2023年奔驰-AMG E63 Sedan Performance

The Mercedes-AMG E63 is only sold in S guise in the USA, which means it gets the full-fat version of one of the all-time great V8s in automotive history. It's a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. This colossal power output is a direct result of the German power war, which is essentially an ongoing phallus-measuring contest that will likely only end when everything goes electric. The resulting outputs meant that both BMW and Mercedes-AMG eventually had to let go of rear-wheel drive in favor of an all-wheel drive system. Imagine how smug Audi's engineers must have been.

In any case, it's not a standard all-wheel-drive system as we know it, and it responds differently depending on the drive mode. In Slippery, for example, it will do everything within its power to keep the car in a straight line. Race mode sends most of the power to the rear, using only the front wheels to pull in back in a straight line after some mild sideways fun. It's a very natural progression, and most of the time, the E63 S feels rear-wheel driven. There are no understeer tendencies, and you only really notice the front axle when it helps pull you out of a corner. This is AWD done right.

If you reckon you're a driving god, you can activate the drift mode, which uncouples the front axle completely, and deactivates traction and stability control. In drift mode, it doesn't take much to get the E63 S sideways with the full 627 lb-ft of torque dumped on the rear wheels. The all-wheel-drive system also makes it easier to get closer to Merc's claimed 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds and the electronically limited top speed of 186 mph. Rear-wheel-drive AMGs were notoriously tricky to launch off the line, but in this, you simply hold down the brake with your left foot and let the car build some revs, and then let go. The consistency is mind-blowing.

Mercedes-AMG's 4.0-liter hot-vee twin-turbo V8 is a masterpiece used in a wide variety of both AMG and Mercedes products. It has so many applications, and in the E63 S, its primary goals are to provide speed and noise. The engine delivers 603 hp at 5,750 rpm and 627 lb-ft of torque from 2,500 rpm in this specific tune. It's not as rev-happy as some of its naturally-aspirated predecessors, but you need only drive a car equipped with this engine once to realize that it just doesn't matter. Here it's mated to Mercedes-AMG's Speedshift MCT nine-speed automatic transmission, sending the power to the AMG Performance version of Merc's 4Matic+ AWD system.

If this particular segment matters to you, might we point you in the direction of the BMW 5 Series Hybrid? According to the EPA, the E63 Sedan consumes fuel at a rate of 16/24/19 mpg city/highway/combined. It looks bad, but there is some good news. The BMW M5 Competition does 15/21/17 mpg, and the all-new Audi RS7 does the same combined mileage figure. So while it might not be the most frugal car on the planet, it's the most environmentally friendly super-sedan out there right now. We know we're clutching at straws here, but if you're trying to convince your significant other that the E63 S is the right car, you have to use what you got.

The E63 S should be able to get around 380 miles from its 21.1-gallon tank, but be aware, it has a thirst that's only quenched by premium gasoline.