Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG: An innovative powerhouse

Source: Exec Digital Canada

Date :08/05/2008 00:28:52

Widely considered the most forward-looking car in the world, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has never really competed on the performance charts. But thanks to AMG, that’s all about to change

By Gary Chambers

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a good car. Actually, it’s better than that. The S-Class is fantastic, a technological tour de force. In fact, it’s so good that Mercedes could have been forgiven for simply stepping back to admire their handiwork. But they didn’t. Instead, they handed it over to their high-performance team at AMG and let them do what they do best: take a top-quality, efficient Mercedes and turn it into a high-performance, raging beast. The result? The Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG.

Visually, it’s barely distinguishable from the regular S-Class, but the 6.2-litre V8 engine in the S63 spits out 525bhp, helping the car roar to 60mph from a standing start in a highly impressive 4.6 seconds, and reach a flat-out speed of an electronically limited 155mph. You’d expect an engine that ferocious to let out an emphatic roar, but from inside you get a wondrous tranquillity and calm; the deadened snarl that sends you north of 100mph is hardly noticeable.

A touch of class

The S63 is luxurious from all angles; a gentleman’s sedan wrapped around speed-lover’s engine. The understated arches of the bodywork ooze class - the S63 is able to roll alongside the Aston Martins and Bentleys of this world and not look out of place.

The badge offers a curious touch of history, hinting at a 6.3 liter engine lurking under the bonnet – an allusion to the 1970s 300SE series. The current S-Class engine is only 6.2 liters. Perhaps this is just an intentional oversight – a moment of nostalgia – but in practical terms, it changes nothing.

As you would expect, the interior is luxurious and spacious – with all that power at your disposal it would be all too easy to forget that this is still a top-end four-door, five-seater. The leather upholstery and sleek, polished panelling are entirely congruous with the feel of this car – Mercedes has clearly taken every step to ensure this is the complete package.

Distinguished roots

The S-Class, first debuted in the mid-1950s, became synonymous with trend-setting in the car industry, with much advancement we now take for granted first appearing in Mercedes’ flagship model. In 1957, S-Class cars rolled off the production line complete with crumple zones. In 1965 it was the three-point seatbelt. 1971 was the year of the airbag, followed closely by ABS braking in 1978. And then came traction control and electronic stability in 1995.

This latest technological showcase boasts infrared headlights that shoot out well beyond the range of your conventional lights and give you a clear view of the road ahead on a concealed dashboard display – fantastically innovative, if something of a distraction at first. Far more instinctive is the safety system, which allows for the impact of multiple airbag deployment by opening the windows, slightly releasing excess air pressure. That is, of course, unless the windows are already fully open, in which case they are closed just before impact to prevent children from being thrown from the car.

For good measure, there’s also a voice-activated control system and air-conditioned, back-massaging seats.

What more could you possibly want?

Value for money?

So should you buy one? At $127, 000, quality will cost you a premium, but it is certainly quality that you’d be getting. Sounds like a good endorsement, so I’ll ask again: should you buy one?

The answer is yes. Well mostly yes. For the money, it is certainly the most innovative car in its class. So where’s the problem, then? The S63 has an older brother - the Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG. This V12 powerhouse does everything the S63 does, but with that little bit extra grunt. Just don’t ask me the price. OK, it’s $180, 000. I told you not to ask...

Click here to view the full review of the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG