The driver drove at 260 km/h (162 miles per hour) and used the entire speedometer.
The 500E (E500, 1993), one of the most unique performance sedans ever to be awarded the three-pointed star, wasn’t built by Mercedes. The luxury brand was busy working on other models in the 1990s and decided to accelerate R&D by partnering with Porsche. The body was made in Sindelfingen while the super saloon was built in Zuffenhausen. There were only 10,479 units ever produced (including the E60 AMG), as shown in this 1992 example.
The 500E still works strong, despite being 30 years old. The driver ran the Autobahn at full throttle, lifting the orange needle to reach speeds of 260 km/h (161.5mph). Since the car was fitted with an electronic speed limiter, the driver was actually able to travel 250 km/h (155mph).
After three decades, the V8 engine is still a magnificent sound and packs enough power to devour the Autobahn at high speeds. It was originally rated at 326 horsepower (240kilowatts), which is enough to sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h). This engine took just 6.1 seconds. The 500E’s 5.0-liter engine allowed it to offer sports car performance in a luxury and practical package.
It was more than twice the price of a 300E. The 500E had to be a great performer to justify its high starting price. This 1992 Mercedes 500E is an example of a Mercedes model built like a tank. The 500E, a fast sedan with an engine borrowed form the 500SL (R129), is still perfectly balanced at full throttle, despite its age.
The 500 E (Einspritzer, German for “injection”) was available only with a four speed automatic (also taken from a roadster) and subtle body modifications over the lower versions. These were different times than the AMGs of today with their large air intakes and quad exhausts, bulky spoilers, and other gizmos. It is difficult to match the satisfying linear power delivery of naturally aspirated engines, especially for good old V8s. Turbocharging can actually improve power output.
Mercedes is set to become purely electric by 2030, “where market conditions permit,” so this 500E top speed run along the Autobahn is a true blast from the past.