brand. It will doubtless be a sales success, combining a strong powertrain, enormous cornering ability and compelling in-cabin technology and design with a surprisingly comfortable ride. The only doubts that remain, really, are whether or not the AMG faithful will accept it or sneer down their noses at it. But, then again, it’s not actually for them.This car, you eventually realise after much thought, discussion and debate, is not actually a new model. It’s a repurposed model. It is new mainly in the sense that it is the first AMG-badged model in the W216 E-Class family, but for all the talk of a debut entry-level AMG version of the E-Class that we have never seen before, it’s probably best viewed as the type of car E-Class stalwarts have always, actually, had.While the hot shop has been busy bigging up the E43 as a genuine sub-E63 AMG (the E63 will arrive in SA at the sam...
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