gentleman,

it has become apparent that mercedes benz is leaning towards offering 4matic for their amg models, as evidenced by the announcement of the 2014 e63 4matic, as well as the cls63 having 4matic available.

is anyone, other than myself, hoping, & anticipating for awd s class amg variants?

alpina b7 xdrive, & flying spur speed are as well awd, & i think so mercedes benz can only benefit from offering such.

instantly, the s63, & s65 with awd become daily driver eligible with awd for those of us in areas where awd is a must @ some points in the year.

i look forward to the replies, & insight of the forum members!

 

I would hope they go this route with an option to switch to RWD at the push of a button.

 

So stupid to have AMG models AWD. Wtf ?

 

I was reading the Automobile article that took a test ride in the E63 a few weeks ago. They alluded that all future AMGs will have AWD save the 65 (V12 complications I guess?).

But AWD seems to be the new trend with AMGs. Keep in mind in the ROW, 4matic is optional on the upcoming E63/ CLS63 while in the US market they made it standard equipment.

 

I take it you've never gone to the dragstrip. Launches on these cars are quite compromised, and AWD certainly would fix that. Even in an impromptu 30mph stoplight burst, without AWD these cars will light the tires. On mine, at anything under 45 or so it is compromised, 60 with snow tires. And yup, I drive it in the winter. I actually will take it over my truck or my wifes R up till about 4 inches of snow. Now they are not making the 65 in AWD, but an E63 with AWD and a tune will be a ten second car, an S63 will be low 11's. And with a fixed 67-33 torque split you will still retain a rear drive bias when powering through a corner. If you can call what our cars do "cornering"... More like "Listing".

 

@zax how well does your S65 work in the rain? Is it hard to get the power down?

 

It works great in the rain but I suspect that is mostly the tires, pilot super sports in the summer, Dunlop sport 3d's in the winter. I do not try all-out acceleration runs in the rain, but it hooks up fine at 60% throttle which is about as much as I'd expect and is still probably yielding a 6 point something zero to sixty... I'll have to break out my old gtech next time it rains and I'll let you know!

 

Thanks for the reply Zax. I'm just trying to figure out what will be nicer for the Seattle weather for the upcoming W222. S63 4m or S65 rwd. hehehehe I always get the traction light to come on on the RWD cars and I'm not trying to be that aggressive from stops.

 

I'd get the s63 and do a Renntech tune, less maintenance, better launch, easier to aftermarket warranty. My 2c

 

I've always found the W221 S63 interior to be lacking so much when compared to the V12 counterparts. Even with Designo on an S63, the S600 and S65 interiors are still much nicer (fanceier door panel design, 65 has diamond stitching, and 600 gets fancy headliner piping).

But you are right on all those accounts in terms of maintenance and launch. But you could always Renntech tune a 65!

I wonder if the W222 will have a LSD or not for the V12.

 

I agree with Zax..tires make a huge difference. I also have Pilots on my car still. I'm on the Oregon coast where it also rains a **** load, and these tires stick my S to the road going through corners. Its hasn't snowed here yet, not sure if it will either, so these Pilots will have to work for any snow or ice also. I definitely want these tires again

 

Using a new set of Pilot Sport S on the CLK55 and they seem to be working well so far.
The S500 is using some Michelin all seasons with decent tread left, but they are terrible at getting traction. The 235 width sure isn't helping either.

 

If you are running the super sports, I wouldn't take the car out in ice or snow. I'd rent a car till it was off the road. I almost crashed in one inch of snow on a tiny hill, I couldn't slow down at all, or steer for that matter. Had there been another car, I would have hit him. I also got stuck on flat ground while at the tire shop before they swapped over, we had to push the car across his parking lot. With snows the same lot and the same hill were a non-event. Sorry for the hijack.

 

Yea, I don't plan on it. It doesn't snow much here on the coast. When/if it does I'll drive the wife's Denali. She doesn't use it much anyhow.

 

I too have heard these S65 not fitting with 4matic, but I suppose these are similar to the 7G-Tronic not fitting with the v12 for a while, then that being turned around. It makes no sense that the model needing it most has to do without 4matic.

We will almost assuredly see the S63 S-model with 4-matic and a power rating a hair under 600hp and the customary 900lb/ft (or hair over that, by 30 or so). I suspect that will be the car to have if you want acceleration in your S (not far off 3.5 as extra weight vs E/CLS is offset by extra torque).

 

4Matic on ANY AMG model will be good, but on a S Class its sex!

 

With the V12 TT's its probably two wheel drive or nothing.

I don't think there's any more room for ANYTHING in there.

Nick

 

I've never heard of no wheel drive....


Just giving you a hard time.

 

That was what it felt like in the snow the other day....

 

We definitely know that Mercedes will make V222 (V not W) S600 V12. They simply have an order for around 5,000 units (governments, embassies, company cars) so they will produce this. S63 AMG 4matic and S63 AMG/S 4matic will be produced Feb/Mar 2014, this is 100%. I don't know about HP, but S63 AMG/S will have more than 600hp (if the current E63 AMG/S has 585hp). So I assume, they will not make S65 AMG anymore (or if they do the car will have to have 680+ hp to make sense). I would love to see S65 AMG/S 4matic with 680+hp, but I don't think so. What do you guys think?