The disappointing 0-60 time was down completely to lack of traction. Okay, maybe I am a little obsessive, but check this out:

November '02 Car and Driver has a road test of an SL55 AMG which put down some pretty good numbers at the drag strip:

0-60 : 4.5
0-100 : 10.9
1-140 : 22.4

Now have a look at the numbers for the E55 in the latest Automobile:

0-60 : 5.0
0-100: 10.2
1-150 : 22.8

That's right, it took the SL55 22.4 seconds to hit 140, while the E55 was well past that mark in the same amount of time...nearly 10 mph faster!! I guess we all know the E55 is devastatingly fast in a straight line, just imagine if it had a good launch from 0mph, it would destroy the SL... I think we can all be confident that subsequent tests will have much better 0-60 times. Now all AMG have to do is sort out the steering and the brakes!

Also, to put things in perspective as far as gear ratios go, check out the differences between the E and SL. (Assumes same tire size, no speed limiter)

SL55:

Gear / Speed@ 6500 rpm
1 / 47
2 / 78
3 / 121
4 / 170
5 / 198

E55:
1 / 51
2 / 83
3 / 129
4 / 181
5 / 211

Its not a huge difference in 1st through 3rd, but after that it is a question of what you want more of: acceleration or top speed!!

 

The E 55 acts like a jet, its slow to get going, but once its moving, it can fly.

 

Great numbers for the E55, I gotta put double into the piggy bank for my s/c!!!

 

Good observation e6tme. The E55 is wicked fast. With a proper launch, it will dominate anything out there today.

 

Hot dang... thats just bloody scary for a 4 door sedan!

 

I read (Motor Trend?) recently that the new Maybach is projected to do 0-60 in as little as 5.2 seconds.
That's 6300 lbs of metal hauling about as fast as a CLK55!
Can you imagine nearly keeping up with an M5 in a Maybach?
Unbelievable.

 

nothing very surprising, MB is now known for stellar performance. What i cannot seem to get over is the Bentley Arnage T. 0-60 in 5.5....But it's a Bentley!!

 

guys, I read a review of the E55 in a comparison test in autocar, and it said that teh car could pull 136mph in 3rd gear, now that is nearly double the uk limit on the highways, but just think you have another 2 gears to go!

I once saw a video of Pocholin's E55 go up to 160mph, and I thought, still think, that that is the most fastest thing I seen today and it seems to be the practical limit, but now bloody hell, V8 Kompressor, oops, I just wet my pants again.