Review: The Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance Gains an Electric Motor but Retains Its Soul
The S-Class remains as close as we'll ever get to an all-seeing crystal ball. The general sentiment goes like this: if you want to know what the rest of the auto industry will look like in five to ten years, peek at what Mercedes-Benz's flagship is up to now. Yet, in today's expansive luxury market, predicting the future has proven far from easy.
Even as major players charged in unison to go fully electric, a recent slowing in demand for EVs has caused automakers big and small to reassess their plans. Bentley, for example, has opted to push back its goal of selling purely battery-powered cars by 2030 to 2035[1], while Aston Martin delayed the arrival of its first EV by four years to 2030 at the earliest.
For now, plug-in hybrids seem like the right move for most brands and people, blending the benefits of silent, short-range electric travel and the long-range capabilities of an internal combustion engine. Although the S63's development long preceded the slowing of EV sales by not going fully electric, the sportiest S-Class remains poised for success.
Doubly so, as competitors now make the long pivot to adopt a similar powertrain formula. In true Mercedes-AMG fashion, however, the S63 E Performance might be a hybrid, but by developing 791 horsepower and 1,055 pound-feet of torque, it's also the most powerful S-Class ever. For those keeping score, that's over 100 hp more than a McLaren F1, a Ferrari Enzo, or a Porsche Carrera GT.
Still, with plenty of joyless high-power EVs on the market and examples of poorly electrified icons, spec-wise, AMG's latest reads like a proper muscle-limousine, but does it still feel like an S63?
The long and short of it is yes, it does. The German marque has already taken big swings elsewhere; recall the four-cylinder C63 or the infamous F1-engined One.
The S63 takes a far more conservative approach to its hybrid strategy, counting on hardware already loved by fans of the brand. Like its predecessor, a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 remains its core propulsion system, developing 604 hp and 664 lb-ft. Similarly, a nine-speed automatic sends power to all four wheels.
So far, so conventional. Focus your attention on its back axle and things become altogether less familiar. There, a drive unit houses a 94-hp electric motor (with a max output of 188 hp), an electronically controlled two-speed transmission, and a limited-slip differential.
This second propulsion system works independently from the V8 up front, with this separation of church and state being intentional to allow both systems to deliver maximum performance without detracting from one another.
The complexity and weight this emissions-compliant setup introduces cannot be overstated. Drive it onto a set of scales, and Mercedes-AMG claims the resulting figure will read 5,831 pounds. That's shy of 200 lb more than a current-gen Rolls-Royce Phantom (5,644 lb.) While it produces an extra 188 hp over the previous gas-only S63, the new car is only two-tenths quicker to 60 mph.
While the latest S63 sedan is the most powerful S-Class ever, it isn't the quickest, with that title belonging to the discontinued S63 Coupe. Still, the sedan's 3.3-second time is impressive, especially given how much it weighs. This luxury limousine still hits 60 mph as quickly as a Ferrari 458 Spider.
There are, of course, benefits introduced by a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Despite housing a tiny battery with just over ten kilowatt-hours of usable capacity, the S63 can cruise on electrons for up to 16 miles.
As supercars like the Ferrari 296 GTB[2] and the McLaren Artura[3] demonstrate, this flexibility is valuable when a blaring cold start isn't ideal. If you live across the pond, it also grants access to ultra-low-emission zones in some major cities. Yet despite its complex powertrain, there's never a moment when you feel like you're driving anything other than a proper S63.
There are constant reminders, like its exhaust, which spits out a proper burble at the request of your right foot, only to settle to silence while cruising. On the daily commute, its suspension, comprised of air springs and adaptive dampers, softens effortlessly. A two-valve setup separates rebound and compression damping, making this car stiffer in Sport+ and softer in Comfort than previous iterations.
However, AMG could've gone firmer still.
Especially when you factor in that Sport+ is the most hardcore of no less than seven driving modes and three additional dynamic control settings. Even at its stiffest, the S63's ride remains compliant. At the same time, its dual propulsion systems never trade smoothness in favor of twitchy power delivery.
It makes driving around exclusively in this top setting a real possibility without any trade-offs. The big Benz still impresses on a twisty backroad, an out-of-character scenario for this car. In a straight line, the Mercedes-AMG S63 picks up speed precisely like you'd expect from a car shoved by 1,055 lb-ft.
It's explosive, making all concerns about this car's weight disappear instantly. Things kick off with its electric motor, allowing its engine to join after building a full boost. Its careful calibration makes even this split powertrain feel like one cohesive system.
Unfortunately, given this car's well-isolated cabin, much of the "engine noise" you hear is synthetic.
Despite its soft suspension and immense weight, the S63 has no trouble chasing down sports cars on a curvy back road. It remains more balanced than expected, with little body roll and neutral and predictable handling. That's the magic of combining a firmed-up chassis with rear-axle steering, anti-roll bars, and a limited-slip diff.
Paired with a quick steering system, its onboard tech goes along way to hiding this car's true heft. With rotors measuring 15.7 inches up front with 15s in the rear, the S63's composite brakes are massive. They deliver strong and consistent performance, only fading under extreme circumstances.
On the daily commute, however, they provide tremendous stopping power while remaining easy to modulate and silent in their execution.
Aesthetically, the latest Mercedes-AMG S63 is more polarizing than its predecessor, thanks mainly to its use of a massive emblem up front and an even larger grille. Despite sporting similar proportions, the S63 that came before did a better job blending this car's inherently sporty aesthetic with the subtle elegance you'd expect from an S-Class.
This tester's £6,500 Signature China Blue finish is spectacular, pairing nicely with a two-tone white and black interior. A £1,300 option adding piano flowing-line trim introduces tasteful brightwork to this car's cabin. Simultaneously, the £750 AMG Night Package contrasts this by darkening this sedan's exterior trim, working nicely alongside the bright body color.
The most expensive option fitted to this car is the £10,500 Exclusive Interior Package by Manufaktur, the carmaker's in-house customization arm[4].
Given the S63's elevated £183,400 base price (£209,900 as-tested), including a £1,150 destination fee, this interior upgrade is costly. Still, it's necessary to unlock Manufaktur's exclusive finishes, such as Nut Brown, Truffle Brown, Pastel Yellow, and this car's Deep White, while increasing customization flexibility. The latest Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance might be a hybrid and the most powerful S-Class ever.
However, what matters most is just how well it embodies the S63 spirit. It's a performance sedan first and a hybrid second, which, thanks to the system's excellent calibration, doesn't detract from the driving experience while adorning it with the newfound flexibility of silent electric travel.
Unlike most technological advances that have come to define the S-Class, its use of a hybridized V8 comes mostly in response to tightening emissions regulations. Still, a drive in this latest flagship creates a sense that despite this, AMG applied the full weight of its engineering might to ensure that what is now the heaviest S63 ever can still deliver a driving experience as fun as it is authentic to the badge in the back.
Electrifying a model that's iconic in the eyes of enthusiasts presents considerable risks.
However, as the S63 proves, a plug-in hybrid powertrain only dilutes a car's persona if a brand allows it to.
References
- ^ to 2035 (news.dupontregistry.com)
- ^ Ferrari 296 GTB (news.dupontregistry.com)
- ^ McLaren Artura (news.dupontregistry.com)
- ^ in-house customization arm (www.mbusa.com)