2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG: Forget Subtlety

Barely two months after the launch of the new generation S-Class, Mercedes-Benz is unveiling the S63 AMG, which was one of the stars of the recent Frankfurt Auto Show. To date, The Car Guide is the only Quebec-based media outlet to have driven the most powerful and fastest of the S-Class trims, during a test done in the Austrian Alps between Salzburg and Kitzbühel. This is the portrait of a luxury sedan hopped up on steroids and whose only true rivals are the Alpina B7, Audi RS7 and Porsche Panamera Turbo.

Featuring the latest evolution of the 5.5-litre biturbo V8 that develops 577 horsepower and 664 lbs-ft of torque, there’s nothing subtle about the S63 AMG. Able to dart from 0-100 km/h in just  4.0 seconds, it even overshadows some authentic sports cars. Although the forward thrust is phenomenal, the poise and stability it demonstrates during the 0-100 km sprint is even more impressive, especially for a sedan that weighs 2,070 kilos. With this in mind, note that the S63 AMGs sold in Canada will all come with a 4Matic all-wheel drive system modified by AMG engineers. This partly explains the excellent initial actuation and why the two-wheel drive versions sold in other markets take four-tenths of a second more to reach the 100 km/h mark.

• Also: Unveiling the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe
• Also: Mercedes-Benz S-Class Pullman: 6.4 Meters of Armored Luxury

Da-da-da da-da...Charge!

Driving the S63 AMG on super wet back roads, we noticed a slight lag in the response time of the turbocompressors and the seven-speed automatic gearbox before it exploded forward, leaving all the other cars behind. Compared to the S550, the S63 AMG is much more domineering, especially when you select the Sport calibration for the drivetrain, steering and suspension firmness. To maximize sportiness, the all-wheel drive sends 67% of the torque to the tail end and just 33% to the front wheels. This helps reduce the natural tendency to understeer, which is typical of all-wheel drive cars.

Excellent handling

The S63 AMG wins people over with its handling, but you shouldn’t forget how heavy it is. To slow it down efficiently on tight corners, you’re relying on its 390-millimetre front and 360-millimetre rear disc brakes with floating calipers. The electromechanical steering offers excellent feedback in Sport mode, which reduces the power steering. The steering wheel requires less effort when Comfort mode is activated and steering is more assisted. Also note that the sound emitted by the engine is particularly evocative in Sport mode as the exhaust system’s valves open faster. This just enhances the thrill of accelerating out of corners.

Slimming down

When the Affalterbach-based engineers made this car over, they systematically sought to reduce the car’s weight. As a result, the S63 AMG’s entire body, including the front end, is made of aluminum. The conventional battery has been replaced by a lithium-ion battery, similar to the one used for the SLS AMG Black Series, saving about twenty kilos in the process. And the spare tire housing is made of carbon fibre instead of steel or aluminum, which cuts another four kilos off the total. Style-wise, the S63 AMG stands out with its 20-inch forged alloy rims, red brake calipers, oversize air intakes and three-dimensional chrome front deflector. At the back, there are two double chrome exhausts and a diffuser with a shiny black insert and decorative silver rod. Another main focus during this overhaul was the vehicle’s aerodynamics and the results are convincing. It now boasts a drag coefficient of only 0.28, which is pretty impressive for a luxury sedan of this size.

Hop in!

Once you’re inside, you’ll notice that several elements don’t fit with the car’s sporty aspirations. For starters, it has the same two-spoke steering wheel and gear selector lever on the steering column as the S550. Moreover, some of the colour schemes, like crystal grey/seashell grey, for example, are not very nice. There is, however, an IWC Schaffhausen analog clock in the middle of the dashboard. The comfort of the driver and front passenger are guaranteed by remarkably well-designed adjustable AMG sport seats that even include massage functions. The seats, steering wheel, center armrest and front door armrests are all heated and all factory-standard. Back seats passengers will also enjoy superior comfort, especially if the car is equipped with the optional Premium Rear Seat Package that includes heated and air conditioned power seats, an adjustable passenger side foot rest and seatbelt airbags.

Far more powerful and faster than an S550, the S63 AMG will also be much more expensive. The price has yet to be confirmed, but you can expect it to be approximately as much as the previous version, which cost upwards of $150,000. From there, you’ll have to add the cost of the optional equipment, of which there is a wide range, even though the standard equipment is quite generous. Thus, the new S63 AMG is the most powerful and fastest S-Class, at least for now. It will be knocked off its pedestal by the next S65 AMG, which will feature a V12 biturbo that produces more than the previous version’s 621 horsepower version. The S65 AMG is slated to be launched at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. That means that a new episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous is on the horizon.