15 Mercedes-Benz Cars Every Enthusiast Should Know About

Mercedes-Benz 500E

By the 1990s, Mercedes-Benz had cemented its place as a top player in the luxury car market. While performance vehicles weren't their main focus, the company had proven its expertise in motorsports, earning plenty of wins on the racetrack. As demand grew for luxury sedans that were both refined and powerful, Mercedes decided to create the ultimate sports sedan.

To make it happen, they turned to Porsche for help, tapping into their high-performance engineering skills. The 500E was built on the W124 chassis, which also supported the popular 300E model. It used a 5.0-liter V8 engine and suspension components from the 500SL. Porsche widened the car's body to accommodate the stronger suspension, upgraded the brakes, and fine-tuned the engine to deliver 322 horsepower, according to Hagerty. The wider body panels didn't fit into Mercedes' regular assembly lines, so Porsche took over most of the manufacturing, using only Mercedes parts. The result? A low-key performance car that could go from 0 to 60 in under 6 seconds, handle sharp turns with ease, and still blend in as a family sedan at the country club. Even today, the 500E remains a highly sought-after collectible, offering a thrilling driving experience.