Mercedes fans believed there is no replacement for displacement, right up until this new engine was launched. It's nicknamed the "400" and even though its 3-liter displacement is smaller than that of a 350, it's got more power and crucially about half more torque.
The Germans are steadily introducing it across the model range, from the all-new C-Class to the SL-Class roadster or the ML-Class SUV. In American dealerships, this twin-turbo'd V6 has all but replaced the 550 V8-models and we can kind of see why.
In this next video, we're going to witness the straight-line acceleration of this 333 PS engine when fitted to the 2014 E-Class. This is a European car being tested in Germany with rear-wheel drive. Youtube reviewer Sawomann made a number of different attempts and even fitted GPS-based measuring devices to back up what that beautiful digital speedo is saying.
The best he managed to do is 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.7 seconds, which falls short of the 5.3 seconds claimed by the manufacturer. That's why we consider these numbers to be more like marketing tools. To achieve them, manufacturers often use a red-hot engine, heated tires and a near-empty fuel tank.
Has the E 400 got a powerful engine? Well that depends what you compare it to. BMW managed to get 431 PS from the same displacement, but we'll have to see how reliable that is. The Mercedes twin-turbo 3-liter V6 makes 333 PS, and 480 Nm of torque, sent out though a seven-speed automatic gearbox. It's comparable to a base Porsche Panamera and has more go than the BMW 535i.
Mercedes-Benz is currently working on an even more powerful 3-liter, making around 370 horsepower and poised to debut next year in the C 450 AMG Sport model. This coming from a company that a decade ago centered its lineup around the 5.5- and 6.3-liter V8s is a clear sign of progress.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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