The spy cameras have been busy for ages trying to sneak peeks at the latest in the Mercedes E-type line up – the Mercedes Benz E63 AMG. Now all is revealed, and it’s a beauty.

Previous incarnations of the Mercedes Benz E-class machines have been successful performers in the executive/luxury sedan market sector, and the 63 AMG seems to follow the old adage that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it… unless you want to make it sportier and better. The Mercedes Benz E63 AMG is the sportier member of the latest E-class family, and if you’re going to splash out and treat yourself to a luxury sedan (the wagon variant is available overseas, but not on Australia’s shores – or at least not yet), this is a vehicle worth considering, as it combines sporting excellence and performance with high-class luxury and European class. This one will leave all those Asian wannabe luxury vehicles for dead!

The Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG takes its name from what’s under the aristocratic lines of the bonnet: the 6.3 litre AMG engine and transmission team. Combining the seven-speed AMG driver-adaptive SpeedShift automatic transmission, the 32 valve V8 engine with DOHC is sheer acceleration incarnate, doing the 0-100 sprint in under five seconds (4.5 seconds claimed). This is achieved with the high torque output (630 Nm), which puts some of our homegrown sports cars (the muscly Fords and Holdens) in the shade. Top power for this so-strong-it’s-scary engine is 378 kW, which translates to over 500 horsepower in the old terms. Given these figures, it’s not surprising that one of the main places the spy cameras were snapping previews of the Mercedes Benz E63 AMG was at the Nürburgring (must have been good cameras – all my camera would get of a car going at that sort of pace would be a blur). The speed has been electronically limited to 250 km/h for roads Down Under, so if you really want to see what the Mercedes E63 AMG can do, it could be worth a trip to Germany’s autobahns to try!

A special word needs to be said about the AMG SpeedShift transmission that gives the Merc E63 AMG its name. This package can make your driving either as fun or as stress-free and comfortable as you prefer. Drivers can select one of three shift modes – C or Comfort mode (fully automatic), S for sporty automatic mode and M for manual mode, where the driver is in full control via the motor-racing style paddle shifters. Combine this with the fine-tuned Airmatic sports suspension and you have a ride that is exhilarating and fun.

The Mercedes Benz E63 AMG is a luxury sports sedan, so the ride isn’t just comfortable because of the way it handles and the tuning of the suspension. When the acceleration pushes you back, the palatially comfortable seats are ready to embrace you. The engine may be sizzlingly hot (metaphorically speaking) but you’ll stay as cool or as hot as you want with the automatic climate control – or even more so with the optional Thermotronic four-zone automatic climate control that monitors not just temperature but also humidity and pollution levels. The stereo system is out of this world, with a 20 CD stacker with a telephone keypad control (for when you want to use more than the multifunction steering wheel controls) and nine crystal clear speakers.

The E-class range prides itself on its safety, and with a car as powerful as the E-63 AMG, this is a paramount consideration. While a passer-by will notice the round twin headlights because of their aesthetic qualities, the driver will appreciate how these little bi-Xenon jewels not only adapt to cornering, but also have settings for rural driving (similar to ordinary high-beam lights) and motorway driving (which is technically a low-beam setting but illuminating the road ahead for 60% further than regular high beam lights – up to 150 m ahead, and concentrated on the driver’s side of the road rather that spread across the breadth of the road – they’re not so much dipped as winked. Other safety features include the braking system, which includes a brake drying function for wet weather drying and the HOLD system for stopping the vehicle running away during hill-starts. The list of passive and active safety features goes on and on, with notable features being the NECK-PRO head restraints and Mercedes’ own Pre-Safe package, which senses if a crash is imminent and gets all passive safety systems (e.g. the pretensioned seatbelts) ready to activate, but will “relax” to normal if a crash is avoided with the active safety systems (the brakes, the Electronic Stability Program, etc).

Last, but not least, the Mercedes E63 AMG looks as good as it performs, with subtle, sophisticated styling that exudes class and good taste, shying away from in-your-face muscle car looks in favour of tailored precision and smooth lines.

Book your test drive of the Mercedes Benz E63 AMG today – but be warned: you may not want to get out of the driver’s seat again.

The current model series includes the:

• Mercedes Benz E63 AMG
• Mercedes Benz E63 AMG Estate

For anymore information on the Mercedes Benz E63 AMG, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Mercedes Benz dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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