With Mercedes-Benz already testing the next generation E-Class, the company is also preparing to say goodbye to the current model. A special edition E 63 S 4MATIC+ Final Edition, offered in both sedan and station wagon guise, has just been announced to bid farewell to the successful W/S 213 performance model series. However, this special edition is not only saying goodbye to a generation, but also to the V-8 itself, as the next E-Class will not be offered with a V-8 anymore. Rumors suggest the V-8 will be replaced by a hybridized four-cylinder powertrain.

The Final V-8 Mercedes E-Class?

The new E63 Final Edition is offered with an exclusive matte Graphite Grey Magno finish and will ride on 20-inch AMG forged wheels with a cross-spoke design and a high-sheen black with gloss-tinted clearcoat. To give it an even more exclusive look, it also comes standard with the AMG Night Package. As its name suggests, it adds a series of high-gloss black elements, like the front and rear apron and the inserts on the side sills. Special AMG emblems are placed on the C-pillar and the foiling on the sides.

The interior doesn't come with too many updates, but thanks to its darkening treatment, it does provide a more mysterious feeling. As standard, the model is offered with AMG Performance Seat Package High-End package that will trim the AMG Performance seats in Nappa leather in titanium grey pearl/black finish with contrasting yellow stitching. The AMG Performance steering wheel is wrapped in black Nappa leather and microfiber Dinamica, with the same contrasting yellow stitches, while the instrument panel and beltline trim are trimmed in high-quality Nappa leather.

No changes were made under the hood, which means the Final Edition is powered by the same hand-assembled 4.0-liter Biturbo V-8 engine that delivers 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. The sprint from 0 to 60 mph is done in the same 3.3 seconds, while top speed is limited to 186 mph.

Mercedes will build only 999 units of the E 63 S 4MATIC+ Final Edition. Each unit will feature a special "AMG Final Edition" badge with the designated "1 of 999" limitation.

Short history of the E-Class V-8 engines

The current generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213) was launched in 2016, with a small update being announced for the 2021 model year. The V-8 was of course part of the lineup, as it powered both the E 63 and E 63 S models. The 4.0-liter biturbo V-8 engine delivers a total of 563 horsepower in the E 63 version and 603 horsepower in the E 63 S version. The other two AMG models, the E 43 and the E 53 models are offered with a V-6 engine.

Before the W213, Mercedes offered the W212 generation. It was built between 2009 and 2016, except that this time a V-8 engine was also offered for non-AMG models. In 2009 the E 500 came with a 5.5-liter V-8 engine that delivered 383 horsepower, but in 2011 it was replaced by a 4.7-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine with 402 horsepower. The AMG models came with the same 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine during the entire production period. Between 2009-2012 it delivered 518 horsepower, then in 2011 an AMG Performance Pack increased the output to 549 horsepower, while in 2013 an E 63 S version with 577 horsepower was added to the lineup.

From 2002 to 2009, Mercedes offered the W211 generation. Just like with the W212, the V-8 engines were not exclusive to the AMG models. There was a 5.0-liter V-8 engine powering the E 500 model with an output of 302 horsepower until 2006. That output was increased to 383 horsepower after that. The AMG models were offered in two different versions: the E 55 AMG powered by a 5.5-liter V-8 engine with 469 horsepower and the E 63 AMG offered with a 6.2-liter V-8 engine that delivered 507 horsepower. In this generation, Mercedes also offered a diesel V-8. It was a 4.0-liter that delivered 256 horsepower in the E 400 CDI version and 310 horsepower in the E 420 CDI version.

In 1995, Mercedes launched the W210 - the generation that brought the E-Class into the upper end of the mid-size luxury market. During the W210 production, a total of five models could be had with a V-8 engine: two non-AMG and three AMG models. The first model was the E 420, and it was powered by a 4.2-liter V-8 with an output of 275 horsepower. The E 430 came with a 4.3-liter V-8 that delivered the same amount of power. As for the AMG models, the "entry-level" was the E 50. It came with a 5.0-liter V-8 engine with 342 horsepower, while the next version - the E 55 got a 5.4-liter V-8 engine with 350 horsepower. Finally, the top-of-the-line model, the E 60 was powered by a 6.0-liter V-8 engine that delivered a total of 380 horsepower. Toward the end of this generation's production run. AMG added an E 60 AMG 6.3 version powered by a 6.3-liter V-8 engine with 400 horsepower.

Finally, the W124 generation is when the E-Class name was used for the first time. Even if the W124 was launched in 1984, the actual E-Class name was used only in 1993 when the facelift W124 was announced. However, at launch, the W124 generation was not offered with the option of a V-8. The first model with a V-8 engine - with 4.2-liters displacement to be more precise - was the 400 E which was announced in 1992. It was replaced by the E 420 with the facelift in 1993. While in the 400 E, the V-8 delivered 308 horsepower, in the E 420 it went down to 275 horsepower. The 500 E was also announced the same year. It had a 5.0-liter V-8 with 322 horsepower and was replaced in 1994 by the E 500 with 316 horsepower. In 1993, at the same time as the facelift, Mercedes also announced the E60 AMG, which was powered by a 6.0-liter V-8 engine with a total output of 376 horsepower.

So, as you can see, the AMG E63 Final Edition represents the end of a 30-year legacy of V-8 power. The worst part is that the hybridized four-cylinder that will replace it will probably be more powerful. How's that for a twist?