Unveiling the 2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid 4Matic+ with a power of up to 603 hp

The E53 Hybrid will also be easier to recharge than most plug-ins, with a 60kW fast charging option that will allow the battery's state of charge to be taken from 10 to 80 percent in less than 20 minutes. minutes. Even without a DC charger specified, the onboard AC charger operates at up to 11 kW. The hybrid system brings two new driving modes, namely electric mode, which runs the car as an electric vehicle until the battery runs out, and battery mode, which will maintain the charge level for later deployment. When driving electric, the E53 Hybrid has a tactile throttle pedal that will harden to indicate the point at which maximum performance is achieved; Pushing beyond that will start the engine and switch to hybrid operation.

While the E53 Hybrid looks more aggressive than the standard E-Class, there's still plenty of visual headroom left over for the E63 that we expect it to follow with confidence. The E53 gets a new radiator grille featuring the familiar AMG vertical lines with illuminated surrounds, a deeper front bumper and widened front fenders (0.4 inches wider on each side). Unfortunately, the fenders also get what appear to be air vents placed at the trailing edge, but these turn out to be empty on closer inspection. The smaller false vent grille on the rear bumper is also contoured and not real. At the back there are quad exhaust pipes, a new spoiler on the trunk lid, and a red E53 badge indicating the engine is a hybrid.

Interior changes are subtle. Aside from the subtle AMG branding on the steering wheel base and new dashboard graphics, the E53 feels little changed from any other top-equipped E-Class. European buyers will be able to choose between the Super Display, which adds a passenger-side display to the UX system, or the standard configuration with an open-pore gray wood panel featuring the backlight innovation. However, US specifications have not been finalized yet, and it is possible that the premium display will be standard here.

AMG still uses a steering column gear selector rather than falling back to a separate shifter in the center console as AMG models did until recently. The gearshift paddles behind the steering wheel now have a dual function. In more aggressive Dynamic modes, it will actually offer the driver the ability to shift to select ratios, but when electrically operated, it will vary the levels of regenerative braking. AMG says the most aggressive of these will operate as a single-pedal mode.

Hardware improvements for the E53 include dual-valve active dampers capable of adjusting rebound and compression separately. Rear-wheel steering will also be standard, and the body structure gets additional reinforcement to improve rigidity. These changes include a cross brace between the front strut towers and additional bracing for the rear axle mounts. Four-pot brake calipers gripping 14.5-inch diameter ventilated front discs will be standard, with optional Dynamic Plus upgrading those to six-pot calipers and larger 15.3-inch rotors.

Deliveries to the US won't begin until the third quarter of 2024, and we don't have prices yet. AMG says the new E53 Hybrid in Europe is a little more expensive than the old version, so hopefully that'll be true when it reaches us too. For reference, the previous E53 sedan was priced at $82,450 in 2022.

Our man across the pond, Mike Duff, lives in Britain but reports from all over Europe, and sometimes beyond. He has previously held staff roles on UK titles including car, And evobut his automotive tastes lean toward the Germanic: he owns a troublesome 987-generation Porsche Cayman S and a Mercedes 190E 2.5-16.