Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG

Salzburg, AUSTRIA – Austria is one beautifully country. It’s citizens are well-dressed, sophisticated and educated. And that makes it an appropriate venue to launch this car. You get the same feeling of sophistication and class sitting in the most powerful version of the new W222 S-Class range, the S63 AMG. You cannot help but feel supreme levels of intelligent engineering imbued in Stuttgart’s flagship.

Two months ago we drove the S350 Bluetec at its international launch in Canada and the car blew us away with what it offered in terms of comfort combined with one of the highest level of technology currently offered in passenger cars.

Mercedes-Benz AMG didn’t mess with this philosophy, but they did improve the car in a few fundamental ways for the customer who prefers to actually drive his/her S-Class…. rather than be driven, which many  S-Class owners will opt for.

Engine
The M157 engine filling the engine bay is the same unit found in the E63 AMG S with the performance pack. In the S63 AMG, though, the engine has undergone a host of software changes. The engine was recalibrated to offer a different experience compared to the wilder E63 AMG. The entire exhaust system was also reengineered to offer a softer and more restrained exhaust note

The result of all this work means this iteration of AMG’s 5,5-litre biturbo V8 is the most powerful to date: 430 kW and 900 N.m.

Dynamics
As was the case with the E63 AMG, for the first time the S63 AMG is available with Mercedes-Benz’s 4Matic all-wheel drive system. The result is a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of only 4 seconds. This model is not destined for our shores, but fortunately the 70 kg lighter short-wheelbase, rear-wheel drive version is.

Even though the SA-spec S63 AMG tips the scale at a hefty 1 970 kg, AMG has been able to lower the weight of the new car by up to 100 kg compared to the outgoing S63 AMG.

In terms of the driving experience, among a host of options, the driver can choose between suspension and transmission settings. And no, there isn’t ESP sport setting or race start… which is totally understandable.

On the road
Simply stupendous. Even with the AMG sports suspension, which is based on Mercedes-Benz’s magic body control, the car soaks up bumps in a way I’ve rarely experience before. In the process you discover how well-isolated both driver and especially rear-seated passengers are from the outside world.

But there is another layer of the car’s character you need to discover… especially after AMG’s new chief (from 1 October) Tobias Moers told us “You should experience this car on track, it is actually quite phenomenal”.

With the suspension set to sport, the transmission to manual, and the active lumbar support pressing me on the sides of my lower back, I slowly press the accelerator down in fourth gear.

In a smooth and linear manner, the revs increase pass 3 000 r/min and the engine feels so relaxed and unstressed. After a long corner carving its way through the forest, I brake for a slower corner and pull the left steering-wheel mounted paddle twice to select second gear, and press the throttle pedal to the floor.

There is almost no hesitation from the engine – especially if you are already lightly on the throttle – and, as the road is still greasy due to rain earlier in the day, the tyres struggle for a moment to deploy 900 N.m. to the tarmac. From then on, however, the 2 tonne super saloon pushes myself and my passenger back into the cream-coloured seats.

A “3^rd Up” signal flashes for a fraction of a second on the left information screen and immediately I pull the paddle… and believe me, the acceleration doesn’t taper off.

The topspeed is limited to 250 km/h, but as is the case with other AMG models, for an additional charge Mercedes-Benz AMG will increase this to 300 km/h.

What else?
As with the standard S-Class, the S63 AMG has a long list of unique technology and safety features. One thing is for sure, future owners will have a field time (or headache?) going through the extensive list of possible options and choices. Apart from weight saving measures throughout the car, some of the most obvious improvements are the carbon fibre spare wheel recess, as well as lighter wheels. For the first time, the S63 AMG is also available with carbon composite brakes, which obviously helps with lowering the unsprung weight.

Summary
Competitors of the S-Class range must get sick and tired of the amount positive publicity this car, and the range, receives. It deserves it though. There is no other top luxury sedan that blends this level of performance and game-changing technology with such an impressive list of luxury and safety features.

I, for one, certainly can’t wait to drive it on the correct side of the road when it arrives around November as part of the local launch of the new S-Class range.