Mercedes Service and Repair Redwood City - 2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG First Drive - Bosch European Redwood City 650-368-3000

Back in the late 1980s, before performance tuner AMG became an official branch of Mercedes-Benz, the Affalterbach-based personal trainer of three-pointed stars took an off-the-showroom 300E sedan, stuffed it full of massaged V-8 (first a 5.6 liter, later a 6.0) and a catalog's worth of track-tuned chassis bits, and dubbed the hugely fast and expensive result "The Hammer." So if that was The Hammer, what do we call AMG's latest, far more powerful and formidable tool? Maybe "The Cannon?" AMG is really on its game. Whereas the original tuning company was best known for building mostly one-dimensional sedans (fast in a straight line, clumsy and unbalanced in corners), the 21st Century AMG, now officially the hyper-performance division of Mercedes-Benz, has of late been cranking out full-bodied supercars with all rough edges smoothed away (i.e., the CLK63 Black Series, the SL63 AMG). With the arrival of the 2010 E63 AMG, based on the all-new E-class sedan, rivals like the BMW M5 and the Cadillac CTS-V may very likely scurry for cover.

AMG has always done engines right, but the new E63's -- also seen in the SL63 -- is perhaps the best ever. The hand-built, DOHC, 6.2-liter V-8 from the previous edition returns boasting 11 more horsepower (now 518 hp at 6800 rpm) yet also a 12-percent increase in fuel efficiency . All that naturally aspirated horsepressure is a wonderful thing on its own, but for 2010 it flows through Mercedes' Speedshift MCT 7-speed automatic. Dispensing with a conventional torque converter in favor of a "wet start-up clutch," the MCT can crack off shifts in just 100 milliseconds (in manual mode). Four shift modes are available, with Sport Plus perhaps the most impressive.

AMG has always done engines right, but the new E63's -- also seen in the SL63 -- is perhaps the best ever. The hand-built, DOHC, 6.2-liter V-8 from the previous edition returns boasting 11 more horsepower (now 518 hp at 6800 rpm) yet also a 12-percent increase in fuel efficiency . All that naturally aspirated horsepressure is a wonderful thing on its own, but for 2010 it flows through Mercedes' Speedshift MCT 7-speed automatic. Dispensing with a conventional torque converter in favor of a "wet start-up clutch," the MCT can crack off shifts in just 100 milliseconds (in manual mode). Four shift modes are available, with Sport Plus perhaps the most impressive.  Like Porsche's dual-clutch PDK transmission, the MCT in Sport Plus upshifts and downshifts as if guided by your thoughts. Forget the shift paddles and simply leave the console lever in "D." Then brake hard from speed when approaching a corner and watch (and listen) as the MCT automatically blips the throttle and fires two machine-gun downshifts. Brilliant stuff. The transmission is best of both worlds, too, smooth and shock-free when executing shifts around town. The MCT's best act by far, though, is performing full-throttle upshifts. Stand on the gas, let the revs build to redline, and the lightning shift is accompanied by a "whap!" from the exhaust that sounds like an M-80 exploding in the trunk.

So, okay, the powertrain rocks. You'd expect that from AMG. But now the chassis is equally exhilarating. Many driving enthusiasts know that a steel-sprung suspension tends to deliver superior handling finesse, while air springs excel at ride quality and adaptability. AMG's answer? Include both. Compared with the standard E-Class (already far improved from its predecessor), the E63 receives a completely new front suspension with a wider track (by 2.2 inches) plus steel front springs and new control arms (among other refinements) for crisp turn-in. At the rear, however, sit air springs that automatically level the vehicle according to changing road conditions. Electronically managed dampers vary ride quality and body roll according to three driver-selectable settings. Steering responsiveness is improved, too, with a ratio quickened to just 14:1. Hustling through the German countryside, the E63 felt far smaller and nimbler than it should have for a sedan weighing 4000-plus pounds. Front-end bite is terrific, with steering feel so good it blows all memories of previous numb E-Classes right out of your brain. The beefy 19-inch Pirelli PZeroes stick hard (my test car had the optional Performance package with lightweight forged-alloy wheels), and even when pushed never once let out a yowl. Better still, the rear end is equally well behaved, following the nose like a good soldier shadowing a general. Such balance makes the E63 as fun to spur as it is confidence-inspiring. Never does the E63 dart off line or make giggly missteps. It's simply locked down. Always. Thanks to this chassis, all that power and torque (465 pound-feet) up front create speed, not histrionics.

A few blasts along the Autobahn saw an indicated 150 mph, at which pace the E63 felt as secure as a mag-lev train on the boogie. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph, but opt for the Performance setup and revised engine-management software raises the limit to 186 mph. Initially, Mercedes said optional carbon-ceramic brakes would be available in Europe only, but now they're coming to the States, too. They're gigantic (front rotors are 15.8 inches) and work beautifully, with tons of stopping power, no detectable fade, and good modulation (though just a hint of squeak reminds you they're ceramics).

In addition to the usual body dress-up, the E63 gets a racy interior with sport wheel, splendid front buckets, and available carbon-fiber trim. Cool angled buttons on the console allow the driver to configure the various suspension, transmission, and performance systems. No pricing has been announced yet, but the E63 AMG will likely be right around $85K when it goes on sale stateside in late fall (right around the price of the outgoing model). Pricey, yes -- at least until you recall that the far less capable Hammers cost $160K and up -- in the 1980s. This is a fantastic automobile, as adept at eating miles like a ground-bound business jet as it is at leaving smoldering apexes across the curviest of mountain passes. Perhaps no sports sedan yet has done so many things so well. Of course, based on our limited first impressions we can't say for sure yet. But you know what's coming. Oh, yes: a comparison test. Meantime, this much is certain: The new E63 AMG nails the Hammer to the wall

source: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0910_2010_mercedes_benz_e63_amg_review/viewall.html
June 2009 issue

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