2023 Mercedes AMG S63 E, All you want to know & watch about a Great Car
2023 Mercedes AMG S63 E Performance First Look
When you think of an 800-hp European car with Formula One technology, you probably imagine a hot coupe like the Ferrari 812 Superfast, and not a big wafting limousine. Well stop thinking, because electrification has broken most existing notions of performance, leading even the Mercedes Benz S-Class down a path of immense power delivery. That’s how we get to a 2023 Mercedes AMG S63 E Performance with more than 800 hp on tap, and it’s glorious.
The Juiciest S-Class Ever
A twin-turbo Mercedes AMG 4.0-liter V-8 gas engine is joined by a rear-mounted electric permanently synchronous motor (PSM) powered by a 13.1-kWh, 400-volt battery pack mounted on the rear axle; together the gas and electric sources power all four wheels with a 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system. The gas engine alone is good for 612 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque, and output rises to 802 hp overall matched with the 140 kilowatt e-motor.
The new limo goes from 0 to 62 mph in around 3.3 seconds, with an optional electronically limited top speed of up to 180 mph. Consider the acceleration time conservative; an outgoing Mercedes AMG S63 we tested in 2018 cracked to 60 mph in only 3.4 seconds—with “only” 603 hp and no electrification onboard.
On battery and motor power alone, the S63 is capable of traveling up to around 20 miles with the legally required Acoustic Vehicle Alerting noise. The motor unit gets a hollow permanent magnet rotor that’s installed around the output shaft of the left rear wheel. Both the high performance battery pack and motor are mounted on the rear axle with an integrated two-speed e-motor transmission and limited slip differential to form a compact drive unit at the rear, to help balance the vehicle’s weight distribution.
The two-speed transmission is separate from the combustion engine’s multi-clutch 9-speed automatic transmission, and is shifted automatically with an electric actuator that engages its second gear at speeds above around 85 mph, when the e-motor reaches a max speed of 13,500 rpm. A mechanical connection to the front axle means that all four wheels can be powered with the e-motor alone in specific conditions. The motor delivers up to 140 kW of peak power for 10 seconds, and otherwise offers around 70 kW of continuous mechanical power.
There are seven drive modes, including an “Individual” mode that can be tailored to the driver’s interest. The combustion engine is disabled entirely in the Comfort/Electric drive mode. The e-motor is configurable with four different energy recuperation levels via a steering wheel button, the lowest of which only applies resistance to keep enough energy for powering onboard systems.
A 3.7 kW onboard charger juices up the small battery, and the car can optionally be plugged in to externally charge at a pubic charging station, a wall box, or just a standard power outlet. New cooling modules of a “millimetric thickness” circulate around 14 liters, or 3.7 gallons, of a new high-tech liquid coolant around all 1200 individual cells of the battery pack.
A battery-mounted oil/water heat exchanger transfers unwanted heat into one of two low-temperature circuits within the car, which then transfers that heat to the outside air via a cooler mounted in the front, with the goal of keeping the pack at an average temperature of around 45 degrees Celsius, or around 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
A Lot Of Activity
New active engine mounts infinitely adjust stiffness based on driving conditions, controlling the amount of force with which the engine couples to the body. In front, an aluminum stabilizer increases torsional stiffness on the front end improving handling feedback, and a cross-brace on the suspension mountings adds addition stiffness. In the rear, lightweight aluminum diagonal struts assist with handling responsiveness in the underbody, and the lightweight fiber-reinforced plastic battery compartment improves body rigidity.
This is the first time an S-Class has featured a combination of air suspension, rear-axle steering, and active roll stabilization as standard. The air suspension comes with automatic leveling and adjustable damping, with adjustable air struts that lower the S-Class by 10 millimeters (0.4 inch) above 75 mph. The two control valves manage rebound damping and compression damping independently.
The two-part 48-volt anti-roll bar system features an electromechanical actuator with a three-stage planetary gear, actively separating its stabilizer halves for improved comfort, or joining and twisting the halves together for firmer dynamic driving. The rear-axle steering operates up to 2.5 degrees on the rear axle, turning opposite of the front wheels at low speeds and in parallel at higher speeds for improved turning circle and handling.
S For Style And Speed
This is the first time the S-Class has gotten this style of AMG-specific grille with the vertical louvres and large central star. The front apron sports a new “jet wing” design with large side air inlets and functional air curtains. In profile, there are 21-inch AMG forged wheels matched with AMG-branded runners, and at the rear we see twin trapezoidal fluted tailpipes under a big diffuser board.
Inside, four multicontour AMG-upholstered seats come with exclusive colors and nappa leather upholstery, with embossed AMG emblems on the head rests. In front of the driver is a twin-spoke AMG performance steering wheel with gearshift buttons. System settings and infotainment is mapped across a driver head-up display, driver display screen, and a vertically-oriented center console display, with an AMG specific Track Pace screen options that display vehicle stats and temperatures, and system settings for the suspension and transmission.
