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2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S 4Matic [w/video]

Matt Davis — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury, Quick Spins

Maybe you saw our recent blog snippet on a bunch of US journos getting pulled over in the middle of nowhere in Catalunya, Spain, for driving a bunch of new 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG models. By all accounts, they weren't speeding - which makes me softly guffaw. I was there in that group, yet I had taken the more direct route into the mountains from Barcelona so that I could... well, so that I could go faster. No one hassled me and I had the Autovia all to myself. And it was the goodniks - the team players - who got nabbed because Spain had decided to suddenly enforce the never enforced "must carry an international driver's license" clause of the highway code.

The departing E63 AMG with 518 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque from its M157 5.5-liter biturbo V8 hasn't exactly been poorly received. It isn't as crisp as, nor as pleasantly evil as its C63 AMG kid brother, but we generally accept that the heavier and larger car will always feel, well, heavier and larger.

As part of the 2014 E-class mid-cycle redesign, Affalterbach decided to give its E63 AMG more power and torque for the occasion. The base car now gives off 550 hp and 531 lb-ft, while the hotter S version I tested (formerly the AMG Performance Pack) produces 577 hp and 590 lb-ft. The other big novelty is that E63 sedans will be available with both rear- and all-wheel drive, while all US-spec E63 wagons will be 4Matic equipped.

Driving Notes

All S-trimmed AMGs come standard with 4Matic all-wheel drive, as well as an AMG-specific 4Matic clutch pack integrated neatly to the rear of the 7G-Tronic gearbox housing. This unit really alters the game of the E63.
While the pumped-up standard E63 with rear-wheel drive now reels off 0-60 runs in an estimated 4.2 seconds, this E63 S with AMG 4Matic can straight-line to 60 mph in just 3.6. Compared to the non-S E63, this S rips it up at low revs when urged.
Not much has been altered for the chassis and suspension layout, so the ride and handling on the 19-inch Pirelli PZero treads - 255/35 front, 285/30 rear - and AMG sport suspension is entirely familiar. Merc knows how to coddle me Euro-style, even in an AMG model.
Things do get pretty hardcore due to the constant fore/aft torque split percentages of 33/67 via the AMG-specific 4Matic. (Non-AMG 4Matic E-Class models run a default 45/55 split, and it varies depending on road and driving conditions.)
Along with a completely new front axle to accommodate 4Matic and a more aggressive front wheel camber, there is a quicker 14.0:1 steering ratio versus standard E-class models at 17.4:1. The more hardcore AMG setup is programmed to be 25 percent heavier feeling than the Sport settings of the series car.
The steering action while driving along those Spanish curves was impressive, assisted by the rear axle mechanical differential lock that is standard on S models. This, coupled with the throttle's newfound urgency, makes for a far more aggressive E-class AMG than I've ever experienced. It's almost more along the lines of a C63 Black Series, honestly, yet more predictable at the hardest speeds.
The few tunnels that I shot through were perfect opportunities to shamelessly downshift and listen to the four-tip sport exhaust with the windows cranked down. (See our Short Cut video below.) The twin turbos make for a lower 6,500-rpm redline, but the rumble is as good as what we've come to expect from anything wearing an AMG badge.
My only trouble came from the AMG Speedshift version of the 7G-Tronic semi-automatic transmission. In Sport Plus or Manual modes, this transmission as programmed is awkward at times. The trouble is the ultra-conservative settings for upshifts, downshifts, and throttle response when called upon to punch hard from low speeds or in transitions. It is reassuring that Benz promises they are working hard on exactly this issue.
All of the redesigned E-class AMG models will arrive in August, and while Mercedes-Benz USA does not yet have exact pricing to announce, the rear-wheel-drive sedan should not vary greatly from its current price of $89,800 due to "current sensitivities in the marketplace." Adding 4Matic to the sedan and wagon (current base price $92,400) should set you back around $3,500. Want the S version in 4Matic sedan or wagon flavor? Be prepared for a further $15,000 hit.

Continue reading 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S 4Matic [w/video]

2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S 4Matic [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spanish authorities impound fleet of Mercedes E63 AMGs on media test drive

Zach Bowman — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Europe, Government/Legal, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

A group of American auto writers found themselves on the wrong side of the Spanish police recently while driving the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG through Catalonia. According to Motoramic, officers stopped around 18 writers, though not for disobeying any local traffic laws. Instead, the members of the group were detained for not being able to produce an international driver's license despite the fact that an IDL isn't a legal document, requires no test and simply states in several languages that the holder possess a valid US license. The writers were held on the side of the road before being moved to a parking lot for around two hours.

