Can an E63 S Really Go Toe-to-toe with an AMG GT R?
Youtuber’s tuned super sedan boasts 740 horsepower but winning a race takes more than just motor upgrades.
Depending on who you ask, putting money down is either a sign of confidence or hubris. Still, there’s something badass about dropping a bankroll down when you know you’ve got the goods to back it up. Sure, most of us have probably gone all-in on a big poker hand or made a friendly bet now and again. But dropping $1,000 on a race? That’s big time.
In this video, posted by Youtuber Vehicle Virgins, host Parker Nirenstein and his tuned matte silver E63 AMG take on an identical-colored AMG GT R. He loves the super sedan’s handling, and even in dry Southern California, the car’s all-wheel drive drivetrain keeps it planted in the corners. Parker is smitten with the car but is still wary of the Porsche 911-killer’s charms. “I still think the E63 might be faster in most cases,” he says. That’s pretty bold. But, there’s only one way to find out for sure: A race.
“Okay, he wins in the looks department,” he says. After a little friendly trash talk, Nirenstein and GT R owner Scott go over the numbers. The 2018 E63 AMG has 603 horsepower and 626 pound-feet of torque, but Nirenstein’s car has been tuned to 740 horses. Again, power goes to all four wheels. In contrast, the GT R has 577 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque driving the rear wheels. Both cars are powered by AMG’s 4.0-liter Biturbo V8. The E63 is more much powerful, and the GT R is lighter. As in 900 pounds lighter. So which car is faster? Each owner plunks down a grand to prove that they are.
“We’re gonna put these two head-to-head in a drag race with professional drivers on a closed course,” Nirenstein says. Before the race, he takes a quick drive in the rival GT R. “In all fairness to Scott, this is one of the coolest cars that Mercedes has ever made.” He loves the car’s sound, its incredible handling, and, of course, its power. He even laments that compared to this, his E63 will never be a true sports car.
“Holy moly, this might be closer than I thought,” he says. And he’s right. The first pass is run from a stop with launch control on. At first, the E63 walks away with it. In later passes, the GT R make it much more of a fair fight. But, at the end of it all, Nirenstein is feeling smug. “It’s pretty clear essentially the AMG GT R is nearly impossible to launch. In fact, after six or seven launches, it said the rear differential had overheated.” In contrast, the E63 launched every time no problem. Of course, as Scott points out, the GT R is a track-day slayer, not a drag racer. But fair is fair, and he forks over the $1,000 nonetheless.
So at the end of the day, the E63 is a quicker car off the line than a GT R. But, they’re as different as a hammer and a scalpel, and as soon as you throw corners into the mix, we have a feeling that the GT R would look a lot better than it does here. Here’s hoping that Nirenstein and Scott stage a rematch on a track soon.
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