Rear-drive E63 pulls on the top end in a battle of 549-horsepower AMG sedans.
Depending on the model year, the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG sedan was offered with both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive, but with the same 549-horsepower engine. This video pits two European-spec E63 sedans head-to-head in a race from a stop to 155 miles per hour, displaying the difference between this twin-turbo sedan in rear- and all-wheel drive form.
The Competitors
This match between a pair of W212 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG sedans was originally shared to the forum in a thread by PeterUbers from the RACE 1000 YouTube channel. In the right lane is a pre-facelift E63 with the Performance Plus package, delivering 549 horsepower to the rear wheels. In the left lane is a facelifted W212 with the same 549-horsepower engine and the 4Matic all-wheel-drive system.
The all-wheel-drive system gives the white W212 a traction advantage, but it also weighs more, so which car is quicker in a dash from a stop to 155 miles per hour?
The Race
The details state that these two W212 E63 AMG sedans are participating in a roll race event, but it is clear that they are racing hard as soon as they both leave the starting line. In most roll races, the cars accelerate side-by-side to a designated speed and the race between a short time after they leave the initial starting line.
In this race, the facelifted car is clearly hard on the throttle as soon as the two leave the line, giving the all-wheel-drive car a big advantage early in the race. However, about 20 seconds into the race, the rear-drive car closes the gap, takes the lead and takes the win.
The video ends with a look at the same race from the perspective of the white all-wheel-drive Benz, allowing us to watch the rear-wheel-drive car run him down for the win.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
