In the world of precision-engineered luxury vehicles, Mercedes-Benz is a brand icon that needs no introduction. Generations of auto enthusiasts have been spellbound by the automaker’s melding of art, auto and technology to create a machine that is status symbol personified. Whether a person already occupies the corner office — or is well on their way there — Mercedes-Benz announces one’s presence like no other auto on earth. Arkansas Money & Politics visited with the experts at Mercedes-Benz of Little Rock to discover what those in the know are driving from this legendary brand.
S580 Sedan
Ranked the No. 1 full-size luxury car by Car and Driver in 2024, the S-class makes a bold statement wherever it goes.
“If you want to look into the future of automobiles, start with an S-class,” wrote Aaron Segal at The Drive. “Many new cars (especially these days) are full of gimmicks to entertain or impress, but the … Mercedes-Benz S580 4Matic isn’t supposed to get bogged down with any funny business. It just does it — all of it — without compromise, without complaint and without fanfare.”
The S-class is so thoughtfully equipped and crafted it is hard to imagine anything the S580 does not deliver, from a silky-yet-brawny 4-liter V8 biturbo engine with mild turbo assist that churns out nearly 500 horsepower to generous head and legroom throughout the technology-laden cabin.
“On the road, the S-class is a haven of comfort and quietude. Its engines are smooth, refined and powerful, complemented by near-imperceptible gear changes,” Motor Trend raved. “Although the S-class’ exterior is elegantly understated, its interior is full of eye-catching details. Nearly every surface is covered in leather or metal accented by gorgeous trim panels and multicolor ambient lighting.”
In many areas of life, success is in the eye of the beholder, but as the S580 shows, there are rare exceptions in which success is easily and universally recognized.
MSRP: $128,150
E450 Sedan
One’s professional journey will sometimes run over rough spots. The E450 helps smooth the ride, taking in stride the many twisting turns to success. The beautiful auto performs as nicely as it looks with a turbo engine with mild hybrid assist that delivers a rush of smooth, pure power. Boasting the guts to travel zero to 60 in just 4.4 seconds, the vehicle remains tautly under control, thanks to four-wheel independent suspension and rack-and-pinion electromechanical power assist steering.
“The E-class sedan is executive transport with a distinctly Mercedes-Benz attitude, offering nearly as much class and substance as the S-class flagship with a slightly less imposing profile,” Drew Dorian wrote for Car and Driver. “E450s turn up the heat to 375 horsepower, courtesy of a turbocharged 3-liter inline-six. All-wheel drive is standard, and all models come luxuriously equipped and include a generous list of driver-assistance and infotainment features.
“Other European rivals … offer similar space and equipment, but neither brand has quite the prestige that comes with a
Mercedes-Benz badge.”
Loaded with the latest on-board safety and entertainment technology, the E450 cradles up to five passengers in luxurious appointments and looks great doing it. Whether at a country club, at a corporate retreat or enjoying a night on the town, the ride to the top never looked so good.
MSRP: $68,100
AMG GT55
The AMG GT55 delivers everything discriminating drivers expect with a dash here and there of things they do not. Yes, the sleek rocket on wheels still hauls — zero to 60 in a scant 3.8 seconds, thanks to a 4-liter turbocharged V8 that delivers 469 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque — but the 2024 model is also surprisingly comfortable and even offers an available 2+2 seating concept.
Externally, the car is as smooth as a bullet having had every extraneous edge buffed out of its profile, right down to flush door handles and AMG alloy wheels. The aerodynamic masterpiece slices through the air, thanks to a frame melding aluminum, steel, magnesium and fiber composites that deliver maximum rigidity at the lowest possible weight.
“Mercedes didn’t stop there,” Wesley Wren wrote for Autoweek. “The next-gen AMG GT comes with the company’s active ride control system. This eschews the traditional stabilizer bar and uses interconnected dampers and hydraulics to control body roll. This also helps the AMG GT control brake dive when you’re loading up the brakes into a corner.”
The auto press routinely mentions the AMG GT55 favorably among comparable Maserati, Aston Martin and Porsche rivals as a worthy contender in its class.
“This is supercar technology pioneered for the mass market,” Roger Biermann wrote for CarBuzz. “The GT is a better sports car, a technological tour-de-force and a better [Porsche] 911 rival than ever.”
MSRP: N/A
AMG GLE53
“Performance” and “SUV” are words not often seen in close proximity to one another, but as the Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 proves, perhaps they should be. Leave it to the legendary German automaker to reimagine a ride created to tote the kiddies and a bag of sports equipment into a burly-yet-elegant beast that delivers the payload with a few kicks along the way.
Born of intelligent engineering and boundless imagination, the GLE53 growls through any commute, thanks to a 3-liter inline-six turbo engine with hybrid assist. The power plant pumps out 429 gnarly horses and 413 pound-feet of torque that render it capable of towing 7,700 pounds, but that is not all that is going on under the hood.
“The technology alchemists in Affalterbach can seemingly transmute any combination of electric machines and mechanical widgets into pure speed,” Eric Tingwall wrote for Motor Trend. “With the 2024 Mercedes AMG GLE53, they’ve made gold from an inline-six engine, a turbocharger, an electric supercharger and a 48-volt electric motor.
“This GLE53 … has a personality all its own, a quieter form of AMG performance that delivers power and presence without shouting — literally and figuratively — in anyone’s face.”
Built to move people and their stuff, the GLE53 performs its role with unparalleled comfort and more than a little flair. The end-of-the-year soccer picnic will never be the same.
MSRP: $86,750
GLE350
Solidly built, tech-rich and surprisingly fuel efficient, the GLE350 is the
workhorse today’s busy families demand. Thanks to high marks in mileage, interior appointments and safety, the GLE class came in first in the luxury midsize SUV rankings by U.S. News & World Report, a not-insignificant value proposition given current fuel prices, even among well-heeled consumers.
“The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 is EPA-rated at up to 23 mpg combined (20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway),” wrote U.S. News & World Report’s Dan Frio. “Overall, these estimates are exceptional for the luxury midsize SUV segment.”
On-board technology includes the Mercedes-Benz User Experience, which offers integrated digital displays that include a touchscreen, touch-sensitive controls and an intuitive, intelligent voice-control system that grows smarter over time. Other smart features include radar-based technology to alert drivers of their surroundings and automatically providing an appropriate level of braking to help prevent a collision.
The GLE350 is not the flashiest model Mercedes-Benz makes, nor is it intended to be. What it does, it does very well, offering sophistication, quality construction and value for the money — all things that never go out of style.
MSRP: $62,650
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price information reflects starting price and is subject to change by model and options.
Source: mbusa.com
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