Mercedes-Benz’s penchant for offering every tier of its range—save for the oddball B-Class—a high-performance AMG variant is a testament to a market that isn’t necessarily content with just garden-variety models. Also, this must be a very lucrative move for the Stuttgart brand to AMG-ify almost all its models, and arguably this is why petrolheads will continue to rejoice all the way to the nearest AMG dealer as they’re utterly spoilt for choice.
This brings me to the subject of this article, the utterly unnecessary and ludicrous Mercedes-AMG S63 S E Performance, the high-performance plug-in hybrid variant of the luxo S-Class. Taking the flagship S and cramming in a 4.0-litre Bi-Turbo V8 with 450kW and 900Nm should appease any power-hungry plutocrats who want to recline in the luxuriant rear quarters while James sends it to the next board meeting. Yet, AMG had an epiphany and said, "Well, you might just need more power than what’s already on offer..." Cue the 140kW and 320Nm battery pack to bring the total system power to, wait for it, 590kW and 1,430Nm!
Mind you, this is a limo, so why so much power? Well, this is AMG, and crazy numbers have always been the performance brand’s forte. So, before we get into the oily bits of this flagship AMG S-Class—yes, sadly, the V12-powered S65 has been put out to pasture, but this latest 63 packs way more power and torque than the previous 65.
You still get all the mod cons and accoutrements expected of an executive express. There are heated and cooled, quilted leather pews, fluffy headrest pillows in the rear that can send you to Lala land, and even privacy windows that bring a level of tranquility to the mix. Being chauffeured in this is absolute bliss, but if you prefer steering your land yacht, you are in for a pleasant surprise.
An S-Class through and through, it remains easy to pilot, with light controls and a fairly supple ride quality thanks to the air suspension, even on the 21-inch low-profile tyres. Being the long-wheelbase model, which gives you more room to stretch your legs, it also settles the overall ride quality of the car with less of the denture rattling antics associated with having a sporty suspension.
Prime the limo for a more dynamic driving experience, and it delivers handsomely on the task. Yes, it remains a large vehicle that needs to contend with the laws of physics, but the way it steers and goes is something to behold. And by goes, we mean 3.27 seconds from rest to 100km/h, which is bonkers for a luxury sedan of this disposition. Much like the GT 63 S E Performance we had at our 2023 Speed Week, the hybrid system works a treat, and the battery has the ability to replenish itself rapidly in the sportier drive mode settings. Launch control, which requires you to left-foot brake while pushing down hard on the throttle, is easy to use and consistent in its use.
When activated, the big sedan strains on its leash and points its nose skywards as the rear haunches on its rear axle before you are being hurled down the road. And that shove never abates until you hit the 250km/h limited top speed or 290km/h with the AMG Dynamic Plus Package, as is the case in our test unit.
At a heady R4 742 191, the S63 S E Performance commands a hefty price for what is easily one of the fastest executive saloons. It remains plush enough to appease the discerning S-Class owner, yet, at a slight tickle of one's big toe, it trades its Seville Row Suit and brogues for spandex and running takkies in one fell swoop!
That said, AMG is answering a question nobody posed: Do we need to make the S-Class even more powerful than is necessary? Well, it's gluttonous excess on wheels, and we absolutely love the fact that the AMG engineers are crazy enough to even fathom such a thing, let alone build it.
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