The Drift-Capable Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4Matic+ Wagon Will Make America Smile Again

After a crazy 2020 that felt like it was directed by Alfred Hitchcock, we look forward to the good things 2021 has in store for us.

One of these good things is the facelifted, high-performance version of Mercedes' flagship wagon, which was launched in September and is now available nationwide, making even die-hard RS6 Avant fans like myself stand up and applaud.

The exterior gets some well-deserved updates like the redesigned AMG GT-style front end, which features two transverse louvers that help guide air into the 'jet wing' outer inlets, or the new aerodynamically optimized 20-inch light-alloy wheels.

Under the hood, nothing has changed compared to the previous model, but why would it? The muscle wagon is powered by the glorious, hand-built 603-hp 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 it shares with the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe or Aston Martin Vantage, among other performance cars.

The powerplant is linked to AMG’s Speedshift MCT 9-speed gearbox that offers lightning-quick gear changes, multi-gear downshifts, automatic rev-matching, and gear-holding through corners so that drivers who are late to pick up their kids for practice can bend spacetime and arrive on schedule.

Using AMG Performance’s revolutionary 4MATIC+ variable all-wheel-drive system, the 627 lb-ft (849 Nm) of peak torque can be instantly transformed into pure joy by maximizing grip without sacrificing agility.

This system also enables owners to become the coolest parents in the world by arriving to pick them up in a cloud of tire smoke, thanks to the dedicated ‘Drift’ mode.

Using the new dual 12.3-inch screen assembly that features the latest iteration of Mercedes’s MBUX infotainment system, drivers can enable this mode, which cuts power to the front wheels, disables traction control, and turns the luxury wagon into an oversteering monster guaranteed to instantly put a huge smile on anyone’s face.

To enable this ridiculous feature, the first thing owners must do is put the car in Race mode. Next, traction control needs to be disengaged, gearing must be set to manual, and as a final warning, the infotainment screen will ask for a confirmation to make sure drivers really want all hell to break loose.

To activate it, the right shift paddle must be held down, and those who have a sudden change of heart can use the left one to cancel the insanity.

For moral and even legal purposes, we must remind you that this mode should only be activated on a racetrack or as far away from public roads as possible by those who have a basic understanding of what will unfold. Although drifting is awesome in more ways than one, it’s also very dangerous.

Like all great things, the E63 S 4Matic+ Wagon comes at a steep price, which starts around $113,500; for that, customers get the perfect combination between the comfort and quality of a flagship Mercedes, the raw power and drift capabilities of a true AMG sportscar, plus the trunk size of an SUV.

Finally, for those who still ask why on Earth would you build a 603-hp wagon with a drift mode, the answer is simple; because it’s completely insane, and only a mad wagon like this can hope to outsell the boring SUVs that have consumed the soul and personality of the automotive industry in recent years.