2005 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG Sedan Road Test

The Horsepower War will continue in the foreseeable future. In defiance of the new 500 horsepower, vee-ten M5 coming this fall (which will only be available with BMW's SMG manumatic), like most car zealots, we'd like to see Mercedes offer a manual transmission as an option--heck, on any of their AMG models.

Of course, all would be forgiven if somehow Mercedes, along with their AMG engineers, could make the 604 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque 6.0-litre, twin-turbo vee-twelve engine from the S65 fit into an E Class.

Please?

- John LeBlanc is an Ottawa-based freelance journalist and publisher of straight-six.com

2005 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG

Type: Mid-size, rear-wheel-drive
Seats: Five
Base price/ Price as tested: $115,560
Warranty: 4 years/80,000 kms, with no extra charge scheduled maintenance.
Engine: Supercharged and intercooled 5.4-litre 24-valve vee-eight, 469-hp, 516-lb-ft
Transmission: Driver-adaptive 5-speed automatic with Touch Shift.
Suspension: Front suspension: Independent 4-link, with stabilizer bar, air springs; Rear suspension: Independent 5-arm multilink with stabilizer bar, air springs.
Brakes: F/R vented, cross-drilled disc/vented, cross-drilled disc, ABS standard.
Wheels: 18-in. alloy
Tires: 245/40R18
Wheelbase: 2,854 mm (112.4 in)
Overall length: 4,815 mm (189.7 in)
Overall height: 1,452 mm (57.2 in)
Overall width: 1,810 mm (71.3 in)
Curb weight: 1,853 kg (4,087 lb.)
Fuel economy: City: 16.8/100kms (14 mpg), Highway: 11.2 l/100kms  (21 mpg)
Fuel type: Premium gasoline
photo:John LeBlanc