The latest-generation E-Class was introduced for the 2017 model year with a redesigned exterior and interior, both of which were based on the larger S-Class. The German brand also revamped the engine lineup and added new technology, including many segment-first features and semi-autonomous drive. In late 2016, Mercedes-Benz introduced the high-performance version of its midsize sedan, the AMG E63.

Described as "the most intelligent executive sedan," the current E-Class became the most powerful of all time thanks to its new AMG package. Revised inside and out and based on updates introduced on earlier AMG models, the E63 redefines performance in this segment by means of a retuned chassis and a new engine. Much like the rest of the AMG lineup, the E63 ditched the larger 5.5-liter V-8 in favor of the newer, 4.0-liter unit. Although smaller, the twin-turbo V-8 offers more power than its predecessor, while also returning better fuel economy.

Continue reading to find out more about the 2018 Mercedes-AMG E63.

2017 Mercedes-AMG E63

Specifications

• Make: Array
• Model: 2017 Mercedes-AMG E63
• Engine/Motor: V8
• Horsepower: 563 @ 5750
• Torque: 553 @ 2250
• Transmission: 9-speed sport
• [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Pros

Cons

Exterior

Much like the previous-generation model, the new AMG is a sportier looking version of the standard E-Class with numerous unique design features. The E63 stands out when compared to the E-Class by means of aggressive bumpers, larger air intakes, bigger wheels, and different badges. For the first time on an AMG sedan, the hood is inset between the fenders and bumper like you see on most coupes. The front fenders are also almost an inch wider, allowing the wheel arches to accommodate greater track width and wider wheels and tires. The radiator grille is also new, featuring twin-louvers in silver chrome and vertical black struts, a style we've already seen on the upcoming, facelifted S-Class sedan.

The sedan also sports arrow-shaped wing signet on the front fenders. Finished in silver chrome, it is highlighted by three-dimensional "V8 BITURBO 4MATIC+" lettering. Around back, the bumper received a diffuser-like element and bright chrome-plated twin tailpipes for a sportier appearance. The E63 S model also features a trim strip in silver chrome on the bumper. The standard wheels come in 19-inch size and a 10-spoke design painted Titanium Gray. The range-topping E63 S models gets 20-inch, five-twin-spoke rollers. Both models can be equipped with the 20-inch, cross-spoke forged rims from the options list.

As always, Mercedes-AMG also offers an "Edition 1" model. Available in E63 S trim only, it includes extras such as a designo Night Black Magno paint, dynamic stripes on the side sill panels, and 20-inch forged wheels in matte black.

Interior

Inside, the AMG E63 is a slightly shrunken version of the larger, S63 model, featuring a similar dashboard with the signature four A/C vents on the center stack, and the smoother design. Most of the cockpit was carried over unchanged from the E-Class, but certain features were replaced by sportier alternatives. For starters, there's a flat-bottom, sports steering wheel in black leather. The unit comes with Touch Control and electroplated shift paddles, as well as a bezel with the AMG logo.

The sedan also features sporty front seats with improved lateral support. They are wrapped in black Nappa leather and Dinamica microfiber as standard, but can also be selected in Nut Brown Nappa leather or Macchiato Nappa leather. The door center panels match the seat design. Customers in need of more lateral support can opt for the AMG Performance seats with integral head restraints.

The more expensive and powerful E63 S gets additional standard features such as Nappa leather atop the instrument panel and belt lines, sport steering wheel with a Crystal Grey 12 o’clock marking and contrast topstitching, an AMG crest in the front head restraints, Crystal Grey seat piping, analogue clock in the center stack and seat belts in Crystal Grey. Aluminum trim is standard in both versions, but drivers can also buy carbon-fiber trim parts or glass-fiber elements in matte silver.

Another interesting feature is the new AMG Track Pace app. Introduced to supplement the Racetimer app, it enables drivers to analyze and improve their track driving style as well as share their performance with other AMG drivers via Facebook, YouTube and other platforms. The app is for Apple iPhones only though, and is connected to the on-board race app via WiFi or Bluetooth. The Comand Online infotainment system transmits all vehicle data – including speed, gear, steering angle, time, position and temperature – to the app in real time. The app can also be connected to GoPro cameras so that the driver can make an interactive video of his racing experience with all the related data.

