Mercedes Benz India

Mercedes Benz India

4056 less than the model it replaces and boasting more power, improved efficiency and an increased level of standard equipment. Sitting at the top of the E-Class range and the fifth generation of AMG-enhanced E-Class, the W212 E63 AMG combines the fresh new bodywork of the new E-Class sedan with the sophisticated powertrain and drivetrain of the SL 63 AMG. The suspension has also been heavily revised, and the E63 puts out more power and more torque than that other German super-sedan, the BMW M5. The result is a performance sedan that sprints like a supercar, yet still provides enough room for five people to travel in luxury. Mercedes-Benz describes it as the ultimate 鈥渄ay-to-day dynamic sports saloon鈥? Like its predecessor, the 2010 E63 AMG takes the basic sedan bodyshell and adds a heap of muscle and testosterone. Aside from the 17mm wider front quarter panels, sheetmetal is shared with garden-variety E-Class sedans.

However, aggressive bumpers, sideskirts and a bootlip spoiler transform the E-Class from mild to menacing. The LED running lamps have been straightened out, and the front bumper鈥檚 cooling apertures are now larger. Like the old E63, shark-like 鈥榞ills鈥?evacuate air from behind each cheek vent and 鈥?.3 AMG鈥?badges sit within their own recesses just behind the front wheels. The headlamp clusters feature tinted lenses, however the grille is the same as that used by the E500 sedan. The side skirts are deeper and feature different contouring to the more prosaic E-Class models, and a set of attractive 19-inch AMG alloys fill out each wheelwell. The rear bumper is lower than the E500 and houses four rhomboid chrome exhaust tips, while a black insert fills the gap between them. The chrome rubbing strips that wrap around the regular E-Class鈥檚 flanks and rump are deleted, and the E63 presents a cleaner, smoother look.

It鈥檚 still businesslike, but there鈥檚 no mistaking the E63鈥檚 more athletic intent. Want yours to look even more purposeful? An optional carbon fibre trim package is available, as are red-painted brake calipers. Short and stubby, the E63鈥檚 gearlever is surrounded by controls for the adjustable dampers, stability control and seven-speed transmission. Because of the addition of a centre console-mounted shifter, the cupholders and COMAND controller have been relocated further rearward. The rest of the cabin is familiar E-Class fare, except with a few E63-specific flourishes. Mercedes-Benz Australia offers the E63 at a higher standard specification level, and one of the extra goodies applied to the E-Class flagship is the luxurious Exclusive Package interior. The Exclusive Package brings an Alcantara headliner, AMG floormats and Nappa leather trim on the upper dashboard, door cards and centre console, and the E63 also enjoys stainless steel pedals, AMG sill plates and an AMG instrument cluster as standard. The front seats are all-electric and offer more lateral support than the standard E-Class pews.

Trimmed in Nappa leather, the seat upholstery is available in three different colours. Those wanting a sportier look for their cabin can also opt for an interior carbonfibre trim package. As befits a Mercedes flagship, the E63 is packed with technology. A premium surround-sound system features a CD stacker and iPod connectivity, and a built-in TV tuner receives analogue and digital broadcasts and displays them on the dash-mounted LCD display. Optional equipment includes radar-guided cruise control, a pedestrian-detecting night vision system, a rear seat DVD player and tyre pressure sensors. Passive safety hardware comprises a comprehensive suite of 11 airbags (front airbags, side airbags for front and rear occupants, hip airbags for the front seats, curtain airbags and a driver鈥檚 knee airbag), along with pretensioning three-point seatbelts. Active safety is handled by multi-stage stability control, traction control, ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist. Mercedes-Benz鈥檚 Pre-Safe crash mitigation system is standard on the E63, as is its Attention Assist fatigue-detection system. AMG鈥檚 venerable 6.2 litre naturally-aspirated V8 has been tuned to deliver 386kW and 630Nm - the same amount of torque, but 8kW more than the outgoing W211 E63鈥檚 engine.