Has Mercedes gone a bit too far with the ambient lighting in its modern-day vehicle lineup? Some would certainly say so, including us, though in the right configuration, it is not flashy. Mess it up, though, and your car will look like a strip club on wheels when driving at night.
Case in point, this 2024 Mercedes-AMG S 63 is on the extreme side of things when it comes to the multi-color ambient lighting. When combined with the two large screens, the infotainment and digital gauges, the illuminated speaker grilles, and other backlit buttons and knobs, it becomes clear that it is not a ride fit for a gentleman.
But then again, it doesn't pretend to be either, as it is far more powerful and aggressive than, say, a Rolls-Royce Ghost. Thus, it falls into a different category. All you have to do is watch the video embedded below, which shows it being driven at night from a POV perspective with the camera strapped to the driver's head, to understand it.
As for the engine, well, the 2024 Mercedes-AMG S 63 adds the E Performance moniker, and that is slang for partial electrification at the three-pointed star brand. It is a 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8, aka the ubiquitous motor powering multiple vehicles made by the Affalterbach brand these past few years, aided by a rear-mounted electric motor.
The total system output stands at a staggering 791 horsepower (802 ps/590 kW), and it has 1,055 pound-feet (1,430 Nm) of torque. Mercedes-AMG says the S 63 E Performance needs 3.2 seconds from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 kph) and has a 155 mph (250 kph) top speed. Tick the AMG Driver's Pack box on the options list, and the maximum speed will increase to 180 mph (290 kph).
A nine-speed automatic transmission delivers the thrust to the 4Matic+ AWD system. The luxury super sedan also features speed-sensitive power steering with a rack and pinion system, high-performance composite brakes, air suspension, and a plethora of safety systems. It rides on 20-inch alloys, with 21-inch sets being optionally available, and it costs a lot of money.
In Germany, interested parties are looking at €208,392.80, which equals $226,160 at the current exchange rates, or about twice as much as a base Benz S-Class. Mind you, that's with no options, so you could easily make it much more expensive.
We are still waiting for the Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance in North America, where pricing hasn't been confirmed at the moment. Our spec will be identical (or almost identical) to the European variant, and that will include all main aspects, including the powerful electrified V8 motor that makes it supercar fast without making it lose its appeal.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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