Infinite headroom has to rank fairly high on the desirability scale when it comes to cars, even in the tropics. Why else would every manufacturer want to throw a sunroof into every conceivable model sold in the country? Indians love to have the skies peering down on us. A constant reminder of being tethered to the cosmos. Pandering to this sentiment with a dramatic gesture, Mercedes-AMG has decided to take the roof out of the equation completely, giving us a convertible AMG after ages: the E 53 Cabriolet-a breathtaking interlude in the steady, silent march of electric vehicles.
Just to be clear, we're not talking peak AMG, given that this has a turbocharged in-line six, instead of that sonorous Affalterbach V8. But expecting superlative power is missing the whole point of the E 53 Cabriolet, which must perform a tightrope act between luxury and performance without falling headlong onto either side. It's also an affirmation of Mercedes-Benz's supremacy in the high-end luxury segment, given that the luxury sport cabriolet market in the country, at this price point, is populated by a grand total of one car. This one. To put it plainly, the brand has seen such overwhelming demand for its high-end performance and luxury cars that it feels buoyant enough to explore the sort of niches that, previously, went unexplored. And the E53 is a mere taste of the AMG goodness that is to follow in 2023.
This story is from the April - May 2023 edition of GQ India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April - May 2023 edition of GQ India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
In Haider We Hope
The role of a fashion designer is one usually forged in chaos and fired down by “creative differences”. But on the eve of a new Tom Ford directorship, Haider Ackermann has never felt more free.
VIVA VARUN
Varun Dhawan on balancing fatherhood and film shoots, and the pressure of making the right choices.
PRATIK GANDHI'S QUIET EUPHORIA
The actor―who delivered a knockout performance in Madgaon Expresson the high of a hit and the pressure of sustaining success.
THE COMEBACK KID
Buoyed by his performance in Singham Returns, Arjun Kapoor doubles down on creativity.
SCRIPTING STARDOM
Vicky Kaushal on the thrill and terror of stepping onto a Sanjay Leela Bhansali set, charting an unconventional career, and making sense of the money game.
A TRYST WITH STARDOM
Triptii Dimri segued from her left-field roots straight to the animal park. The gamble has paid off.
WALKING A TIGHTROPE
Following the monster success of Stree 2, Rajkummar Rao opens up about navigating artistic fulfilment and box-office glory.
THE MAHARAJA OF MEHRAULI
It's been an action-packed year for Tarun Tahiliani, the emperor of Indian couture.
LONE WARRIOR
Kartik Aaryan on why, in an industry that only watches out for its own, he has to blow his own trumpet.
HITS AND HEARTBREAKS
Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali talks about redeeming himself with the extraordinary Chamkila, dealing with star-studded setbacks, and why we've forgotten to make love stories.