► CAR drives the hot AMG-powered S-Class
► 791bhp plug-in hybrid powertrain
► The best S-Class? Quite-possibly…
Expat oligarchs, here comes your new dream chariot, a perfect fit no matter whether your preferred seat is 1A or 2B. After all, the new Mercedes-AMG S63 is more things in one than any previous S-class prepped by the Affalterbach go-faster unit, and there were quite a few.
But none of them – neither the stately 300 SEL 6.8 nor the anabolic S65 – spanned a similar band width of fortes as this hybridized 4.0litre V8 version which appears almost Q-car-like understated compared to the rest of the predominantly loud AMG range
What’s hiding beneath?
The new AMG S63 packs 791bhp of prestige, panache and punch in a surprisingly subtle AMG wrapper. Since BMW chose not to do an M7 and Audi failed to come through with the RS8, the MB sub-brand ́s new power hybrid S-class shares the super-saloon segment with the Alpina B8, Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid and the Bentley Flying Spur Speed.
The twin-turbo 4.0litre V8, which develops a feisty 604bhp and 664lb ft, is supported by a buzzing rear-mounted e-motor redlined at 13,500rpm which flexes its instant muscle via a two-speed transmission. The high-performance lithium-ion battery pack developed with a little help from the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team is good for a permanent 109bhp and a peak output of 190bhp which is available for an intense ten seconds.
The maximum aggregate torque is a whopping 1055lb ft and, despite the portly kerb weight of 2595kg, the AMG S63 can accelerate in 3.3sec from 0-62mph and reach a (limited in the UK) top speed of 180mph.
There are nine forward gear ratios, seven drive modes, four energy recuperation stages plus three AMG Dynamics programmes (Basic, Advanced, Pro) to choose from, and that’s even before you start playing with the ESP button, check out the Race Start folly or change gears manually. Then there’s all-wheel drive, rear-wheel steering, active anti-roll bars, available 21in wheels and tyres, air springs with adaptive dampers, carbon ceramic brakes as well as a variable-rate, variable-effort power steering…
Sounds complicated… what’s it all like on the road?
It ́s a complex car, the new AMG S63 E-Performance, but since most functions are logically connected, it is not as inaccessible as it sounds.
The pivotal new addition is of course the e-motor which can drive only the rear wheels or all four, if need be even wholly by itself. It also supports the front-to-rear and side-to-side torque- splitting duties. Kickdown always unleashes full boost while supply lasts, and this supply is aggressively maintained in Sport and Sport plus when emphatic recuperation and recurrent charging on the fly ensure a constantly high level of electric energy which does a fine job keeping up the flow.
That’s the beauty of this set-up: it changes from whiplash explosive, shelling out one wham-bang hardcore upshift after the other, to velvet glove hyper-urgent with the almost seamless sequential ballistics climaxing at a vocal 7000rpm, again and again.
Inherent penalties like weight, complexity, cost, packageing, efficiency and that double- edged mission as luxury and sports saloon could have spelled desaster for the S63, but somehow the full-size S-class makes a much more compelling case for the AMG P3 power hybrid system than the recently tested top-notch C-class.
The beefy V8 is clearly a more emotional starting point than the stressed four-cylinder, power and torque are delivered in a positively emphatic fashion, the strong brakes are no longer moonlighting in the energy regeneration department, the swift steering and the compliant chassis round up a nicely homogenous and truly inspiring driving experience. Despite its considerable size and mass, the S63 outperforms and outclasses every other full-size PHEV saloon.
Mercedes-AMG S63: verdict
We really did not see this one coming, but the most involving S-class by a long shot wears an AMG badge. A pricey piece of kit, the sporty luxury liner shines in the ride, handling and road-holding departments, is a star performer and ticks all the street cred boxes, too.
Oligarchs chasing even more grunt and grandezza have no choice but to check out the fully electric 1000bhp-plus plug-in proposals from Lucid and Tesla.