The level of quality, technology and safety infused in every new car for sale in Canada is so great that truthfully, it’s tough to find a bad car these days. There are varying degrees of greatness though, and at the upper echelon of that spectrum, there are a handful of machines so special, they’re practically rolling superlatives, exceeding expectations of what is even possible for an automobile to achieve. That is the rarified space in which the new 2024 Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance exists.
Mercedes’ flagship sedan has been iconic for ages, presenting vault-like solidity, decadence, and smoothness for the well-heeled buyers who choose one over alternatives from BMW, Range Rover, or Cadillac. These are cars for people of importance and taste, but they’re not exclusively for stuffed-shirts needing to be chauffeured around everywhere. Many buyers choose to pilot their own S-Classes, and if it can be tuned for high-performance driving too, so much the better. That’s where the AMG division’s S 63 comes into play, and for 2024, it receives a new “E Performance” moniker, indicating a greater electrified element than before.
New Electrified Drivetrain
Mercedes has been utilizing mild-hybrid technology for a few years to good effect where electrification bolsters the engine’s powerband throughout the meat of the rev-range. With the S 63 E Performance, AMG has gone with a full-on plug-in hybrid format (PHEV), that’s less about saving fuel and more about utilizing electrification as a performance enhancement. On its own, the hand-crafted AMG 4.0L twin-turbo V8 produces 603 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque, as it had done in the previous generation, but with electrification, the result is 791 hp and a mind-bending 1,055 lb-ft of torque, essentially doubling the already swift non-AMG S 580 model.
Situated at the rear axle, the electric motor integrates with its own two-speed transmission separate from the gas engine’s nine-speed automatic, enabling greater immediacy and reaction to throttle inputs, plus it means the full torque output from each motor and engine can be utilized throughout the entire rev range. If rear wheel slip is detected, both engine and motor torque can be redirected and distributed via AMG’s Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system to the corners with the most traction.
The 13.1-kWh battery is equally dizzying with much of its technology drawn from Mercedes-AMG’s Formula 1 hybrid race car. Specifically, with a goal of maximizing the amount of power drawn at any given moment, a battery must be kept cool – no easy task with the considerable amount of energy a large, very heavy sedan needs to go quickly. The AMG 400-volt battery pack flows 14 litres of non-conductive liquid through the battery pack, past each of the 1,200 cells, keeping each cell’s temperature optimized for power draw. It’s also useful to help the battery’s energy regeneration, which can also heat up a battery. Keeping the cells cool means they can provide higher power density, minimizing mass and size, too.
The S 63 also offers four levels of regeneration including a one-pedal drive mode.
Impressive Acceleration
The S 63 E Performance can cruise along in electric-only mode for up to 33 km based on the generous WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) figures, and the big S-Class floats along serenely in this mode around town. There’s a drive mode to save the electric energy as a driver might if they anticipated a lot more stop-and-go traffic later on their journey, and Comfort mode uses electric mode when appropriate at slower speeds around town, but draws from the engine’s power when needed, typical of most hybrid systems. In either mode, the big sedan had no trouble keeping up with the pace and flow of traffic. At low speeds in full-EV mode, the S 63 broadcasts a manufactured – and amusingly deep – sci-fi soundtrack to summon pedestrian awareness.
Switching from Comfort to Sport and Sport+ drive mode alters the S 63’s character significantly. In the latter mode, the V8 idles quicker to facilitate faster starts from a standstill. The engine and electric motor are in constant interaction, and the throttle response is made snappier. While it sounds like a recipe for a twitchy, frenetic experience, the reality is the supremely smooth S-Class just becomes more responsive and much quicker. Serious thrust is available anywhere at any time, and matting the accelerator from a standstill sees the bow of the mighty S-Class rise and the big car rocket toward the horizon, reaching 100 km/h in a claimed (and likely conservative) 3.3 seconds.
Where a smaller and lighter car with similar acceleration can snap your head back, the way the S 63 delivers its power, it feels more like the hand of God is pushing you into the seat back. It’s more dignified, if racing to super-legal speeds can ever be such a thing.
The transmission goes about its business, mostly without calling attention to itself. Under normal driving, it’s very smooth, and the switch between electric and hybrid modes is virtually imperceptible. But when really hustled, the extraordinary forces inflicted on the S 63’s drivetrain can result in occasional instances when a deliberate downshift resonates through the cabin.
The test car wore AMG’s ceramic high-performance composite brakes, and while they lacked the initial bite one normally associates with sporty machines, their stopping power was astonishing, and despite calling on them repeatedly to slow the big sedan on runs up and down Malibu’s canyon roads, they never hinted at any fade.
Astonishing Handling
Thanks largely to electrification, there’s an increasing number of cars that can achieve the same impressive acceleration as the S 63, but not all of them can handle the way the big Merc does. AMG’s adaptive air suspension and ride control is standard fare on the S 63, employing active roll stabilization. The way such a large car manages its body motions is nothing short of astonishing and when coupled with the standard rear-axle steering, the S 63 can be hustled around on the tight mountain roads feeling more like a C 63 than an S-Class. The combination of stability, constant composure, and great grip means a driver can be chauffeured through traffic to the office, but then go out and carve the canyon roads with the same car, and no matter which scenario it’s in, the ride quality is smooth and composed.
Premium Finishes and Tech
The S 63 E Performance still makes a fine choice for those occasions an owner might want to be chauffeured around. The test car, finished in a subdued matte grey colour, featured a scandalous red leather interior, contrasted with expanses of high-gloss carbon fibre trim. It was also spec’d with a premium rear seat package enabling first-class seating with a nearly flat relaxing position replete with footrest. The front seats are adjustable in so many ways that it’s impossible to not get comfy, and the optional Burmester sound system offers power and clarity that’s nothing short of incredible.
Mercedes has gone all-in with its high-tech user interface. Nearly every function is operated through the massive, vertically oriented touchscreen that dominates the central portion of the dashboard. Like most of these highly complex infotainment systems, it can be configured to prioritize functions a driver most often utilizes with little widgets featured as overlays on the massive map. Similarly, the driver’s instrument panel is another screen that can also be configured in a multitude of different ways. The S 63 is a very complex machine with a lot going on, and it takes some time to familiarize oneself with all the controls, and while the voice-command controls are pretty effective, it’d still be nice to have a few traditional buttons and knobs instead of glass and haptic control panels for everything.
The S 63 is topped up with the best of the driver aids and active safety features the company has to offer.
Final Thoughts
While pricing hasn’t yet been announced, it’s certain the S 63 E Performance will be a costly machine, and yet with the levels of comfort, technology, style, and sensational performance, it’s also still likely to be a lot of value for what is surely one of the most impressive cars available today at any price. It’s extremely rare to find a machine that delivers so well in terms of both luxury and performance, but the S 63 E Performance exceeds expectations delivering on both accounts to the highest levels.
The new 2024 Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance is expected to begin arriving in Canadian showrooms in early 2024 with pricing to be revealed closer to the model’s arrival.
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