Before launching the new S-Class, the Mercedes team of specialists carefully created some sort of marketing void that would be filled by the car. They stirred curiosity and came up with statements so bold that one simply could not ignore. Now that Merc's flagship saloon is out there, it is time to meet the car that would easily humiliate it from the “all-German engineering” point of view: its 63
AMG incarnation.
AMG is now more important than ever in the history of Mercedes, so their presence within an S-Class model should be a perfect integration. Besides, believe it or not, AMG has been playing with luxobarges from the early 70s.
That is the period when they came up with the 300 SEL 6.8 AMG which was also called the Red Pig (rote Sau), and for good reason. It was basically an S-Class in the fully luxurious street attire, albeit injected with racing steroids. The car took its air suspension and lavish amenities all around the endurance races of the time. Believe it or not, the 3,600 lbs / 1,600 kg (a lot, for the time) machine even made it to the podium, heavy wooden trim included.
These are some nice retro moments to analyze while you behold the world from the confinements of the 2014 Mercedes S63 AMG 4Matic. For the European folks, this is the S63 AMG 4Matic Long – while Americans get the version that has them all, the long wheelbase and 4Matic all-wheel drive package are options in Europe.
Now that AMG has allowed itself to offer traction an all fours outside of its
SUV range, the Germans are obviously looking for (automotive) world domination.
With the S63 AMG 4Matic, we are promised stuff like a new dimension in driving dynamics in its segment.
Before we can put that to the test, we'll take a few moments to discuss the visuals of the AMGification process.
Probably one in three words included in the description of this Mercedes-Benz is related to technology, but in order to assess its styling we'll have to return to the days of old. Models like the 1954 W180 Ponton, the true ancestor of the S-Class, had an air of elegance that unfortunately got diluted in the evolutionary process.
The manlier styling cues of the S63 AMG bring some of the old glory back. The AMG bits actually add up to the car's appearance in a manner that makes it more elegant. The edgier shapes work on the beholder's mind, demanding extra respect.
As for the chrome aura at the base of the car, this perfectly serves the role of receiving attention without having to ask for it. Up front, the shiny broken line at the base of the fascia also has aerodynamic effects – you didn't expect AMG to do something just for the show, did you?
In fact, the S-Class could just as well come in this trim from the very beginning. There's no detail on the S63 AMG that wouldn't fit a standard S-Class. Perhaps the extra badges and the
red calipers are the only pieces that do not obey the aforementioned rule.
Nevertheless, the AMG badges not only add stuff, they also remove things. We're talking weight here, naturally -- despite the extra presence, the S63 AMG is up to 220 lbs (100 kg) lighter compared to the model before it.
Aside from the aluminum body, the S63 AMG features a lithium-ion battery and forged wheels. Oh and if you ever get pulled over and the conversation starts to get awkward, you can just take the officer to the trunk, lift the floor and show him the
carbon fiber spare wheel housing.
We hope such measures will not be necessary as we climb aboard our S63 AMG 4Matic test car. In a similar manner to the outer side treatment, AMG has managed to make the cabin a better place, not just a sportier one.
Despite that, the first impression is one of amusement and it all has to do with the S-Class obsession for oversized logos. This has, of course, been translated into AMG badges and the center console is adorned with the largest
Affalterbach emblem we've ever seen inside a car.
Things get even more unusual with the steering wheel. They've kept its overall shape, with the hefty base and two-spoke design, but flattened the sides and replaced the MB logo with the AMG one.
Going past this, the list of enhancements starts with the massive display used for
dashboard instruments. The AMG dials have a design that gives the thing a 3D effect, so you don't get that uninteresting flatness on the dash anymore. Moreover, there's an AMG display where you can see weather forecast for the engine and gearbox areas.
As for the S-Class labyrinth of menus, the AMG version doesn't change things too much.
However, since we've gotten used to the style, it doesn’t seem so bad after all. Still, some of the options remain a bit of a pain to navigate and use – the seating-related settings are an example as good as any.
The
S63 AMG's front seats are brilliant pieces of furniture. They somehow manage to rival the standard ones in terms of comfort, despite easily winning the side support race.
Well, everything is fairy tale-like until you realize that, in order to operate the lumbar support, you have to use the Command controls instead of some simple buttons.
There's no time to lose in the Command interface right now, we're on a major boulevard and the S63 AMG is doing a marvelous job since it comes with what we call “the rule of the two big
Ps”, making you feel both Powerful and Protected.
Just like the 4.7 biturbo V8 in the
S500, the 5.5-liter unit in the S63 AMG knows how to be extremely docile when necessary, as this is often the case inside the city.
There's only one slight mechanical indication that you're driving a car capable of a 4-second 0-62 mph sprint: if you pay attention to this, you can feel the wet start-up clutch of the 7-Speed AMG MCT, otherwise an automatic gearbox, engaging.
Moreover, if you use the C (Controlled Efficiency) transmission mode, the machinery takes off in second gear. No disturbance for the champagne bottles then.
As for those tight areas, you can fully rely on the surround camera system with its bird's eye view. This offers a wide perspective around the car, also indicating the trajectory of both axles. A pleasure to use.
Be careful when you reach larger obstacles though – the lowered ride height and the aggressive front fascia means you will have to lift the air suspension. You can feel the difference in standard ground clearance brought by the two aforementioned items.