The driver display now gets an updated assistance screen, showing the S-Class centered as well as lane divisions, lane markings, other road users including pedestrians and cyclists, in a live 3D abstracted view that represents the environment around the car at any given time, showing the driver what the assistance systems are aware of.
The S63 safety suite has been updated to improve collision avoidance of stationary road users at speeds up to 100 km/h (62 mph), up from 60 km/h; improved lane detection, lane centering, and situation-specific off-lane driving; improved traffic sign awareness to include overhead gantries and roadworks; new red light and stop sign to warn when you’re about to run through one;
improved lane change assist with a longer phase for lane changes to occur; added seatbelt pretensioning and brake judder as driver attention and awareness prompts, now with eyelid tracking; and active ambient interior lightning has been added.
Mercedes’ Drive Pilot SAE Level 3 system is only available in Germany, for the time being, but adds radar, lidar, and additional exterior cameras.
2023 Mercedes AMG S63 Returns as a 791-HP Plug-In Hybrid
- After a brief hiatus, the Mercedes AMG S63 is back for 2023, now bearing the E Performance badge that signifies AMG’s sporty plug-in hybrids.
- The twin-turbo V-8 and electric motor combine for 791 horsepower, which can catapult the big sedan to 60 mph in a claimed 3.2 seconds.
- An air suspension and adaptive dampers should give the S63 the ability to switch between a cloud-like ride and athletic handling, and the cabin remains extremely luxurious.
Mercedes controversially replaced the 2024 AMG C63’s V-8 with a plug-in-hybrid four-cylinder setup, sparking worry among AMG aficionados that other high-powered Mercedes could suffer a similar downsizing. But fear not, for the new 2023 Mercedes AMG S63 E Performance retains its twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8, adding a permanently excited synchronous electric motor to produce a massive 791 hp and 1055 pound-feet of torque.
All of that power shoots the gargantuan sedan to 60 mph in a claimed 3.2 seconds and on to an electronically limited 180-mph top speed. The V-8 engine yields 603 hp and 664 pound-feet on its own, fed through a nine-speed automatic transmission. The hot-V setup, with the turbochargers stuffed between the cylinder banks, claims to improve responsiveness. The V-8 also features a belt-driven starter-generator that is integrated into the 400-volt electrical system.
The electric motor, meanwhile, is mounted on the rear axle and is paired with a two-speed transmission and an electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential. The second gear engages around 87 mph, when the e-motor reaches its maximum speed of 13,500 rpm, dropping the motor back to a low rpm where it makes its peak torque. The electric motor can make 188 hp for up to 10 seconds, or a continuous 94 hp.
While the gas and electric powertrains use separate transmissions, the all-wheel-drive system allows the e-motor’s power to be sent to the front wheels as well so the S63 can run as an all-wheel-drive EV.
The battery pack is situated above the rear axle and has a 13.1-kWh capacity, providing a driving range of around 20 miles. Mercedes says that the positioning of the motor and battery on the rear axle improves weight distribution and handling.
The S63 offers four levels of regeneration—the lowest allows for coasting while the highest permits one-pedal driving and can return up to 90 kW back into the battery. Charging for the battery is handled by a 3.7-kW onboard AC charger, but Mercedes didn’t cite a recharging time estimate.
The new S63 comes with seven drive modes. The car starts silently in Electric mode—although a start-up sound “characteristic of AMG” plays on the interior speakers—and the S63 exclusively uses electric power up to 87 mph. The AMG also plays a low-frequency sound on exterior loudspeakers up to 19 mph to alert pedestrians of the luxo-barge’s presence.
As the battery’s charge gets low, the car will switch into Comfort, which balances the two propulsion systems for smooth driving. A Battery Hold setting maintains the remaining charge, while Sport and Sport+ prioritize the e-motor’s power for spirited driving. A Slippery setting flattens the torque curve and prevents electric-only driving, while Individual lets the driver customize the setup.
With air springs and adaptive dampers, the AMG Ride Control+ suspension system allows the S63 to transform from a sedate cruiser to a sports sedan depending on the drive mode. The S63 also lowers by 0.4 inches when it exceeds 75 mph, and it features active roll stabilization thanks to electro-mechanically controlled anti-roll bars that can be divided in half to handle differing road imperfections on either side of the car. Standard rear-wheel steering makes the S63 more nimble in tight spaces and more stable during high-speed cornering.
The S63 doesn’t look too distinct from a normal S-class, but features a new grille with vertical slats and a front bumper with larger air intakes. The S63 rides on 21-inch wheels, while the rear includes four trapezoidal tailpipes sandwiching a diffuser. The cabin is appropriately rich and luxuriant for an S-class, with special AMG upholstery, stitching, seats, and steering wheel. The infotainment system also gains specific AMG and hybrid displays.
Mercedes has yet to divulge pricing information for the S63 E Performance. The previous generation S63 sedan cost $152,595, a nearly $60,000 increase over the base S-class at the time. With the current S500 starting at $115,550, we expect the S63 to crest the $170,000 mark. Pricing details and availability will come later, but the S63 should arrive at some point in 2023.
