Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG with Performance Pack

Expert Rating:

What is it?

The pinnacle of the AMG saloon range. Forget the S 65 and S 63 models; the E 63 is where the fun is at in the AMG four-door line-up. Actually, there's a good deal of enjoyment to be had with its C 63 AMG understudy, but the E 63 is perhaps the definitive sports saloon in the range. As ever it's powered by AMG's monumentally good 6.2-litre V8 engine, which in the E 63 pushes out 518bhp and 465lb.ft of torque. That's enough to get the four-door machine to 62mph in just 4.5 seconds - quicker than its BMW and Jaguar rivals and matching the four-wheel drive Audi RS6.

Is it any good?

It's an easier drive than the BMW M5, a more intimate machine than Audi's sledgehammer RS6 and a less delicate competitor for the gorgeous Maserati Quattroporte - cheaper, too. It's a tough call against the Jaguar XFR, though the British car does not have the space of the Mercedes. It's very much a game of personal preferences in the sports saloon world, people tending to pin their allegiances to one brand long before they reach these top-line models. The E 63 driver certainly won't be disappointed with their choice, as AMG's make-over of the standard model is a very effective one. The exterior is relatively subtle though, AMG blending in the quad tailpipes at the rear, while aerodynamic enhancements are limited to slightly deeper front and rear bumpers and a tiny boot lip spoiler.

The flared arches, massive alloy wheels and purposeful-looking brakes are more of a giveaway that this is something a bit more than a regular E-Class. If you've missed the clues then you'll surely not miss the noise it makes, the V8 firing up with a seriously purposeful growl. With 6.2-litres it's hardly surprising it's quick, but the E 63 can do the dignified cruise with real ease too, the seven-speed automatic transmission offering the option of four modes that range from a smooth comfort orientated setting to sharper, quicker shifts when you've got a track at your disposal.

We did, and the E 63 demonstrated phenomenal pace despite standing water that made the surface more like a swimming pool than a race track. The switchable ESP means you can exploit its power with as much control over it as you like, the standard setting managing to reign in its exuberant rear regardless of what you do with the accelerator. Take over more control yourself and the E 63 turns from a rapid, controlled saloon to something a bit lairier that's happy to melt a set of tyres and exit every corner sideways. Fun, but not much good for the tyres - and not something you'll do on the road. The Performance Pack helps here, as it brings a 40% locking rear differential, making the E 63 a more controllable machine on the track. The suspension is firm but not uncomfortable, it offering a choice of settings depending on whether you want suppleness or very rigid damping for the best control on smooth roads.

Should I call the bank manager?

You could, but we imagine if you've enough money to be considering an AMG E 63 then you probably don't need to. A few hundred pounds under £70,000 before you've added the Performance Pack means it's not for the merely comfortably off. Running it won't be cheap either, as, although Mercedes quotes an official combined consumption figure of 22.4mpg, you're never likely to get more than mid teens in reality. CO₂ emissions of 295g/km are decent though - for a car with this much power and potential anyway.

Summary

A fitting head for the E-Class range and ultimately AMG's performance saloons, the E 63 is thunderingly fast and able to exploit all of its potential thanks to a nicely resolved chassis. The Jaguar XFR runs it close and is £10,000 cheaper, though in this class that's unlikely to matter too much.

Kyle Fortune