25th anniversary of the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 500E; a legend that is celebrating

25 years ago, one of the most innovative and technologically advanced vehicles of its time was unveiled. It was neither a coupé nor a sports car.

We are talking about the Mercedes 500E, a version of the mid-size saloon of the star of the moment, predecessor of today’s E-Class, to which a touch of spice was added.

The people at Mercedes decided it was time to give their executive saloon, the famous W124, historically one of the best Mercedes ever built in terms of build quality and engines, a more attractive look and performance. To do so, although they already had some experience, albeit limited, with the tuner AMG, they decided to call on the services of another company that was a little more…renowned.

And so Mercedes-Benz contacted Porsche to jointly create one of the best machines of the last 30 years. We are talking about the 500E, one of the most highly valued and recognised versions among the followers of the German marque. From its launch, the 500E was intended to become a true distance-devourer on open roads, a goal it more than achieved.

Externally, the 500E differed from its siblings in the range by its uniquely designed bumpers, combined with wider front wing panels. The combination of both elements resulted in a more imposing, fuller-looking saloon. Inside, the changes were even more modest, limited to specific upholstery on the sports seats within a cabin designed for four occupants.

Mechanically, the 500E took its base from its smaller sibling, the 420E, also with a V8 engine. With a larger displacement reaching 5 litres, the final output of this German monster was 326 CV. It was paired with a 4-speed automatic gearbox that allowed it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds, reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. Its price at the time was completely exorbitant, starting at 134,520 Deutsche Marks.

Source | Mercedes-Benz