Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Expert Review

Some cars are about luxury, the one that comes loaded with all the brownies you will want to have, while a few cater to the racer boy kinds. These are generally known as sports or super cars. Then, some thinking was done and a hybrid of the two was introduced. A sedan that is as powerful as a sports car. This became the vehicle that you drive everyday to work.

A vehicle that can be taken to carry your weekend super mart shopping, and you can take the same vehicle for a track day— with three more people and also your just shopped grocery.  Now, there are several cars in the global market and the car in question is the new iteration of the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. We drive it round the Buddh International Circuit as Mercedes-Benz invited us for a drive. Read further, as we share our rubber-burning experience.

Design:

We Indians love to flash a vehicle’s badge, and this isn’t the case with the Europeans— as they tend to remove the engine moniker insignia. Mercedes-Benz has ensured that the E63 has several differentiating factors from its twin brother. Of course meatier tyres and bigger brakes are visible, and so is the rear diffuser and the skirting.

The E63 gets a wider bumper with a front diffuser not just for better aerodynamics, but also for more air to be pulled in by the large air filter. The new front grille on AMG spec E is sporty, while the conventional E-Class has a more premium styling Avantgarde grille. The 10-spoke alloys, and the V8 Bi-Turbo are prominent changes on the AMG sedan and this makes it easier to differentiate it from the regular Mercedes-Benz E-Class— the quad-pipes at the rear standout as well.

Interiors:

The refreshed E-Class got some extra brownies on the inside, and the E63 AMG gets them too.

The interiors have been revised for sportier styling. The front seats are bucket-like, as they hug you tightly so you do not move around.

The seats hold you tightly and are sensitive to steering movements so you or your co-driver doesn’t move around.

The gear knob on the AMG spec car is different and you get multiple knobs and buttons to adjust the suspension, traction control, engine and transmission response and everything else that moves.

The speedometer too goes up to 320km/hr and the centre dial has AMG embossed in it. The rear seat is spacious and is highly comfortable.

The under-thigh support is good even for tall people. The boot too of this sedan is the same as the existing E-Class. There is a slot for a spare wheel too, though it isn’t full-sized one.

Engine and Transmission:

The AMG engines are hand-built and the one on the E63 is a 5.5-litre bi-turbo with a massive army of 557 horses and a peak torque of 720Nm. The grunt produced by the quad pipes is just music to an auto enthusiast’s ears. This is probably one of the best sounding exhausts, the only superior ones we can think of are the Jaguar F-TYPE and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Press the throttle and you will get pushed back into your seat.

The new E 63 AMG features an AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission. The transmission modes “C” (Controlled Efficiency), "S" (Sport), "S+" (Sport plus) and "M" (Manual) enhance the car's agility and driving dynamics quite noticeably. At full load, the engine management system partially suppresses the cylinders. This carefully managed interruption to ignition and injection results in faster gear changes and an emotive acoustic effect.

Driving Dynamics:

The E-Class has been a luxury sedan with one of the best ride suppleness, and that is one reason why it has been the best selling vehicle for Mercedes-Benz India as well. The E-Class glides over potholes and the suspension soaks up most of the bumps. We didn’t get the chance to explore the ride quality of the E63, as the road surface of the BIC is smooth.

The handling of the E63 is definitely agile and much better than the previous E63. It is a ferrous animal with all the power being delivered by the rear wheels as exuberate amount of power on a turn can put you in a slide, with some burning rubber. As the track was damp, we didn’t get to rub any of the meaty tyres. The steering wheel is responsive despite it being light and don’t feel slack around a corner.

Verdict:

The Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG is a fantastic track and road car. Its bucket comes embellished with several bells and whistles and the powertrain has oodles of power. The E-Class is the most successful sedan for Mercedes-Benz India, but that vehicle has the ride suppleness. The E63 is however bred by AMG, it has a bit stiffer suspension and is made to drive than be driven around.