2014 Mercedes E63 AMG... AWD.

[Danny]

We've all likely seen episodes of Top Gear with Clarkson absolutely shredding the rear tires on AMG Mercedes in a comically short period of time. It's also probably got us wondering, why would they build a car like that? Well, now those builders of ludicrously powerful sedans and expensive sport coupes have taken something of a sensible approach. For good or bad, the E63 AMG now gets the "4Matic" package standard, and will hopefully keep its tires on the rims for more than just a few miles of spirited driving. The 550 horsepower (577 in the "S") and 531 lb/ft of torque (590 in the "S") made by the 5.5 liter twin-turbo V-8 now go through Mercedes' "performance-oriented" all-wheel-drive system, which defaults to a torque split of 33/67 front to back but is capable of sending up to 70% to either axle. Even if the all-wheel-drive has made the E63 AMG a bit less wild and crazy, there's nothing less ridiculous about the straight line performance. Power is up by over 30 horsepower from last year, and the car should hit sixty miles per hour in around three and a half seconds. If it isn't limited to 155 miles per hour, it would reach a top speed in excess of 180. The new super sedan, therefore, won't disappoint in the speed department, but with the muscle car-esque, donut-happy version of the car now gone, there might be a little something missing in the fun department.

The CLS63 and S63 are also getting all-wheel-drive for 2014, so there's clearly a change of philosophy going on at AMG. They're not the only ones, as all-wheel-drive seems like it's slowly taking over the whole performance car market place. And since the people who can afford cars like the new E63 AMG 4Matic (which will set you back about $100,00) are probably on the mature side and sporting a few grey hairs, they may prefer the practicality of extra traction over the constant fear of spinning out. These drivers will also be protected by more computers and sensors and gizmos than ever before. Of course, it further removes the driver from the experience of, well, driving, but it's all in the name of safety.

Extras on the "S" model include a limited-slip rear differential and optional carbon-ceramic brakes with red calipers. Most importantly, though, the "S" package can also get you the wagon body style. It's not for everyone, but it has had wagon lovers drooling since press photos started rolling out in early 2013. For trim, what the E63 AMG 4Matic offers is characteristically pleasing. LED headlights are tastefully done, 19-inch titanium gray alloy wheels are aggressive without being ostentatious, and the interior leather with contrasting stitching lends a pleasing attention to detail. A 14-speaker sound system by Bang & Olufsen doesn't hurt, either.

This 2014 car is a bit of a coming of age for the E63 AMG. It's matured to a point where people can thrash it with confidence, getting everything out of it that the car has to offer. Driving enthusiasts may lament the computers and the loss of the power slides, but driving enthusiasts don't make up the majority of the customer base and the car business is, after all, a business. The executives and rapper and oil princes who end up buying this car will probably like it just fineWe've all likely seen episodes of Top Gear with Clarkson absolutely shredding the rear tires on AMG Mercedes in a comically short period of time. It's also probably got us wondering, why would they build a car like that? Well, now those builders of ludicrously powerful sedans and expensive sport coupes have taken something of a sensible approach.

For good or bad, the E63 AMG now gets the "4Matic" package standard, and will hopefully keep its tires on the rims for more than just a few miles of spirited driving. The 550 horsepower (577 in the "S") and 531 lb/ft of torque (590 in the "S") made by the 5.5 liter twin-turbo V-8 now go through Mercedes' "performance-oriented" all-wheel-drive system, which defaults to a torque split of 33/67 front to back but is capable of sending up to 70% to either axle. Even if the all-wheel-drive has made the E63 AMG a bit less wild and crazy, there's nothing less ridiculous about the straight line performance. Power is up by over 30 horsepower from last year, and the car should hit sixty miles per hour in around three and a half seconds. If it isn't limited to 155 miles per hour, it would reach a top speed in excess of 180. The new super sedan, therefore, won't disappoint in the speed department, but with the muscle car-esque, donut-happy version of the car now gone, there might be a little something missing in the fun department.

The CLS63 and S63 are also getting all-wheel-drive for 2014, so there's clearly a change of philosophy going on at AMG. They're not the only ones, as all-wheel-drive seems like it's slowly taking over the whole performance car market place. And since the people who can afford cars like the new E63 AMG 4Matic (which will set you back about $100,00) are probably on the mature side and sporting a few grey hairs, they may prefer the practicality of extra traction over the constant fear of spinning out. These drivers will also be protected by more computers and sensors and gizmos than ever before. Of course, it further removes the driver from the experience of, well, driving, but it's all in the name of safety.

Extras on the "S" model include a limited-slip rear differential and optional carbon-ceramic brakes with red calipers. Most importantly, though, the "S" package can also get you the wagon body style. It's not for everyone, but it has had wagon lovers drooling since press photos started rolling out in early 2013. For trim, what the E63 AMG 4Matic offers is characteristically pleasing. LED headlights are tastefully done, 19-inch titanium gray alloy wheels are aggressive without being ostentatious, and the interior leather with contrasting stitching lends a pleasing attention to detail. A 14-speaker sound system by Bang & Olufsen doesn't hurt, either. This 2014 car is a bit of a coming of age for the E63 AMG. It's matured to a point where people can thrash it with confidence, getting everything out of it that the car has to offer. Driving enthusiasts may lament the computers and the loss of the power slides, but driving enthusiasts don't make up the majority of the customer base and the car business is, after all, a business. The executives and rapper and oil princes who end up buying this car will probably like it just fine.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Give me the RWD M5, please. But then, as someone so wisely pointed out, I'm not in the market for one of these cars, so I'm not really the one to dictate what they should make.

 

[Keef]

No. Somebody delete this thread.

 

[RDF97]

That is catastrophically ugly!!!

 

[Doodle]

That car looks really good. I'm not seeing how it's ugly.

 

[Hyped]

It looks like they tried to use the nose style of the SLS.

 

[Doog]

That is catastrophically ugly!!!

Because it isn't a Holden?

Anyways, the new E63 looks so much better than the old one. Its sharp styling never grew on me. By contrast, the rear looked blobby and understyled, though the way it flowed to the front worked quite well.

I'm not a fan of Mercedes' new habit of using large, blobby headlights and relying on the LEDs to give it any sort of shape, but it does look better than the old model's too-sharp headlights that were too small for the front. The new, black grille looks far better than the old chrome design. The lower air dam looks a little funky though. That said, neither can touch the W211, which was styling perfection inside and out.

Even in AMG guise, it managed to look understated and classy, but not boring like the RS6 of the era.

 

[Keef]

I don't get how anybody can see any modern Benz as a good looking car. They're all some of the most hideous things on the road.

 

[Azure Flare]

Only sold as AWD in America, so no more tire-shredding for us.

 

[RDF97]

I don't get how anybody can see any modern Benz as a good looking car. They're all some of the most hideous things on the road.

Agree with you on that. What is the ugliest Merc ever made then? But if you want an ugly car from Germany. BMW 3 and 5 series gt. Ew. And pretty much all the Audi's except the TT's and of course Porsche.

 

[RDF97]

Because it isn't a Holden?

Anyways, the new E63 looks so much better than the old one. Its sharp styling never grew on me. By contrast, the rear looked blobby and understyled, though the way it flowed to the front worked quite well.

I'm not a fan of Mercedes' new habit of using large, blobby headlights and relying on the LEDs to give it any sort of shape, but it does look better than the old model's too-sharp headlights that were too small for the front. The new, black grille looks far better than the old chrome design. The lower air dam looks a little funky though. That said, neither can touch the W211, which was styling perfection inside and out.

Even in AMG guise, it managed to look understated and classy, but not boring like the RS6 of the era.

What's that got to do with it. "Because it isn't a Holden" were talking about the new E-AMG. Stay on topic.

 

[Organ-Donor]

Agree with you on that. What is the ugliest Merc ever made then? But if you want an ugly car from Germany. BMW 3 and 5 series gt. Ew. And pretty much all the Audi's except the TT's and of course Porsche.

Are you being serious? Lol.

 

[Doog]

What's that got to do with it. "Because it isn't a Holden" were talking about the new E-AMG. Stay on topic.

Good job quoting all those images. 👍

 

[niky]

What's that got to do with it. "Because it isn't a Holden" were talking about the new E-AMG. Stay on topic.

A short review of the styling of previous E AMGs is entirely on topic.

I actually like the current styling better than the preivous car. The four headlights blending into the body had the germ of a good idea, but the execution was left a little wanting. Plus the false square fender flare at the rear, which was meant to reference the equally false square fender flare on the old Ponton Mercs (non-functional fender bulges pressed into the steel flanks) always struck me as... odd.

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Merc has been suffeeing from stretched face syndrome of late, but the E is better than the CLA in this regard. The LEDs redirect attention away from the edges of the lights.

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Sad, no more dorifto... But really, it doesn't make sense to have all that power if the car can't put it down to the ground effectively.

 

[Liquid]

A shift to 4WD is intriguing, but my lord that is one ugly machine. Those calipers stick out like sore thumbs for starters, whereas the rest of the car makes me think of a suit and tie middle management executive in a pair of roller skates trying to look cool. Whilst wearing a T-shirt with cowabunga written on it.

The car just doesn't appeal to me on an aesthetic level.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

But really, it doesn't make sense to have all that power if the car can't put it down to the ground effectively.

Tell that to GM and Ford..

 

[sumbrownkid]

This shift to all wheel drive makes sense though if Mercedes looks at statistics on folks that buy these cars.

Most AMGs I've seen are driven by businessman in their late 40s-mid 50s and they don't strike me as the type of people willing to throw a car around.

With that much power at my right foot, I'd rather have safety/control in a sedan that weighs as much as a light truck.

 

[E28]

Not a fan. Mercedes's new cars look like they made the grill bigger, but distorted the rest of the front in the process. While the old one didn't look great from some angles, I think it was overall a rather good looking car.

Also, I feel that the round-ness (or 'blobbiness') of the front doesn't really match the sharp, quite angular styling of the rest of the car.

 

[Solo]

The lower front grille is very similar to that of the M4 concept, not sure which came first though in terms of design language in their respective manufacturers, but it does not work half as well for the Merc.

 

[Crash]

I've quite like the E Class styling over the past few generations, though the new ones seem to be getting too busy.

Either way, I'm sure the new car is still going to be mental.

 

[JacoJa]

I've never been a fan of Mercedes styling... I always thought they looked bland an boring. Since the current design language was introduced, I think they're a lot more appealing. The styling of the new cars are a vast improvement inside and out. I love the look of this, and the A & S classes. 👍

 

[analog]

That's not classy or understated but plain tacky, I much prefer the new interiors

I don't get how anybody can see any modern Benz as a good looking car. They're all some of the most hideous things on the road.

I'll agree that since the nineties it's more miss than hit, they went from bland and bulky to bland and blobby, from trying to be 'funky' to oddly angular and overstyled but currently I think they're on the right track again and found a nice balance.
I actually like the current A-Class although only on bigger wheels, the new S-Class is a return to form and easily the best looking (in a more subtle way) S-Class since the W126 in my opinion and this E-Class facelift really is a massive improvement too.
The exception that proves the rule is the new SL, that's without doubt the ugliest SL ever and I don't understand why they they got it so incredibly wrong, especially on a type of car like this where looks seem to matter so much, but then again it's probably aiming at a demographic which currently buys Ferrari California's and Porsche Panamera's.

 

[Pupik]

This E-class looks like a 2003-2007 4-door Honda Accord with a body kit. Yes, I said it...nobody else wants to call them out on it.

Having been to a Mercedes-Benz dealer for a week, I must say their exterior styling department must have been fired years ago. It's absolute hodge-podged, mis-angled, slapdash, trying-to-look-like-a-Lexus, crap. Their downfall was with the misshapen design of the SLR, which the SLS at least clawed back for some actual substance. The SLK is an okay miniature of it, but after that, they're over-styled, pointlessly flared designs that look like teenage drawings from a decade ago.

The interiors are quite sharp, orderly, and refined, by complete contrast...but frankly, it's a sad time when Mercedes' SUVs actually look more solid and composed than their cars. Suddenly, their G-class makes sense.