MERCEDES-AMG S-Class Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Mercedes-AMG unveiled in 2023 the most powerful version of the S-Class to date and provided customers with a luxury vehicle that could keep up with many supercars of its times.

The German car manufacturer had a very long relationship with Mercedes’ flagship model, the S-Class. Back in 1971, the Affalterbach-based car manufacturer AMG, then a small independent shop, made the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG. Over time, other S-Class models received proper tuning from the same company. After it was integrated into the three-pointed star brand, the small shop became a reckoned specialist in the performance segment. Besides the powertrain, the newly established Mercedes-AMG brand also focused on other aspects, such as suspension and aesthetics, creating various body kits for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz introduced the seventh generation of the S-Class in 2020, which was available with an AMG aerodynamic package. But the real deal came with an improved front fascia that boasted a Panamericana grille with vertical slats. On the lower bumper, AMG installed its already famous A-shaped lower grille that was painted black and was flanked by body-colored functional side-scoops that cooled the front brakes and created air curtains that lowered the drag resistance. The S 63 E Performance sported the AMG badge on the hood but kept the three-pointed star on the grille.

From its profile, the car looked aggressive due to its 20” light-alloy wheels and multi-spoke design. However, customers could get a 21-inch set as an option. On the front fenders, the automaker installed the V8 Biturbo E performance badges. AMG added a new set of aerodynamically profiled side sills, but still, those were not very bold in their aspect. Finally, at the back, the automaker added the S 63 badge on the trunk lid. Lower, on the bumper, the big and luxurious sedan sported carbon fiber trims, while underneath it, in the apron, it featured a diffuser and two sets of twin exhausts mounted on the sides.

But the S-Class was always about luxury, and this AMG version was no different. While it boasted a high level of expensive materials, the leather-wrapped interior was also upgraded with tech features such as the digital instrument cluster, the touchscreen for the infotainment system, the touch-sensitive buttons and dials from the flat-bottom steering wheel, and the carbon fiber trims. In the back, the passengers could relax on heated and ventilated seats that could recline and provide a healthy massage dose.

But the real magic happened under the car’s skin. There, AMG stiffened the bodywork with a few aluminum brackets. It also installed the complex powertrain consisting of a twin-turbocharged V8 up front and an electric motor out back. With a combined total output of 791 HP and a four-digit torque, the massive executive sedan could rocket from naught to 60 MPH (0-97 kph) in a mere 3.2 seconds. The rear motor also featured a two-speed gearing that allowed it to run in ideal conditions even at higher speeds, not just at the start. The all-wheel drive luxurious S-Class could also run in EV mode for around 20 miles.

It was the longest and the most potent S-Class ever, and it offered a straight-line acceleration that could match a supercar.

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class L was a piece of engineering and architecture alike. It was that kind of limousine that looked great in any luxurious resort, in front of the Opera or the parking lot of a multi-million dollar estate. The AMG S 65L, on the other hand, was made for those who asked for more.

Usually, a luxury car didn't have such an aggressive styling at the front. But the S65 L was not an ordinary vehicle. It revealed its muscles through the silver mesh design that covered the grilles from the apron. From its sides, the S65 featured unique, 16 spokes 20" light-alloy wheels. The longer rear doors allowed an easier ingress and egress to the car for the rear passengers. Maybe they had to crawl out from the fast Merc'.

Inside the cabin, at the front, the luxurious vehicle featured the same dashboard as the rest of the range but with AMG-specific vents and ash wood trims. The customers could have chosen a carbon-fiber decoration if they liked to, but that didn't fit the context. There were only two seats separated by a center console in the rear, which emerged from the one placed between the front seats.

Under the hood, the massive, twin-turbocharged V-12 powerplant had to be tuned down to 1000 Nm (737 lb-ft) of torque not to ruin the transmission. AMG didn't install the newest 9G-Tronic gearbox for the S65 since it couldn't cope with that much pressure and chose the 7G-Tronic instead. Power went only to the rear wheels, so the car could even drift. AMG programmed the ESP so the driver could do that if the owner from the rear seats wished that.

Mercedes-AMG introduced a new version of the S 63 in 2017, the same year as its Mercedes-Benz S-Class sibling, providing supercar performance for its customers but in a luxurious package.

While Mercedes-Benz focused more on luxurious bits and pieces, its AMG brother brought its improved hand-built engines that could provide not only more performance but also lighter powerplants. Thus, the S 63, in all its versions (with or without all-wheel drive systems), became Autobahn rockets for those in a hurry.

The S-Class was reckoned for its elegant yet slightly sporty silhouette. AMG versions, on the other hand, looked aggressive with their fat bumpers, A-Shaped lower grilles, and distinct grilles. In addition, the new headlights that sported three LED stripes for daytime running lights completed the car's menacing stance. From its side, the vehicle's 19" light-alloy wheels, with a five double-spoke design, confirmed that it wasn't a regular S-Class.

Inside, it was what a Mercedes-Benz customer expected from the brand's flagship model. The tall instrument cluster included the two screens for the instrument panel and the infotainment display, while the diamond-stitched leather covered the rest of the dashboard and door cards. In addition, the high-bolstered front bucket seats proved to be not only comfortable but also adequate for high-speed cornering maneuvers. In the back, the bench seat was profiled for two on the sides of the tall transmission tunnel. For the long wheelbase version, the automaker provided more legroom for the rear passengers.

Under the hood, Mercedes-AMG installed a new 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbocharged that provided 612 PS (604 hp) and was mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox. Power was sent to the rear or in all corners, depending on the version.