Mercedes E63 AMG review

What is it?
The hot version of the new E-Class. Tuned by Mercedes’ performance division AMG, the E63 AMG has a hand-built 6.3-litre V8 with 525hp and 630NM of torque. Other mechanical upgrades include performance brakes, a wider front track, revised steering, completely new suspension and a wet clutch 7-Speed automatic gearbox. There are some interior and exterior changes to differentiate the bad boy E63 AMG from the normal E-Class. And then there is the price. The E63 AMG is likely to cost £70,000. Gulp!

What does it look like?
Like an E-Class only ‘arder! There’s a little tail spoiler, twin chrome tail pipes, side skirts, big 19-inch alloys and deeper front and rear bumpers. But it’s the new wider front wings which really make the E63 AMG look more aggressive. They also help balance out the E-Class’s awkward rear wheel arch creases. All these changes work really well at beefing up the E-Class without making it look too anabolic.

What’s it like inside?
Like an E-Class only sportier. Bolstered leather sports seats come as standard. They are firm yet comfy but seem to have been designed to suit Americans – unless you are a burger-chomping gut bucket they aren't very snug. The E63 AMG also gets sporty dials and AMG-branded kick plates. What really stands out though is the ‘AMG Drive Unit’. Located next to the gear shifter it houses all the buttons and knobs which let you adjust ‘ze sportiness’ of the transmission, suspension and stability control system.

What’s it like to drive?
Like an E-Class only a lot faster. The 6.3-litre V8 is awesome. It revs as freely as a small motorcycle engine yet has locomotive levels of grunt. And you can make the most of all the power thanks to the clever seven-speed auto, which has a normal clutch rather than an energy sapping torque converter. This enables it to swap cogs in just 100 milliseconds when in paddle-shift manual mode. And then there’s the noise. The V8’s low guttural rumble could be mistaken for an approaching tsunami.

All this would count for nothing if the E63 went off the road at the first sign of a bend. But the upgraded suspension and wide tyres stick the super Merc to the tarmac like road kill. Even the speed-sensitive steering is good. Not only is it fast but it feels totally natural too. And because you can tailor the car’s dynamics with the AMG Drive Unit you can make the certifiable E63 AMG feel as civilised as an E200 CDI.

Verdict
The E63 AMG is a great car. It goes like stink, handles really well and looks aggressive without being too in your face. And the build quality so good the car feels like it has been carved out of granite. There a few minor drawbacks though. The £70,000 price tag is pretty steep and the Jaguar XFR is ever so slightly better dynamically. But for some people the E63’s amazing-sounding high-performance hand-built engine will more than make up for this.