Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG S First Drive

 

Put simply, this is without doubt the best high-performance sedan CarShowroom has driven. So it naturally scores our highest 5.0 rating and we’ll give it the title: ‘World’s Best’.

 

Of course, when the team in Affalterbach (AMG) and their colleagues at Mercedes-Benz get together, the result is spectacular – see our recent test of the A 45 AMG hatchback and, just-launched in Europe is the larger S 63 AMG…can’t wait for that.

 

Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG S Overview

Mercedes-Benz has rolled-out the updated E Class range in recent months and saved the best until last – the range-topping E 63 AMG S. That ‘S’ moniker was chosen because at the heart of the updated model is the 430kW/800Nm twin-turbo V8 engine and other extras previously contained in the optional ‘Performance Pack’.

 

So the price is up a tad (from $240,485 to $249,900) but the extra Wow Factor! and kit more than surpasses the additional coin.

 

In fact, the rear-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG S we get is unique to right-hand-drive markets – back home in Germany the ‘S’ specification is only available in a 4MATIC all-wheel-drive version which is considerably more expensive.

 

Of course the E 63 AMG S comes equipped with a massive arsenal of Mercedes-Benz/AMG technology to optimize performance. This is the ultimate sports/luxury mid-size sedan.

 

A couple of twin-turbo V8 comparisons for the 430kW/800Nm Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG. The best Porsche Panamera is the Turbo S with 410kw/750Nm while the BMW M5 is rated at 412kW/680Nm.

 

Get the picture? ‘Benz and AMG are at the top of the game at the moment.

 

Mercedes-Benz  E 63 AMG S Engine

So here it is, all 5.5-litres of twin-turbocharged V8 petrol muscle, each one fastidiously assembled by just one technician at AMG in Affalterbach, Germany. Maximum power is 430kW at 5500rpm and peak torque of 800Nm – yep that’s eight zero zero newton-metres) is available from 1750rpm to 5000rpm.

 

That is actually 20Kw more than the previous E 63 AMG with the optional ‘Performance Pack’.

 

Zero to 100km/h – that would be just over 4.0 seconds and combined cycle fuel consumption scores  10.0l/100kms.

 

Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG S The Interior

For us, the interior of the Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG is the benchmark all others aspire to. It’s as simple as that.

 

The combination of the front AMG sports seats (with active side bolsters and massage function); the glorious AMG steering wheel with alcantara grips and the silver seat belts deliver a perfect combination of sportiness and luxury. Instrumentation includes the 320km/h AMG speedometer and to the left near the satellite navigation screen is the beautiful new AMG-specific analogue clock from master watch-maker IWC.

 

There’s a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 14-speaker audio system and the usual armada of ‘Benz driver assistance systems including the world’s best active lane-keeping system. The list goes on and on…

 

Best of all, for families the E 63 AMG S is a ‘Benz E-Class so rear seat accommodation is plentiful even for adults or late teens. Ditto the luggage space – golf clubs tick!

 

Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG S Exterior & Styling

The ‘S’ model Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG stamps its mark on the outside with silver chrome inserts for the side sill panels and a unique ‘A-wing’ front-end with a splitter in high-gloss black/silver chrome (this is optional in Europe).

At the rear, four exhaust outlets exude to the E 63 AMG S’ performance capabilities, but AMG being AMG there’s no need for raucous Aerodynamic add-ons – a body-colour bootlip spoiler does the job.

 

Wheels are matt titanium-grey 10-spoke designs.

 

Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG S On The Road

You could fill a book with the technology used to harness the Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG S. Here’s a few keys: 9.0 x 18-inch front alloy wheels and 9.5 x 18-inch alloy rear wheels, AMG ride control sports suspension with electronically-controlled damping and load-bearing air suspension at the rear and driver-select ‘Comfort’, ‘Sport’ or ‘Sport Plus’ settings.

 

Then there are the brakes – massive with six pistons for the front and four for the rear and red-painted AMG calipers.

 

Switching from ‘Comfort’ to ‘Sport’ brings an instantaneous change to throttle mapping and gear-shift functions plus a noticeably firmer mapping for the dampers. The ESC threshold is also higher.

 

Wet conditions over the familiar roads up to Melbourne’s Yarra Valley put all of that technology under the pump and the Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG S responded with astonishing performance. Go crazy with the throttle and 430kW/800Nm brings a snap from the rear-end before the ESC sets you straight.

 

But drive within the threshold and the E 63 AMG S is just blindingly fast and a delight to punt along. Grip, balance, turn-in are remarkable and the ‘Sport’ setting just keeps working and working to get that power to the ground – no way could you accelerate out of corners any faster modulating the throttle yourself.

 

And the bellowing sound of the twin-turbo V8 is a marvelous sound-track to serious motoring. The 5.5-litre hand-built AMG powerplant loves to work (as evidenced by its 5500rpm mark for maximum power delivery).

 

Our high-speed stuff over the mountains was preceded by a stop-start run from Melbourne’s CBD in the morning peak. And here was the majesty of the Mercedes-Benz-AMG technology. The rip-snorting E-Class (in ‘Comfort’ setting) didn’t rattle the fillings from your teeth over tram track crossings and the AMG Speedshift MCT seven-speed automatic transmission was as smooth as silk – a marked change from some German rivals.

 

 

Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG S Challenges

None. The usual comments about firm ride leveled at high-performance European cars don’t apply for the Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG S – on the ‘C’ setting this thing rides like a limo.

 

Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG S Verdict

Considering all things automotive there is no better way to spend $249,900 than the Mercedes-Benz E 53 AMG S. More so than any similar car we’ve driven, Mercedes-Benz and AMG have matched the E 63 AMG S ideally to its world of both and city driving.

 

This is the best of the best.

 

 

Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG S The Competition

We’ve repeatedly asked BMW for an M5 to review for Car Showroom readers but so far the autobahn-burning ‘Beemer’ hasn’t been sighted in our garage. The best we’ve managed is a ride in the left-hand seat when a colleague had one. No doubt about the dollars – at $229,900 it’s a lot cheaper than the E 63 AMG S - but BMW’s 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 packs less punch (412kW/680Nm) and the M5 is slower zero to 100km/h (4.5 seconds for the M5).

 

Less coin again and similarly not driven by Car Showroom is the supercharged V8-powered Jaguar XFR-S at $222,545. We do love the looks of the Jag.