21 August 2002: Mercedes-Benz AMG is offering an eight-cylinder supercharged engine and Formula 1-inspired steering-wheel gearshifters in its 2003 E 55 AMG, S 55 AMG, and the CL 55 AMG.

The 5.5-liter V-8 AMG-tuned engine produces up to 39 percent more output and 32 percent more torque than the previous models that featured naturally aspirated V-8 engines.

The E 55 AMG does the 0 to 62 sprint in just 4.7 seconds, while the S 55 AMG and CL 55 AMG can do it in 4.8 seconds.

Mercedes says the E55 is the ‘most powerful Mercedes-Benz E-Class of all-time’ with 476bhp on tap. Both the S 55 AMG and CL 55 AMG have 500bhp.

All three cars have a five-speed automatic transmission.

Special badging inside and out, leather interiors, dynamic handling systems, and high-performance braking are all elements of the AMG packages.