What's one of the fastest cars ever launched in India this year? It's a sedan and it's an AMG. Mercedes-Benz is known for its luxurious cars but over at their AMG department, it is all fast cars. Hence, to celebrate the end of 2021, we had to review this rather fast sedan.
The E63 AMG S is all about speed and that is all because of its engine which is from a supercar - not a sports car.
The AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine makes 612bhp and 850 Nm. Let me repeat, 612bhp! The performance is incredible as you would expect doing 0-100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds. Yet on the outside it looks like a sportier E-Class. You would not be able to figure out how much power the E63 AMG S makes from its looks. That said, it does look sportier and aggressive but it is still a luxury sedan.
The new E63 AMG S adds in styling changes like a new grille, bumper, headlamps along with an updated rear too. In black it looks cool and shows you do not need to be a showoff supercar to have lots of power. The huge wheels and exhaust at the rear did have people thinking that it's no ordinary E-Class. Crucially, unlike the standard E-Class which comes in long wheelbase form, the E63 AMG S comes in standard wheelbase form hence is more compact to drive in the city.
I have had the good fortune to drive the previous E63 and I will say that the new one has a better ride quality too along with being a bit more quiet. Yes, the E63 AMG S is loud when driven fast but in comfort mode, it is more silent and easy to drive on our roads. In other words, it's a luxury car at low speeds. I also liked the interior which is a mix of luxury and sportiness.
As you would expect, the interior looks and feels expensive but there are enough AMG touches here to make it special. The new look steering wheel is superb to hold and has buttons which have haptic feedback. The center screen also gives further AMG specific features but you do get a premium Burmester audio, comfortable seats with massage and more! I also liked the seats which are comfortable and not too sporty- hence being perfect for everyday use.
Yes, using a 612bhp car everyday is very much possible with this as we were surprised how calm it was in heavy traffic and it's very easy to drive too in comfort mode. However, it was only a matter of time when we had to feel what all that power underneath its hood meant and on an empty road, the E63 S just flew. In race or Sport plus mode, acceleration is shocking and relentless.
It just feels so stable at big speeds while also finally sounding loud with its AMG roar. The new automatic gearbox is a 9-speed one and just goes through the gears quickly when you want it and honestly, it's so quick that you do not need to use the paddle shifters. I ran out of road within seconds as the E63 AMG S simply feels like a fast but also a luxurious rocket.
Another important fact is that with the 4MATIC+ system, grip and stability is much better and you can try driving this fast without losing traction. With so much power, putting it down on the road needs all wheel drive.
The E63 S AMG is not cheap at Rs 1.7cr especially since it is more than twice the cost of an LWB E-Class but that is the wrong way to look at it. You see, you cannot get a more powerful car at this price and it is basically mixing a supercar and a luxury sedan into one. It is very much one of the fastest cars available in India but also one of the quickest cars launched this year. Yet, along with the speed, we liked how the E63 S is also usable and how it makes 612 bhp accessible. It's the AMG way I guess!
What we like - Performance, quality, value, space, comfort
What we do not like - Lacks the exhaust note of the earlier E63 AMG S, might seem expensive
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