Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG

Affalterbach has made a storming return to the super saloon melee with the local introduction of the 386 kW E63 AMG, which combines the conservatism of the recently-launched E-Class with brute power, but also a state-of-the-art dual clutch transmission – something the Jaguar XFR, Audi RS6 and BMW M5 don’t have.

Mercedes-Benz claims the E63 AMG is “the highest performing business sedan in the world”. True to form, AMG have kept external styling modifications to a minimum… The most obvious hints at the performance capabilities of this four-door saloon are significantly wider front fenders, revised air intakes, 18-inch light alloy wheels and, almost the signature styling cue of recent AMG models, the shiny quad tailpipes.

The latest addition to the AMG line-up utilises the tuning division’s award-winning, 6,2-litre V8 that produces 630 N.m of torque and Mercedes-Benz claims the near two-ton projectile will sprint from rest to 100 km/h in just 4,5 seconds. As per the gentleman’s agreement, the top speed is limited to 250 km/h, although the gentleman from Stuttgart will increase this limit by 50 km/h – at a price. The E63 is the second AMG model to be fitted with the new MCT, dual-clutch, seven-speed transmission, which does away with a torque converter in favour of a wet clutch.

The theme of subtlety continues in the E63′s cabin. That is until you glance down at the centre-console, however. A short gear selector lever is flanked by a row of buttons and controls that act as the puppet strings for the character of the car. One swivel switch offers four drive modes for the MCT transmission, including Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus, and Manual. With each turn of this switch, gearshifts are made 20 per cent quicker, with Manual mode offering the driver full discretion, via steering wheel-mounted paddles, including bouncing off the 7 200 r/min redline limiter should those shifts not be made fast enough.

A further function offered by this control is a Race Start mode for optimal take-offs. Mercedes-Benz’s “launch control” is simpler to operate than that of the M5, by my recollection. Having said that, the driver is obligated to blast off within 5 seconds of activating the system; failing that the transmission reverts to normal mode.

AMG Ride Control offers adaptive electronic damping and can be set between Comfort, Sport, or Sport Plus modes. Steel springs up front, combined with a 56 mm wider track; ensure that the front wheels offer as much precision as possible, allowing the self-leveling air-suspension at the rear to modulate how the rear wheels follow. Three modes of traction control, including completely off, work hard to manage the massive amounts of power being shoveled to the rear wheels.

At the media launch I attended, the motoring press got the chance to sample the E63 AMG around Midrand’s Kyalami circuit. The circuit was wet though, so discretion was the better part of valour when testing the E63 handling capability. Suffice to say that it was not difficult to un-stick the big saloon’s rear end when laying down the power with too much vigour… No matter how many technologies are packed in this AMG, it remains a big, powerful machine that demands the utmost of respect.

In conclusion, the E63 AMG offers a combination of stylish everyday cruising ability for the weekly commute, but can transform into a supercar-taunting bully when the traffic clears. I can’t wait to drive the saloon again on dry roads that I know well… It may not quite supersede the Jaguar XFR as my favourite thunder saloon, but in the right (skilled) hands the Teuton will invariably give the Big Cat a run for its money.

The Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG retails for R1 150 000