Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz E63 prototype caught on the prowl
AMG head honcho Volker Mornhinweg has already gone on record declaring that the horsepower wars are over, but that moratorium apparently doesn't extend to products already in the Mercedes-Benz pipeline. Caught here wearing some modest camouflage is the next AMG E-class, dubbed "E63." As its alphanumeric nomenclature suggests, the E63 is expected to continue using the company's 6.3-liter V8 (okay, okay, so it's really a 6.2-liter, but "E62" just sounds so... pedestrian), the same basic engine that does duty in seemingly every other car in Benz's range. Not that we are complaining.
The eight-cylinder powertrain is expected to generate somewhere around 525 horsepower and a similar helping of torque, but AutoWeek says that it doesn't expect the car to use Mercedes' brake-by-wire technology, although ceramic discs may make an appearance.
A launch date for the big Merc is not yet set, but judging by how fresh the new E-class sedan and coupe are, AW figures that September's Frankfurt Motor Show is a safe bet. If that's the case, the new AMG will probably share stand space with the expected E-class convertible and wagon.
[Source: AutoWeek]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lee 7:06PM (2/26/2009)
Do want.
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Mobius_1 7:30PM (2/26/2009)
I'll take two.
bigford87129 7:07PM (2/26/2009)
"Only" 525 hp, I would have expected it to at least match the CTS-V's 556 hp.
There's no replacement for displacement (except a couple turbos or a supercharger).
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Affalterbach 7:13PM (2/26/2009)
""Only" 525 hp, I would have expected it to at least match the CTS-V's 556 hp."
Didn't you hear? The horsepower wars are over.
AMG obviously wants to reallocate its priorities. Beating Caddy-V's HP is not one of them.
Jesse Fuller 7:56PM (2/26/2009)
Not to mention, the CTS-V is dead
Torrent 9:48PM (2/26/2009)
The CTS-V is dead?
LOLWUT
Torrent 7:22PM (2/26/2009)
See? Now I would take this. Nevermind the looks.
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Torrent 7:22PM (2/26/2009)
But the other versions? aw hell nawz
Steve 7:28PM (2/26/2009)
I don't care what they offered with it, I wouldn't take it. The design can't possibly be improved enough to make it look GOOD. The only way to do that is in a full redesign. And with so many Benz models available, I question WHY this is being made.
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Mobius_1 7:31PM (2/26/2009)
We do what we must, because we can,
For the good of all of us, except for the ones who are dead.
It's hard to overstate my satisfaction. :)
Other Man 8:33PM (2/26/2009)
The E63 AMG better be GREAT if they're going to continue charging over 25K more than the CTS-V, nearly 10K more than the XFR, and a couple grand on top of the M5.
The current E63 is actually a better handling car than many believe (because of the relationship to the 04-06 E55), but even more is needed.
I have high hopes. Odd as it may sound, I hope it can trounce my C63, for Merecedes' sake.
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Xa 9:16PM (2/26/2009)
I just want to add that the new E-Class would look immensely better if the headlights on the production version were one piece like the masking shows on the E63 test mule, instead of the 4 eyes stuff.
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Torrent 9:49PM (2/26/2009)
It would look sorta like the Cruze's headlights.
But it would look better.
Brian Chan 4:18PM (11/13/2009)
It seems to be making economic sense to buy the current one instead of W212 E63 because of the 40K - 45K difference
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P.V. 7:23PM (2/27/2009)
THIS is the only new E-Class I would take.
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