New E 63 AMG adds power to day-to-day usability

"With its unique combination of pioneering driver assistance systems, the E 63 AMG further consolidates the brand's leading position in the field of automotive performance and safety," said Frank Bernthaler, Director, Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Middle East & Levant.

The AMG 6.3-litre V8-engine in the new E 63 AMG develops an output of 525 hp and a torque of 630 Newton metres, matching the outstanding fugures for the SL 63 AMG. The E 63 AMG accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of an electronically limited 250 km/h.

Despite an additional 11 hp output versus the preceding model, the fuel consumption of the new E 63 AMG has been significantly reduced to 12.6 li-tres of super-premium grade petrol per 100 kilometres (NEDC combined consumption, provisional figure.

Therefore, the fuel consumption of the E 63 AMG is almost twelve percent lower than before, and leads the field among sports saloons developing more than 500 hp.

The AMG Speedshift MCT 7-speed sports transmission also makes a decisive contribution to fuel economy with a wet start-up clutch running in an oil bath replacing the previous torque converter. The transmission is equipped with four driving modes: "C" (Controlled Efficiency), "S" (Sport), "S+" (Sport plus) and "M" (Manual), which can be selected using a rotary electronic switch in the AMG Drive Unit.

Partial suppression of individual cylinders by interrupting ignition and injection during gearshifts under full load leads to considerably faster shift times. In M mode the AMG SPEED-SHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission allows gearshifts to be performed in 100 milliseconds.

The driver of the new Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG is not obliged to accept any compromises in this respect.

The AMG Ride Control sports sus-pension copes equally well with the agile manoeuvres of the racetrack and more comfortable, sedate driving. High performance and typical Mercedes long-distance comfort go together as an extraordinary synthesis in the E 63 AMG.

This is made possible by the newly developed AMG Ride Control sports suspension. While new steel spring struts are used on the front axle, the rear suspension features AMG-specific air springs.

The advantage of this solution, which is exclusive to AMG, is that the front spring struts ensure more sensitive responses while the rear air struts with their automatic level control system keep the vehicle at a constant height irrespective of the load.

A new, electronically controlled damping system automatically varies the damping characteristics according to the driving situation, reducing the roll angle of the body.

result is instant adjustment to provide the best possi-ble ride comfort together with the greatest possible agility. In addition the driver is able to choose between the three suspension modes of Comfort, Sport and Sport plus at the touch of a button.

For more direct responsiveness, the speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steer-ing is also a new development. The steering ratio of 14 : 1 is 22 percent more direct than in the standard production models, while a more rigid steering column plus the reconfigured characteristic mapping of the speed-sensitive servo assistance ensure better steering precision and improved road contact.

The 3-stage ESP familiar from the SL 63 AMG and C 63 AMG enables in-dividual settings to be selected - with clear benefits in terms of driving pleasure combined with the same, high level of handling safety. The ESP key in the AMG DRIVE UNIT allows the driver to choose between "ESP ON", "ESP Sport" and "ESP Off" - with the currently active mode shown in the central display of the AMG

instrument cluster. Perfect deceleration even when driving extremely briskly is ensured by the AMG high-performance braking system with 360-millimetre, internally ventilated and perforated brake discs all-round. Particularly resis-tant, motorsports-tested composite technology is used at the front axle. Outstanding grip is ensured by the 18-inch AMG light-alloy wheels with a width of nine and 9.5 inches and mixed tyre sizes of 255/40 R 18 at the front and 285/35 R 18 at the rear.