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Thanks: BigTimeAuto 2024 Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance First Drive Review: Big Daddy The most powerful S-Class of all time gets 791 horsepower thanks to a plug-in powertrain. You see, while the S63 would have no trouble tackling the elevation changes thanks to 791 horsepower and 1,055 pound-feet of torque, this hunky plug-in hybrid weighs more than a Ford Expedition Timberline, with about the same length and width. How could such a large vehicle possibly tackle the canyon roads above Malibu? Well, not to give away the ending, but pretty darn well. Engine: Twin-Turbocharged V8 Plug-In Hybrid Output: 791 Horsepower / 1,055 Pound-Feet Transmission: Nine-Speed Automatic 0-60 MPH: 3.2 Seconds Base Price: $170,000 (est.) As with the previous generation, the 2024 Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance gets a twin-turbocharged V8, producing 603 hp and 664 lb-ft. The nine-speed automatic will likewise sound familiar to anyone who owns an old S63. But the 2024 model sets itself apart via that lengthy “E Performance” appellation: a battery and 188-hp electric motor mounted to the rear axle. Being a plug-in hybrid like its C63 kid sibling, the hot S-Class is capable of about 20 miles of all-electric driving, and the e-motor can send power forward via the driveshaft to give it zero-emissions all-wheel drive. Left in Comfort mode, the S63 operates like a traditional hybrid, prioritizing use of the battery whenever possible to maximize efficiency. And the electric side of the powertrain can even take a little abuse via the accelerator before firing up the gas engine, making the car feel totally up to the task of a normal commute on electrons alone. In fact, if not for the various performance styling cues inside (Affalterbach crests embossed on the headrests, a flat-bottomed Alcantara steering wheel, et al), you might never know you were behind the wheel of an AMG product for how smoothly the S63 operates in normal driving conditions. But like any good AMG, the S63 is more about performance than efficiency. Its 791 combined hp makes it the most powerful S-Class ever built, and with a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds, it’s also one of the quickest Mercedes vehicles of all time. There’s also a rear-axle steering system, and although its max angle is less impressive than the regular S-Class’ available or 10-degree units, it still makes the S63 far more maneuverable than its overall length would suggest. Active roll stabilization is likewise standard, helping the big AMG corner almost completely flat. As such, the S63 E Performance was hilarious good fun on the twisty roads above Malibu. Propulsion out of corners is explosive, and powertrain integration between gas and electric is nearly perfect. The electric motor is mounted directly to the rear axle to reduce parasitic losses, while an integrated two-speed transmission ensures it can provide nearly as much of a boost at higher speeds as it does from a standstill. It also provides torque vectoring for neutral, balanced handling most of the time. Thanks to the rear-axle steering, turn-in is surprisingly crisp, and the air suspension does a masterful job of quelling body motions without resorting to teeth-chattering stiffness. Even in the most aggressive Sport drive mode, the S63 handles rough pavement as though there’s Vaseline in the dampers – you feel the bumps, but they’re instantly smothered before they have a chance to jostle you about. That helped my confidence grow, and before long I was attacking curves with far more enthusiasm than I’d ever have thought possible. This is a large car that can handle itself just fine. Read More