Drivetrain

As expected, the AMG E63 is powered by the twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 that's already available in the AMG C63 and the AMG GT sports car. The powerplant is offered in two flavors. The "base" E63 comes with 563 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, which is a 13-horsepower and 32-pound-foot increase over the previous 5.5-liter V-8. The E63 S benefits from 603 horses and a whopping 627 pound-feet of twist, an 18-horsepower and 37 pound-foot increase over the outgoing version. Sprinting from 0 to 60 mph takes 3.4 seconds with the standard model and 3.3 ticks with the S variant, making them two tenths quicker than their respective predecessors. Top speed remains locked at 155 mph for the base model, while the E63 S will hit 186 mph.

Both versions of the new AMG E63 are more powerful than the current M5, which uses a twin-turbo, 4.4-liter V-8 rated at 553 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. On the other hand, only the S model cranks out more oomph than the M5 Competition Edition, which benefits from 600 horses and 516 pound-feet. It should be noted that the M5 is due for a redesign in a year or so.

The E63 is also marginally more powerful than the Audi RS7, which uses a twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 rated at 560 horses and 516 pound-feet, but delivers significantly more torque. Naturally, the Merc is also quicker from 0 to 60 mph, while the Audi needs three extra tenths to hit the benchmark.

But the new AMG E63 isn't just about horsepower and torque. For the first time in AMG history, the sedan is offered with a cylinder deactivation feature. In the partial-load range, cylinders two, three, five, and eight are deactivated, lowering fuel consumption. The system also works in the "Comfort" transmission drive program, when the cylinder deactivation system is available from 1,000 to 3,250 rpm. A special menu in the instrument cluster informs the driver whether the cylinder deactivation system is in use and whether the engine is presently operating in the partial or full-load range. Mercedes claims that the transition from four to eight-cylinder operation is "immediate and imperceptible," so that the passengers do not experience any loss of comfort.

Both E63 models are exclusively available with the AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system. re-engineered for the E63, the system brings fully variable torque distribution on the front and rear axles for optimum traction. The transition from rear-wheel to all-wheel drive and back again is also smooth due to the control unit being integrated into the vehicle system architecture as a whole.

The 4.0-liter V-8 engine mates to an AMG SPEEDSHIFT nine-speed sport transmission specially tuned for the new E63 and E63 S. The unit comes with re-engineering hardware and software, which returns quicker shifts and smoother operation. Additionally, the sedan received a Drift Mode, which can be engaged by selecting the Race drive setting, deactivating the ESP, and then putting the transmission in Manual mode. This turns the E63 into a purely rear-wheel-drive car. Awesome!

Drivetrain Specificcations

Suspension

The sedan's chassis was also retuned for enhanced performance. First up, AMG meddled with the sport suspension for increased agility and high cornering speeds. Based on the Air Body Control suspension, the E63 combines steering precision with a high level of comfort. The four-link front axle design uses forged aluminum components with wishbones, strut rod, and spring link. Around back, the new multi-link system provides highly precise wheel control and increased stiffness.

The rear axle differential has a new mount to reduce noise, vibration, harshness (NVH) characteristics. Much like the AMG GT R, the sedan has an anti-roll bar made of tubular material that reduces the weight of the rear axle.

Stopping power comes from a large-sized high-performance braking system that decelerates the sedan reliably and is fade-resistant even under high loads. The E63 has 14.2-inch vented and perforated compound brake discs with six-piston brake calipers at the front axle and 14.2-inch rotors with single-piston floating brake calipers at the rear. The E63 S is fitted with even larger 15.4-inch compound brake discs on the front axle. Optionally, the AMG Carbon Ceramic braking system adds 15.8-inch brake discs to the front axle and 14.2-inch rotors to the rear.

Safety

Much like the E-Class, the E63 is packed with air bags all over the place, as well as numerous driver assistance systems. The AMG-badged sedan gets Drive Pilot, which can enable the sedan to follow the car in front at speeds of up to 130 mph and uses automatic braking and accelerating, as well as the Steering Pilot to handle moderate bends. There’s also a Speed Limit Pilot function that can automatically adjust the car’s speed according to on-the-road speed limits detected by a camera.

Other driver assistance systems include Active Brake Assist, Attention Assist, and Remote Parking Pilot. The latter allows the vehicle to be moved into and out of garages and parking spaces remotely using a smartphone app.

Although Mercedes has yet to confirm it, the E63 will also get the first fully integral Car-to-X solution announced for the E-Class. The mobile phone-supported exchange of information with other vehicles further ahead on the road can allow the driver to "see around corners" or "through obstacles" well in advance by receiving an earlier warning in the event of imminent danger, such as a broken-down vehicle at the edge of the road, heavy rain or black ice on the road ahead.

Prices

The beefed-up E-Class comes to the U.S. in only the range-topping E63 S trim. This model retails from $104,400, a whopping $51,450 premium over the base E300 version. The new E63 S is also a tad more expensive than its predecessor, but it's a bit more affordable than expected, as initial estimates placed it slightly above the $110,000 mark.

Competition

BMW M5

Shortly after the new E63 hits the market, the M5 should step into a new generational model based on the newly revealed 5 Series. Changes will include to-the-grille headlights, a widened and more upright kidney grille, new bumpers, and other evolutionary updates. What will likely carry on is the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine, but BMW may tweak it to produce closer to 600 horses in standard guise and more than that with the Competition Package. With the new look should also come some serious lightening, which will get the M5 under the four-second mark to 60 mph to make it more competitive with the E63. Another way it’ll get closer to the E63’s sprint time is the much-anticipated addition of all-wheel drive.

Read our full review here.

Audi RS 7

Because there is no RS6 Sedan available yet, the only Audi in competition with the E63 is the RS7. It may be a little too much of a liftback sedan to truly match up against the E63, but the RS7 is one of the few four-door cars with the power and agility to match the big E. Powering the RS7 is a 4.0-liter turbocharged V-8 that delivers 560 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. The engine mates to a standard eight-speed auto transmission and Audi’s famed Quattro all-wheel-drive system. This results in an exciting 3.7-second sprint to 60 mph. The big issue is that the RS7’s $110,700 base price for the 2017 model year is a bit too rich for the base E63.

Read our full review here.

Conclusion

With the E-Class being the most innovative midsize sedan on the market right now, I had high expectations from the new AMG E63. And I must say I'm anything but disappointed. Granted, I still think that modern performance Mercs have way too many driving aids in them (yeah, I'm an old fart), but the new Drift Mode will finally let the sedan behave like a proper race-inspired car should. The AMG E63 has everything it needs to climb back at the top of the midsize performance segment and it will probably hang on to its crown for a few long years unless BMW comes up with an astonishing M5 in 2017. For now, the E63 lacks any real competition and the E63 S competes in a league of its own.

Updated History

Updated 5/10/2016: Our spy photographers caught the E63 Wagon out for another testing session with even less camo than before. Check out the exterior section for more details.

Updated 04/14/2016: A leaked brochure reveals details on the upcoming E63 AMG. Continue reading to learn more about the sedan's new twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 engine and stay tuned as an official debut will happen shortly.

Updated 03/14/2016: Our spy photographers caught the upcoming E63 AMG out for a new testing session, but this time in its station wagon variant. The model is expected to make its world debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show in October.

Updated 02/24/2016: Our spy photographers caught the upcoming E63 AMG out for a new testing session, this time wearing less camouflage than ever. The model is expected to make its world debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show in October.

Updated 01/13/2016: We created a new rendering for the upcoming AMG E63 based on the standard model unveiled at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show.

Updated 08/06/2015: A new report indicates that the upcoming E63 AMG could deliver as much as 600 horsepower from its new 4.0-litre V8 engine. This represents a significant increase over the car's current 550 horsepower, but also significantly more power than what the competitors are offering: 552 horsepower for both the BMW M6 and the Audi RS6.

Spy Shots

May 10, 2016 - Mercedes-AMG E63 Wagon caught testing near Nurburgring

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March 14, 206 - 2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 station wagon caught testing

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February 24, 2016 - 2017 Mercedes E63 AMG sedan caught in very light camouflage

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