"Mercedes 500E: Automatics Outperform Manuals, Even in the '90s"
In a recent drag race, the 1992 Mercedes 500E showcased the speed and performance of automatic transmissions, even in the 90s. The Mercedes outperformed the manual-equipped 1994 Audi RS2 and BMW M5 Touring, despite having a less favorable power-to-weight ratio. The Mercedes' big engine and torque, along with its old-school automatic slam shifts, allowed it to gain ground and finish 0.9 seconds faster than the Audi and 0.8 seconds faster than the BMW in the quarter-mile race.