Mercedes-AMG E 63 S: Makes Fast Fun Again!

I would like to start this review by thanking Mr Joachim Schmidt; the person who hand-built the 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8, which resurrected my love and appreciation for ICEs.

There is always an aura around the AMGs. An excitement that can't really be expressed in words. It stems from years of bonkers AMGs that can deploy smokescreens on tap and yet keep going for miles without needing babysitting. That not only makes them fast and furious, but also a keeper in the family. However, driving these 300kmph machines can be intimidating, especially for someone who usually has kids in the backseat. The E 63 S wants to change that. It wants you, and your kids (in the back seat) to enjoy the 612PS. It wants you to make the V8 sing and still feel in control. The key here is to make going fast not scary, but fun. Can it? Especially given that this is my first AMG 63 experience?

Hard To Miss

Mercedes sells the highest number of luxury cars in the country. And hence, be it a Maybach or a G63, they are easy to spot in a metro. Not to mention, the E-Class is their highest selling sedan and can be seen in most parts of the country – not the AMG though. One glance at the E 63 S passing by on the road and you know it's different.

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The more aggressive AMG grille and bumper immediately grab attention. And the moment you get a look of the black 20-inch AMG wheels with silver highlights and red brake callipers, you know this is something special. The black paint glitters, and in it shines the V8 biturbo badge on the fender. What further helps is that it is accompanied by a gentle V8 burble.

By the time you realise what you’re looking at, you are already looking at the tail end of the car and know it's the E 63 S AMG. The boot-lip spoiler and the quad exhausts are all the evidence you need, and if the driver is playful, you will be treated to a melodious, yet subtle exhaust note. Because the AMG E 63 S is based on the regular E, and not the long-wheelbase one available in India, the proportions look better and sportier. The ground clearance, however, is plenty – something you don't expect an AMG to have.

Familiarly Mercedes

Hop aboard this black spaceship and you get a largely familiar-looking cabin. Apart from the steering wheel and a few trim elements, there is hardly anything differentiating it from the regular E. The large twin-screen infotainment setup, centre console and flowing ambient lights are identical to the non AMG version. So are the features including heated front seats, three-zone climate control, heads up display, 13- speakers Burmester sound system, massage seats, gesture controlled lighting and a lot more.

What makes you feel special is the embossed AMG logo in the headrests, the AMG sill plates, AMG specific steering with mode selectors and AMG track mode on the displays. The quality throughout the cabin is excellent and will keep you cocooned in luxury. There is hardly anything to complain about, other than the plastic AMG logo on the centre storage cover that feels unnecessary and out of place.

Rumble

We all expect the AMGs to be loud. But with the new emission standards, that's not the case with most of them. The E 63 S is no different in this regard. Though it has a throaty exhaust note, it is far from being loud. If you want people around you to notice the startup, then switch to race mode before you start the engine to make it rumble.

Start driving in regular modes (Eco and Comfort) and the E 63 S feels like a regular luxury saloon. The effortless 800Nm torque and the quick 9-speed transmission always offers you usable power, regardless of where you are in the rev band. The Eco mode though can feel a bit dull, given how toned down the throttle response is. Even the comfort suffers from this delay, and hence, Sport mode is where the fast commuting sweet spot lies. But commuting is what you buy the regular E for, not the AMG. And that is why you further have a Sport+ and a Race Mode.

I have quite recently experienced neck shattering acceleration in the Audi E-tron GT. Plus, all the other electrics we’ve driven have given a different meaning to off-the line acceleration. With that in mind, I was confident that the E 63 S’s acceleration wouldn't be surprising to me. I was wrong. It's fairly easy to get it into launch mode, and the moment you let go of the brakes, it just takes off. The AWD 4MATIC+ system fights for every ounce of traction, and you are propelled to 100kmph in just 3.61s. This is accompanied with such a strong sound from the engine and G forces that you won't notice the speedo until close to some ridiculous speeds. Plus, the E 63 S has a limited and achievable top speed of 300kmph. While the electrics can match this time and speed, never the drama and heartbeat. This, I will now remember, forever. There was no way we could enjoy all this in the city, and hence we left the urban jungle as soon as possible and headed straight towards a mountain road.

Be Brave

Once at the bottom of the hill, I took a deep breath and gathered the courage to shift to Sport+ Mode. Mind you, the 63 S also has a Race mode, which assumes you are a professional driver and switches off the traction control settings. That, I did not do. The moment you switch to the Sport+ Mode, the engine revs rise, exhaust becomes louder and the air coils lower. Once ready with the stance, all you have to do is be brave with the right foot.

The revs climb with a purpose, and the steering starts to weigh up. The moment you get to a corner, get on the sharp and responsive brakes and drop a couple of gears, the car starts to set in. The down shifts are complimented with just the right blips for a smooth and aural-inspiring engine note. Turn the steering, and it's amazing how well the front just changes direction and the rest of the car follows. It's not as nimble as the A45, which we drove a few weeks back, but what the E 63 S does better is the throttle response. Because you have 612PS being encouraged by two turbochargers, the power delivery is creamy smooth. The throttle is precise and reacts just as you expect it to. You can start to build speeds, and for every millimetre input you give, the engine responds with power. And when you want to back off a bit, it does just that in a linear manner.

With the new found confidence and a smile on your face, you then start to reach the limit of the traction control at corner exits. This is met by a sudden cut in power that comes in a stuttering manner and can be unpleasant. The E 63 knows how to keep you safe from yourself and it's surprising how much one can play within that limit. Just be a bit careful with the throttle while getting back on the power and you can really enjoy the strong acceleration.

This inspires confidence to be more playful and make that V8 sing. And boy it does! As you start going past 4000 rpm, the engine note starts to solidify and fill the cabin. It is not so loud outside, but the artificial sound being injected via the speakers keeps the drama up in the cabin. And I know a few purists would have smirked at the artificial sound drama, but you have to experience it to enjoy it.

It's when you really start to push and focus your attention on going fast that the electronics start to feel intrusive. And that is what the Race mode is for. It turns off most nannies and leaves you alone with the V8. And that is where, with the tyre fighting for traction under power and the heavy rear of the car starting to slide, you feel that you are in fact in a 63 AMG. And if you want to stay out of trouble and thoroughly enjoy the drive with friends and family, you will turn the dial back to Sport+ mode.

Indianised

On the way, there was a fair share of challenges. From broken and metalled roads to unregulated speed breakers. The E 63 S did surprise us with its suspension and ground clearance. You can treat it like an ordinary luxury sedan and it will comply with all the surface. In Comfort mode, it can keep the harshness out of the cabin and behave just like an E should. It's only when you switch to Sport mode and beyond that the setup tilts to the sporty side and you start to get a feel for the surface. This dual nature of the suspension helps you thoroughly enjoy the E 63 in the City, and out on the twisty bits. Inside the city, my ideal driving setup in the Individual drive mode was suspension tuned to Comfort, and the rest of the drivetrain set to Sport.

Verdict

I am a rather boring and satisfied person. Satisfied with the excitement this job brings and not really bothered with the tiny paycheck I get. Driving the E 63 S has left me unsatisfied. Today, I wish I was part of the limited club that can afford to spend Rs 1.73 Crore on a car. Because I really want to. The E63 S is such a complete car that it hardly leaves you wanting anything more in daily life. It's calm and comfortable in the city, fast and enjoyable on the weekend trips and luxurious throughout. It can keep your bags in the boot, family on the back seat, and you right where you want to be. It's as complete a car package as it gets. And for that, you need to spend.