2023 Mercedes AMG S63 E Performance hybrid revealed, not coming to Australia
The fastest version of one of the world’s most luxurious cars – the 2023 Mercedes AMG S63 E Performance – has been revealed with plug-in hybrid technology, but it won’t come to Australia as high-end buyers switch to electric power.
Based on the latest S-Class range, the new S63 E Performance adopts V8 plug-in hybrid technology from AMG’s GT63 S E Performance sedan, with 590kW and a 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.3 seconds.
But it won’t come to Australia, as well-heeled buyers of high-end Mercedes-Benz performance limousines switch from petrol to electric power, in the new AMG EQS53 electric car.
Over the past decade, Mercedes Benz has on average sold fewer than a dozen S63 sedans in Australia each year – but with fewer than six months in showrooms, the EQS has already chalked up 67 reported sales.
“When we had the S63 coupe and cabriolet alongside the S63 sedan, demand for the S63 range was a lot higher. But the market has shifted and we now have a more diverse range of cars in the upper echelon,” a Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman recently told Drive.
“We’re selling more of these models [the EQS, as well as the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, and Maybach range] than we have S63,” the spokesman said.
“We still have high performance in a limousine, but there is now a broader choice of vehicles. And buyers are favouring these models, especially the electric EQS.”
Powering the S63 E Performance is a 450kW/900Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V8 from the previous model – but it’s now coupled to a 140kW electric motor, nine-speed automatic gearbox, and 13.1kWh battery pack.
Combined, the system quotes an epic 590kW and 1430Nm – good for a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.3 seconds, thanks to all-wheel drive, and a top speed of up to 290km/h.
The electric component of the hybrid system places the motor on the rear axle, driving the rear wheels directly through an electronically-controlled two-speed transmission and a limited-slip differential.
Mercedes-AMG says this system sees electric power bypass the V8’s nine-speed automatic transmission – claimed to allow “the torque of both drive units can be fully utilised”, and more effectively apply its power to the wheels.
As in other cars with AMG’s E Performance hybrid tech – including the GT63 and new C63 – the petrol engine and electric motor can still shift their power freely around the car, as there remains a mechanical connection between the front and rear axles.
The electric motor’s two-speed transmission allows it to deliver quick acceleration off the line in first gear, and shift to second at higher speeds to improve efficiency and overtaking response.
Compared to the AMG GT63 S E Performance sedan, the S63’s battery is significantly larger, at 13.1kWh vs 6.1kWh – which increases electric driving range to 33km, rather than just 12km in the GT.
The battery – placed above the rear axle, and developed in conjunction with Mercedes-AMG F1 engineers – can deliver 70kW of continuous power to the electric motor, or the maximum 140kW for 10-second bursts.
This peak is 10kW lower than the GT63 S E Performance’s motor – which, combined with 20kW less from the petrol engine, places the new S63’s combined power output 30kW lower than its sibling.
Other highlights of the drivetrain include individual cooling for the battery cells, a mild-hybrid-style integrated starter-generator unit connected to the engine, and four regenerative braking modes (including a one-pedal mode).
There are seven drive modes – Electric, Comfort, Battery Hold, Sport, Sport+, Slippery and Individual – which vary the balance of petrol and electric power, transmission response, steering weight, suspension firmness, and exhaust sound.
The nine-speed auto is AMG’s multi-clutch design – rather than the conventional torque-converter design in the regular S-Class – while the engine connects to the chassis with active mounts, which can vary their stiffness in real time.
Under the skin, highlights include adaptive air suspension (which automatically lowers at high speeds), additional underbody bracing, 48-volt active anti-roll bars, and rear-wheel steering (with up to 2.5 degrees of rotation, down from 10 in the standard car).
The brakes measure 400mm up front (with six pistons) and 380mm at the rear (with one piston), and are available with composite discs as standard, or carbon ceramics as an option.
The S63 can be told apart on the road by a unique front end with AMG’s ‘Panamericana’ grille and larger air intakes, 20- or 21-inch alloy wheels, new side skirts, and a restyled rear bumper with a diffuser-style insert and four trapezoidal exhaust outlets.
It’s said to be the first S-Class sedan with an AMG-specific grille bearing the Mercedes-Benz star – rather than its iconic position sitting high on the bonnet.
Inside, AMG specific touches include AMG embossed nappa leather upholstery, an AMG Performance steering wheel with rotary controls for the drive modes, and new performance displays in the multimedia system.
The instrument cluster and head-up display include their own AMG-specific views, while the AMG model offers Dolby Atmos sound technology, claimed to feed multiple audio channels to the speakers and “create a 360-degree experience”.
A full suite of the latest advanced safety technology is available, including adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist – plus, in time, Level 3 hands-free (but eyes on the road) semi-autonomous driving.
The 2023 Mercedes AMG S63 E Performance is due in European showrooms early next year.
2023 Mercedes AMG S63 E videos
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