2026 Mercedes-AMG E 53 Estate With Widebody & New Head

While the name only exists since 1993, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class range of executive-class passenger cars traces its lineage way back to 1953. Unfortunately, it’s a bit surrounded by controversy three-quarters of a century later.
 

With predecessors like the W120, W110, W114, W115, W123, and the original W124, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class was christened as we know it today back in 1993. Its legend grew across five generations, and the German automaker introduced the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, and Cadillac CT5-fighting machine with the W214 sixth iteration back in the spring of 2023.
 
The all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class arrived with the W214 sedan, S214 estate, and the X214 All Terrain body styles, exclusively powered by a range of mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain options. The new generation is easily differentiated from its predecessor because Mercedes deploys a ‘dripping’ style for the headlight and taillight assemblies, complete with three-pointed star LED patterns.
 
According to some diehard Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts, this design is quite controversial, and their chagrin has reached the ears of members of the imaginative guild of digital car content creators. More precisely, Nikita Chuicko, the virtual artist better known as kelsonik on social media, thinks that now is the right CGI time to work on the Mercedes E from AMG.
 
That’s the Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid 4Matic+, which recently launched in new regions like Australia, complete with its gasoline plug-in hybrid powertrain consisting of the M256 3.0-liter V6 and an electric motor plus nine-speed automatic transmission and AWD. The model churns out no less than 604 combined horsepower, as well as 750 Nm or 553 lb-ft of torque.
 

The pixel master decided to do something about the most controversial bits and pieces – the ‘droopy’ headlights, which are now more traditional, as well as the starry taillights, now replaced with triple 3D droplets. The CGI expert also applied his CGI Shadow Line touches – so there’s no more shiny chrome to reflect the sun’s rays when you don’t want to. All in all, it’s a sportier demeanor, for sure.
 
Unfortunately, the practical Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid 4Matic+ isn’t available in a station wagon configuration in the United States, so even if you performed these changes, the body style is actually a forbidden fruit in North America. Instead, you have to settle for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan, which kicks off at $62,450 in the E 350 Sedan guise – the AMG version is the flagship and starts from $88k.
 
That’s not a bad deal, frankly, if not for the odd styling of the headlights and taillights. If you want an Estate version, the only way to go for an E-Class is the All Terrain, starting from $76k as an E 450 model with a mild hybrid 3.0-liter inline-six packing 381 hp and 23 electric ponies when needed. Cool or not?