Standing true to its name, the AMG S63 E Performance is a luxurious beast with a twin-turbo V8 and an electric motor producing 791 hp and a mammoth 1055 lb-ft torque.
Luxury lovers, your favorite Mercedes sedan is back in action with more potency than ever — it’s actually the most powerful S-Class vehicle of all time! And fortunately, AMG didn’t cut cylinders as it did with the latest C63. Instead, the 2023 Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance retains the excellent 4.0-liter V8 with two turbochargers between the cylinder banks, accompanied by a plug-in hybrid system with a rear-mounted electric motor. The thrilling combo produces 791 hp and 1055 lb-ft (1,430 Nm) of torque, out of which the V8 contributes 603 hp.
As a result, the large limousine can reach 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 3.2 seconds, while the top speed stands at an electronically-limited 180 mph (290 km/h). This makes it the fastest luxury sedan on the market, with the BMW 760i xDrive needing 4.2 seconds to reach 60 mph and the Audi S8 hitting the sprint in 3.8 seconds.
However, AMG’s powertrain is quite complicated. While its rivals only have an internal combustion engine, the S63 E Performance employs a nine-speed automatic for the engine, an additional two-speed transmission for the electric motor, and a limited-slip differential. The electric motor can provide 188 hp for 10 seconds or a continuous output of 94 hp.
Even with two different transmissions, the all-wheel-drive system lets the electric motor’s power be directed to the front wheels, and thus the S63 becomes an all-wheel-drive luxury sedan. It will be interesting to see how they all function in unison, especially as the AMG GT 4-door Coupe E Performance didn’t receive glaring reviews for what is the same powertrain.
And don’t plan on using the Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance as an EV, as the 13.1-kWh battery only provides a 20-mile range at best. The 3.7-kWh onboard charger also seems slow, though the battery is relatively slow, so it shouldn’t take more than 4 hours to top up. Still, with only 188 hp, the electric motor seems inadequate for such a large sedan, which probably weighs over 2.2 tons (Mercedes didn’t provide any numbers).
Mercedes-AMG also made it quite complicated for the driver, as the 2023 S63 E Performance comes with seven driving modes: Electric, Comfort, Battery Hold, Sport, Sport+, Slippery, and Individual. However, in this case, it seems like more choice is better because it makes it easier for the driver to extract the most from the powertrain.
The S63 E Performance also gets air springs and adaptive dampers for maximum ride quality and handling control. The AMG Ride Control+ suspension system lets the driver choose the damping and height while automatically lowering the car by 0.4 inches above 75 mph.
On the outside, the S63 E Performance looks like a typical S-Class with a few new additions, like a more muscular grille with vertical slants. Inside, it’s rich and classic as usual — Mercedes has made sure to include the latest tech, including driver assist, traffic sign assist, and active emergency stop assist. The cabin is decorated in special AMG upholstery and seats and also comes with Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment with a huge vertical screen in the middle.
Mercedes-AMG is yet to reveal pricing details for the S63 E Performance, but don’t expect anything less than $180,000, which is how much the AMG GT 4-door E Performance costs.
Gallery: 2023 Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance
