OK interesting read ... I'll cut to the chase ... and the lap times. Some wierd comparisons here but here we go.

Also excuse some of the English metaphors relating to local sports (ex) stars.

______________________Lap time
Merc E63........................1.36.22
Mitsu EVO FQ400.............1.36.44
Porsche Panamera Turbo...1.36.83
Caddy CTS-V..................1.38.85
Audi S4..........................1.39.07
Jaguar XFR......................1.39.37
Vauxhall Insignia VXR........1.43.53

Pretty impressive for the E63 ... This is what they said about it.

"As an all round performance we knew the E63 would take some beating. Then we clocked the lap times and our jaws hit the deck - Merc beats Jag by 3 full seconds. The XFR is a born show-boater, but when you try to extract a fast lap, it’s just not interested. It’s the Paul Gascoigne, the talented lunatic that can't stop partying.

The E63 can be coaxed into sideways antics with equal confidence, but it'll do neat and quick no problem. It’s Freddie Flintoff. Might steal a pedalo in a moment of madness, but its just letting off steam, not forming habits.

The way such a heavy car stops, steers and flows on track is hugely impressive. It's almost as laser-guided as the 4wd Evo, Panamera and S4, yet as laughably exuberant as the Caddy or Jag. And faster than every single one of them.

It excels in Yorkshire too. Go hard over the crests and dips that cut across this peaty landscape and you'll feel the adaptive dampers react more abruptly - even in comfort - than the Jag's, but it’s still a perfectly nice ride. You'll also spot that the V8 is the best engine here. It's blindingly quick with a more multi-dimensional soundtrack than the flat forced induction opposition - a juicy wob on start-up, a hard edged blat to the redline.

The auto ‘box beats the oppo, offering everything from lazy ‘comfort’ to the electro-intervention-is barred ‘manual’ and ‘sport plus’, which bonds with the fast driver like he's plugged into the ECU. Then there's a helm that's light and relatively feelsome; brakes that inspire more confidence than the still fine XFR's. The Jag in incredibly accomplished, but the E63 finishes in the points more often. That’s what counts."

Should say the E63 won the supersaloon PCOTY category.

EDIT: Suprising result for the Panamera.... Turbo no less. With that design, an "OK" performance is not enough to save it....

 

Interesting... AMG FTW!~!

 

Those numbers force me to like the rear end a bit more.

 

+1 -

but not enough to buy one. . . new that is. . . would have no problem picking one up after the inevitable "redesign" (and astronomical depreciation) that should be coming in two to three years.

 

Shouldn't the Caddy challenge floating around be targeting this car????

 

impressive...

 

wouldnt expect anything less from AMG.

Love it.

 

wow!

thats good news.

Let's see how it does in the estates.

 

I am really surprised by this. AMG ftw. Even more reason why you would have to be a spoon to buy a Panamera imho.

 

Sounds like a load of ****** bull**** if that's the current CTS-V...I just don't believe it

 

They will not because the stock W211 platform cannot keep up with the CTS-V on a road course, but the W212 can and they know it.

 

What is the curb weight of the new E63?

 

Link please?

 

Don't think the article is freely available on line - it's from the mag I subscribe to.

It might be available on their website but imagine it would be for subscribers...

try www.carmagazine.co.uk

 

Hmm... the driver was Daren Turner, Le Mans LMP1 driver, British touring car driver and F1 test driver.

I think he has the credentials.

The CTS-V is the 6162cc 16v V8, 556HP... interestingly the comments about this car were "...was far, far better than we expected."

 

E63 AMG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO20rv-lVAU

EVO FQ400

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLYbkGetM_Y

Panamera Turbo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7haxeOZTVw

CTS-V

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0QPNY2OnUk

S4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwY7AeuNSd0

XFR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DliktNWoJ0

Insignia VXR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-__WR8HXDc

 

On an interesting note. After watching the E63 and the CTS laps, the E registered over 1.0 G's several times, where the Caddy barely reach the infamous 1 G mark with low-mid 9's the norm. Also the E63 reached a top speed of 123, where as the caddy topped out at 120. Just FYI guys.

Porsche did 124, and a few over 1.0, but NOT smoothly like the two above.
Audi had the best overall grip, almost every bend over 1.03-1.05G's, but a dismissal 114 top end

The BIG question here is were they all on the same tire?

On a course like this, slow tight bends with a few long sweepers, a good tire could EASILY be 2+ seconds in lap times.

 

I would of thought the rubber they come out of the showroom with ...?

Adding fancy rubber after the fact is not fair.

 

Nothing fancy Steve:

Just for comparison with my C32

Stock Pirelle's lap times were 1:11's
Bridgstone 050 PP's they were 1:09's

Different Stock type tires have WAY different track times. As they were only doing 2 laps, one for heat, ANY stock tire with a lower tread ware would have had a HUGE advantage, aka softer tire.

Note, it was not me learning as I have hundred of laps on this course in numerous cars

 

The comments around the 5:30 - 5:42min Panamera video are priceless. I also liked the giggling like a school girl in the CTS-V lol

 

Not sure what his first line was, but the second part was very clear "Piece of %^&*" describing the Porsche. LOL.

Never have I seen so much negative reception for a new Porsche.

 

Haha, "piece of sh**" he called the Pana.

I really love the brutality of the CTS-V, my favourite car I think out of all these in the test, which is odd to me, especially since I'm definitely not in love with the cars looks. Although I still give the XF the styling nod, just doesn't have that charisma of the CTS-V.

 

I hear you ... I need to get a dedicated track car. Been thinking of a Radical - but mbe its too "radical".... mbe a Caterham R400 ... loads of fun!