The all-new Porsche 911 Turbo S has arrived in Singapore, following an event held at an exclusive villa, which Porsche Singapore dubbed the House of Turbo, at Raffles Sentosa Singapore on 21 May.

The latest 911 Turbo S is the most powerful production Porsche 911 ever, featuring a 3.6-litre flat-six engine paired with Porsche’s T-Hybrid technology and incorporating two turbos.

This gives the car a total power output of a staggering 711bhp and 800Nm of torque, allowing it to rocket from 0-100km/h in just 2.5 seconds, 0-200km/h in 8.4 seconds, and go on to a top speed of 322km/h.

The T-Hybrid technology, which was first seen in the 911 Carrera GTS, has been boosted by 60bhp in the Turbo S. But it also bolsters the car’s performance in other ways too, with the dual eTurbos offering enhanced responsiveness by delivering near-instant power delivery on tap.

Other performance upgrades include 325/30 ZR 21 tyres at the rear, which are 10mm wider than the outgoing Turbo S model, as well as the upgraded Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB), which gets new pads and bigger 420mm rotors in front and 410mm rotors at the rear, making them the largest ever fitted on a two-door Porsche.

There is also the new electro-hydraulically controlled Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (ehPDCC), which minimises roll and sharpens handling agility when cornering.

At the same time, it also improves driving comfort, thanks to its advanced cross-connected, active coupling rods that helps to keep the car balanced and predictable.

Externally, the 911 Turbo S features a whole host of aerodynamic features designed to optimise performance.

These include the active cooling air flaps on either side of the front bumper, an active front diffuser with a retractable front spoiler lip, as well as the classic adjustable rear wing spoiler, all of which help to offer the desired amount of drag or lift depending on what the driver requires.

Porsche calls the 911 Turbo S a ‘Swiss Army knife’, capable of delivering extreme track performance, long distance driving comfort, and everyday usability. The latest version is priced at $1,273,088 without COE, but just five units have been allocated to Singapore, all of which have already been spoken for.

Story by: Ben Chia

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Mercedes-Benz’s AMG models historically had a bit of a crazy streak to them. While BMW’s M cars tend to focus on sharp-edged, drive-focused performance, and Audi’s RS models embrace tech to deliver raw speed and power, Mercedes-AMG were known for their wild attitude that were sometimes at odds with Mercedes-Benz’s otherwise safe and stately image.

Things are changing, however, and in an automotive world where almost everything is now geared towards efficiency, the latest Mercedes-AMG E53 trades some of that silliness for much-needed sensibility, in the form of a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. But has the move to go green diluted the AMG essence?

Not Quite the Full Fat Experience

While the E53 AMG is currently the most powerful E-Class model you can buy right now, it is not quite a full-fat AMG, in the sense that it doesn’t follow the ‘one man, one engine’ philosophy that traditional AMG cars get. So, no engineer’s signature on the engine cover then.

It looks relatively subtle for an AMG too. There are some aggressive AMG styling bits like the illuminated grille and large air intakes on the front bumper, a barely noticeable tail spoiler, quad exhaust tailpipes, and 21-inch wheels with a design that offers a peek at the large composite brakes. However, on the whole, the E53 could pass off as just another E-Class if it drives past you on the roads.

It’s pretty much the same story inside too. Again, there are AMG specific bits like the sports seats, an AMG steering wheel, and AMG logos everywhere, as well as AMG driving modes and settings in the infotainment system. But aside from that, the cabin is otherwise similar to a regular E-Class.

Performance Powerhouse

That said, the E53 certainly has the performance chops to live up to the AMG name. The 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line 6 engine produces a whopping 585 bhp and 750 Nm of torque, allowing it to rocket from 0-100km/h in just 3.8 seconds. It’s an incredibly impressive feat for a car that tips the scales at nearly 2.4 tonnes.

However, it doesn’t do it with the kind of insanity that characterises many AMG models from the past. Instead, the E53 builds up speed with the kind of smoothness that you’ll expect from a large, high-powered executive sedan. The car gets up to triple digit speeds without a fuss, and feels like it can sit and cruise on the autobahn all day effortlessly, helped along with a ride that comes across as more luxurious than sporty.

There is a gentle rumble from the straight 6 engine that grows more vocal as you push along, and it generally sounds pleasant enough. However, it doesn’t have quite the same character as a growling V8, such as the one from the previous generation E63 AMG.

Weighty Issues

While the E53 is fast on paper, the experience in practice demonstrates some shortfalls. Upon initial acceleration, there is a bit of lag, before the power kicks in and sends you hurtling toward the horizon.

It’s perhaps a byproduct of the car’s weight, brought about by the plug-in hybrid drivetrain, but the E53 feels like a car that would rather you move along progressively rather than aggressively.

Likewise, in the corners, the E53 handles capably with plenty of composure, thanks to its 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system and AMG performance bits. But it doesn’t feel like quite the sharp performance tool that you’ll expect from something carrying the AMG brand name.

Perhaps the biggest bugbear would be the brakes, which display some very odd behaviour traits. They feel inconsistent in their application, and it makes it very difficult to judge how much pressure to apply. It soon becomes quite the annoyance when you pull up to a set of lights, because you never know how hard to hit the pedal at every instance.

Plug-in Puzzle

The idea of a plug-in hybrid drivetrain sounds good in theory, offering zero-emissions driving at low speeds. However, in a car like the E53 AMG, their presence here feels somewhat superfluous.

Mercedes-AMG claims that the car can travel up to 104km in pure electric mode when the battery is fully charged, but in reality, that figure is probably closer to 80km or so. If you drive it as intended, that is, at fairly high speed, that range depletes fairly quickly, and you then end up lugging around the deadweight of the battery and electric motor around most of the time.

It’s not like it helps greatly with efficiency too, despite its stated intentions. While Mercedes-Benz states that the car can deliver a fuel economy figure of 0.9 litres per 100km, it is highly unlikely you’ll get anywhere near that figure, unless you drive it around with a light foot, which defeats the purpose of a car like this anyway.

A Different Kind of AMG

It’s clear that the E53 AMG is not quite like the wild AMG cars of eras past. Instead, it offers a sensible option for those who appreciate AMG levels of performance, but delivered in sensible and refined fashion. The plug-in hybrid drivetrain, while flawed, offers the option at least of zero emissions green motoring, which is not something you can find in many high-powered cars like these.

It’s not perfect by any means, but the E53 AMG does have its strengths. Just don’t expect it to go crazy on you, because that is simply not in its character.

Technical Specifications

Mercedes-AMG E53 4Matic+ PHEV

Engine: 3.0-litre in-line 6, turbocharged

Drivetrain: All-Wheel-Drive

Power: 585 bhp

Torque: 750 Nm

Gearbox: 9-speed AMG Speedshift

0-100km/h: 3.8 Seconds

Top Speed: 250 km/h

Fuel Tank Capacity: 60 litres

Fuel Economy: 0.9 litres/100km (claimed)

Price: S$551,888 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)

Photo Credits: Ben Chia (@benchiacars)

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