Racing Champ Randy Pobst Hits Supercar Speeds in E63 AMG Wagon
Racer known as ‘The Rocket’ shows that Mercedes’ hottest hatch ever is a natural born killer on the track.
By now, we know what kind of machine the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S Wagon is. It cranks 603 horsepower from its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. It sends that power to all four wheels, but if you’d like, you can send all those ponies to the rears only. Zero to 60 comes in a blistering-fast 3.0 seconds. And even with its big Mercedes badge, blackout trim, and 20-inch wheels, it’s still of a sleeper.
So, it’s a supercar disguised as a wagon. Of course you’d feel like a superhero in one. But as good as you might feel behind the wheel of a longroof E63, chances are legendary racer Randy Pobst can do better. And watching him hoon Mercedes’ biggest sports car around Big Willow at Willow Springs is a real treat, and it explains why he’s dubbed “The Rocket.”
In this episode of Tire Rack’s Hot Lap on the Motor Trend YouTube channel, Pobst absolutely destroys the iconic track on a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. “I’m a wagon guy,” he says. “And this thing has got an all-wheel drive system that was tuned for sporty driving. It can get power oversteer. It’s got an amazing AMG V8 turbo, big fat torque. Beautiful noises.” That’s pretty high praise from one of the best.
The 2.5 mile track is no match for the big Merc, and in 1.29.85, Pobst’s lap is history. To be fair, he does offer some soft criticism. It’s “… a little soft on the track,” he says. But to him, the grip coming out of the corners more than makes up for it. Besides, at the end of the day, it is still a two-ton wagon.
Pobst doesn’t mince words when he gives his summation of the car. “It’s a sleeper,” he says.”You don’t really expect a wagon to be this fast. But it’s a full-on performance car.” Truer words have never been spoken. We probably can’t flog an E 63 around a track quite like Randy, but after seeing this video, we’d sure love to try.
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