Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 4Matic+ launched at Rs 1.50 crore

Mercedes-AMG's fire-breathing E63 S 4Matic+ arrives on Indian shores to take the fight against the BMW M5.

The latest avatar of the mighty Mercedes-AMG E 63 has landed on Indian soil. Available only in the top-of-the-range variant – E 63 S 4Matic+ – the high-performance derivative of the E-Class saloon carries a price-tag of Rs. 1.50 crore (ex-showroom)

The main highlight of any AMG has to be its engine, and it’s no different in here. The E63 S is propelled by a 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 petrol that replaces the old model’s 5.5-litre V8. Sure, it has been downsized, but power and torque have gone up – the new motor churns out 604bhp and 850Nm as compared to the outgoing car’s 577bhp and 800Nm. The old car’s 7-speed automatic transmission has also been junked in favour of a 9-speed automatic. And while the power now goes to all four wheels in this 4Matic spec, the system is mostly rear biased. There’s even a Drift mode that channels all the power to the rear axle.

Naturally, acceleration has also improved in the new model. 0 – 100km/h takes only 3.4 seconds, which is 0.2s faster than its rear-wheel-drive predecessor. Top speed is limited to 250km/h, but Mercedes will happily lift the limiter to increase the top speed to 300km/h, if you opt for the AMG package. What’s more, when you want to drive it sedately, the E 63 S’ cylinder deactivation technology will shut the V8’s four cylinders (2-3-5-8) to improve fuel efficiency.

Design-wise, it’s a typical AMG, meaning it gets an added dose of aggression over the regular E-Class. And since it’s not based on the long-wheelbase E-Class that we get in India, the proportions are quite sporty as well. Among some of the exterior highlights are a narrow single-slat grille, aggressive front bumper with large air intakes and gorgeous 20-inch alloy wheels finished in titanium grey.

The Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 4Matic is brought to India via the CBU route, and it’ll take the fight against the recently launched BMW M5.