And what of their high-performance sedans? Police impounded six of the cars, each worth around $100,000. A representative from Mercedes-Benz eventually arrived to help free the writers, though Motoramic says the cars themselves remained in Spanish custody. Mercedes-Benz spokesperson Christian Bokich said, "No fines were paid, no charges were brought and no bribes were given."

Spanish authorities impound fleet of Mercedes E63 AMGs on media test drive originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG rumbles on stage 4Matic style

Jeffrey N. Ross — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Performance, Wagon, Mercedes-Benz

Bruce Hornsby and his soothing piano skills helped introduce us to the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, but the monstrous E63 AMG sedan needed no entrance music as it rumbled on stage. The 550-horsepower (and up) sedan sat proudly alongside the rest of the redesigned E-Class on stage at the Detroit Auto Show, but stood miles apart in intention and execution.

In addition to a choice of sedan and wagon body styles, the E63 AMG will also offer buyers the choice of the standard 550 hp or an upgraded 577-hp S-Model; regardless of output, all 2014 E63 AMG models will come standard with the 4Matic all-wheel-drive system.

We already saw the E63 AMG's aggressive styling last week, but now we have a full assortment of live images for you to enjoy as well as the Mercedes-Benz press release, which is also posted below.

Continue reading 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG rumbles on stage 4Matic style

2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG rumbles on stage 4Matic style originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG gains 4Matic grip, still barking mad

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 06:01:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Ladies and gentlemen, allow us to introduce the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 4Matic in both sedan and wagon variants. It's best to get right to business, that being the numbers produced by the twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 located in the engine bay of one of the fastest sedans in the world. The 'base' model gets a boost of 32 horsepower and 15 pound-feet of torque for a final output of 550 hp and 531 lb-ft. A high performance S-Model - the US-market wagon will only be an S-Model - gets even more besides, putting out 577 hp and 590 lb-ft.

The standard sedan gets from 0-to-60 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds, the S-Model sedan taking a tenth off.

All that power gets to the ground through the AMG Speedshift MCT dual-clutch transmission with Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Manual modes. The juice is then routed through the permanent "performance-oriented" all-wheel drive signified by the 4Matic moniker, which is biased 33/67 front-to-rear. The AWD system adds just 154 pounds to the car's weight.

Not that you'd know it, nor mind. Put to use, the standard sedan gets from 0-to-60 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds, the S-Model sedan taking a tenth off that time, the S-Model wagon matching it at 3.6 seconds. Top speed for the 550-hp sedan is an electronically-limited 155 mph, while the AMG Performance Package boosts that to an electronically-limited 186 mph. All models come with the AMG adaptive sports suspension - steel in front, air suspension in back - and electronically controlled damping and Torque Vectoring Brake system, the S-Model also gets a limited-slip rear differential.

Turning to other visceral matters, the new front face features all-LED headlights flanking the AMG twin-blade grille, those placed above the "A-wing" design element forming the lower intakes. The standard model rides on 10-spoke, 19-inch titanium gray alloys, the S-Model getting high-sheen rim flanges to set it apart. Other ways to tell the models with the extra power are their red brake calipers, high-gloss treatment on the A-wing and "S" badge on the trunk. Inside, one finds a black interior set off by contrasting gray stitching throughout, silver seat belts, flat-topped and flat-bottomed Nappa leather steering wheel with Alcantara inserts, and a 1,200-watt, 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo.

We'll have more on it from the floor of the Detroit Auto Show. For now, amuse yourself with the detailed press release below and the high-res galleries of the E-Class AMG in its two flavors.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG gains 4Matic grip, still barking mad

Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG gains 4Matic grip, still barking mad originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jan 2013 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes previews 2014 E63 AMG with family-style teaser

Seyth Miersma — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Just days after giving us the straight dope on its new, 2014 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet, Mercedes-Benz has dropped a fast-moving E-Class family photo on its Facebook page, which happens to include the heretofore-unseen E63 AMG.

The image comes, unfortunately, with no information about the new E63, but we do get our first good look at the undisguised front fascia, wheels and body kit for the car - all aggressively revised versus the standard 2014 E-Class sedan. In fact, the face of the E63 has much more in common with that of its new Coupe sister than the basic four-door.

Car and Driver has previously stated that the 2014 E63 will make use of a twin-turbocharged V8 making 550 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque, and it's rumored the muscle sedan will offer all-wheel drive. As the new model is destined to debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week, we expect to have full information on the car in short order, too.

Mercedes previews 2014 E63 AMG with family-style teaser originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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