OPEN SEASON

Less is indeed more, when it comes to an AMG-powered E Class sans two doors and a hard top.

- PARTH CHARAN

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.