E63 AWD vs. RWD: Does it Make a Difference?
Haven’t we all wondered what the real-world difference is between the older rear-wheel-drive E63 AMG and the newer all-wheel-drive model of the same name? It turns out there are differences, but they’re very subtle, and not what you’d expect. Get ready for a quick physics lesson.
As you can see in the video below, AWD obviously helps off the line, and the launch mode on both cars compensates for wheel spin. RWD will spin more, so traction control is more aggressive, whereas AWD can pretty much just let the engine rip from the go. Once things are moving, though, it’s a different story.
Rotating all of those driveshafts requires energy, so some horsepower is lost in the AWD car simply by putting power down to the ground. RWD might have sunk back about a car length on the launch, but slowly gains speed due to the extra nominal horsepower, and at least a little bit from the lightened weight.
So there we have it. AWD is very much quicker off the line, and in any real-world scenario, is faster. However, at the runway drag races, RWD takes the win.
Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>
Looking for a good deal on a new Mercedes-Benz? Get insider information here.
