The 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG
By Jim McCraw
On Sale: Summer 2011
Expected Pricing: Around $90,000
AMG, the high-performance car division of Mercedes-Benz, sells more of its hotted-up cars in the United States than anywhere else in the world, and in recent years, has accelerated the pace of change to its lineup of C, E, CLK, CL, and S-Class offerings, each time bringing more horsepower, more torque, better handling and braking, and more features to the AMG-branded cars.
For 2012, AMG has come up with still more magic for the E-Class sedan
body, starting with a brand new engine package. Instead of the naturally
aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engine that has been used in all of the
E63-branded cars of recent vintage, AMG has chosen to build a smaller
engine, a 5.5-liter V8, and add twin turbochargers to it, for a rating
of 518 horsepower and 516 foot-pounds of torque. Don’t look for them to
rename it the E55, however. The resulting car will be called the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG.
The new engine uses direct fuel injection and an automatic start/stop
system to maximize fuel economy while providing such prodigious power.
It also uses a stop/start system to save fuel. The engine is backed by a
7-speed multi-clutch automatic transmission with four shifting software
packages and a RaceStart mode.
An optional AMG engine performance package raises the rating to 550
horsepower and 590 foot-pounds of torque from 2000 to 4500 rpm, and
raises the car’s electronically limited top speed from 155 to 186 mph.
The extra power is generated by raising the turbo boost from 14.5 psi to
18.8 psi and altering the fuel and spark curves.
The rest of the performance package includes an AMG steering wheel, an
adaptive, semi-active sport suspension with active shock absorbers, a
carbon-fiber decklid spoiler and engine cover, and a set of red brake
calipers. For the true enthusiast, AMG offers carbon ceramic brakes,
18-inch alloy 10-spoke AMG wheels, an AMG carbon-fiber exterior trim
package, and ear side window sunshades.
Underlying all of the AMG special equipment is an absolutely loaded
E-Class sedan. The package includes AMG 14-way adjustable heated sports
seats with the multi-contour system on the driver’s seat, an AMG leather
interior with Alcantara headliner, an AMG performance steering wheel
with aluminum shifter paddles, a special AMG instrument cluster with the
addition of a Racetimer lap-timing system, and AMG aluminum door sill
plates.
The sound system in the E63 is as complete as they come, an HD radio
with AM, FM, weather band, Sirius satellite, a six-CD changer, DVD
player, MP3, an iPod and MP3 media interface, an in-dash memory card
reader, an AUX input and USB port, and Bluetooth, all playing through a
14-speaker Harman/Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system with Dolby
digital 5.1 displayed on a 7-inch control screen.
The new E63 AMG sedan will be on sale shortly, we’re guessing at a price hovering close to $90,000.
For more information, call 800-637-6372 or visit www.mbusa.com/.
Content provided by New Car Test Drive