So, Ford accidentally stumbled onto its Drift Mode feature and decided it was appropriate to include it as part of the Focus RS’ stock programming. It’s been great for everybody – those with an RS get to find out what it’s really like to hoon around in a hatchback, and those of use on the sidelines get to enjoy watching all of the untrained idiots crash their cars. Well, as it turns out, Mercedes as put all that work into bringing AWD to its AMG lineup, just to offer the next iteration of the AMG E63 with a drift mode that sends 100 percent of the engine's power and torque to the rear wheels on demand.

The newest Mercedes-AMG E63 will make its debut at the Detroit Auto Show in early 2017, and it will come with AWD as standard equipment for the first time across all markets. But, AMG didn’t want to rob the car of the traditional rear-wheel-drive characteristics found in the previous models. Originally revealed to Autocar at Mercedes unveiling of the GT Roadster and GT C Roadster, Tobias Moers – the Chairman of AMG – said, “It is four-wheel drive, and we’re going to have a Drift Mode.”

While that should help to elevate the handling of the E63 to a new level for experienced drivers who know what they’re doing, that’s not all that we’ll see. According to Moers, the E63 is going to lap the Nürburgring faster than ever with sub seven minute, 50-second times when fitted with regular tires. On top of that, there is said to be at least one new model in the pipeline that will offer more than 600 ponies. That’s a big step up from the current model that delivers between 549 and 577 horsepower depending on how it is tuned. Zero-to-62 mph should come in “three point something” seconds, according to Autocar.

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Why it Matters

So, Mercedes is taking a move from Ford's playbook and running with it. That might seem a little backwards, but in the end, it’s not all that bad of an idea. The idea is that the RWD AMG models are excessively fun to drive when you know what you’re doing, and the brand didn’t want to lose that level of fun by converting to AWD across the board. It’s kind of like having your cake and being able to eat it too. You get the natural, awesome handling characteristics of an all-wheel drive system that you don’t have to pay extra for with the option of going rear-wheel drive if you really want to. Of course, when the E63 hits dealers in 2017, I’m sure it won’t take long for a handful of viral crash videos to pop up across the web. At least that will be as entertaining for us as watching all the Mustang and RS crash videos, right?

Read our full review on the upcoming 2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 here.