500E vs 500SL

[pentoman]

Hey

Reading up on the 500E, I've noticed it had modifications done to the engine which gained it 22 lbft extra over the 500SL, but no (or was it 1) extra bhp. Can that really be right?

Looking at the latest E55 AMG, it is quoted as only 470 bhp, versus the SL55 (identical engine) with 500 bhp. Supposedly due to different exhaust/intake, BUT bizarrely they still have identical torque figures.

In the press this is being recognised as the ploy that it is - MB just playing with quoted bhp numbers to maintain 'model rank' (SL55 is above E55 and much more expensive, so they quote less power for the E), whereas both are really around 500bhp.

Did this perhaps occur for the 500E? Did those engine mods REALLY gain so much torque but no hp? How did the costs of 500SL and 500E compare when new? Anyone got stock dyno figures to perhaps support this?

later

Russ