Yes, the latest "Hammer" from Mercedes and its in-house speed wizards is a Q-ship. According to Mike Jackson

 Yes, the latest "Hammer" from Mercedes and its in-house speed wizards is a Q-ship. According to Mike Jackson

 The recently appointed boss of Mercedes-­Benz of North America, the Germans are currently into inconspicuous consump­tion, and they want their cars—particu­larly the tuner-prepped rocket ships—to be unobtrusive. But that's not what Jackson wanted for his mid-size giant killer in our market, and the E55 you see here is the resulting compromise. It uses an existing AMG-derived Sport package, but it's allowed a subdued boast from its tail-mounted insignia, along with subtle AMG badging on the steering wheel and gauge cluster.

It's not a car that needs superfluous decoration, that's for sure. At a suggested price of $71,717 (cheaper by 15 or so grand than its predecessor, the Porsche-­assembled E500), every one of the 2000 examples earmarked for the U.S. Over the next four years will be snapped up. Heck, most of the first shipment will likely be absorbed by dealer principals before the public even gets a shot.

Which is a pity, because this is an extraordinary vehicle, versatile beyond our wildest expectations, and as rewarding as the best drivers' cars around. To have achieved this at a lower price than that of the preceding E500 is commendable, accomplished by keeping as much of the original E-class car intact. Unlike the E500, the E55 is essentially a fully assembled and trimmed vehicle off Mercedes-Benz's Sindelfingen line before it is sent off to the AMG skunk­works in Affalterbach for its stroked and breathed-upon engine, its heavy-duty V-12-derived transmission, its uprated suspension and brakes, and its big wheels and tires. Because of that, the essence of the E-class car has been pre­served, but with dynamic parameters that have been extended in every way. The primary differences are manifested as a more jiggly ride with much tauter roll control, a throttle that gets into the power without the Benz-signature long and pro­gressive pedal travel, and acceleration—anytime—that is in another league. Oh, yeah, and an engine note that changes from a polite V-8 burble to a hard-edged snarl when the pedal's down and the tach is reaching for six grand.