Forget everything we knew about the E-Class business sedan so far. Mercedes turns the braven farm animal for managers and taxi customers a monster. The AMG version has 450 kW / 612 PS under the hood, which are distributed from an eight-cylinder twin turbo on all four wheels. Up to 300 km / h are possible, the sprint to Tempo 100 done the E 63 S in three and a half seconds. The price is not fixed yet, but should start at over 100.000 Euro.
Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche had just made a guest appearance at the Greens, drove in the S-Class with hybrid drive for party congress of Ökos. It would be inconceivable if the tie-free CEO had chosen another model with Mercedes star, the new E 63. With his thick four-liter eight-cylinder he would have swelled the hatred of many delegates probably in a hitherto unknown format.
The strongest E-Class of all time fulfills everything that brings critics on the palm. Far too many horsepower, far too much consumption in everyday use, far too fast for traffic around and much too expensive for normal earners. All this buzzes through your mind before you fall into the sports seats of the E 63 for the first test drive. Considered soberly, one expects at least a technical and visual masterpiece, which makes curious, despite the rational reservations. After all, armies of engineers had no evil in mind when they set out on their own, a good-looking car from Dr. Ing. Turn Jekyll into Mr. Hyde.
Externally, the new AMG version is conspicuous, but not intrusive. The front end may wear in this form only this E-Class. New grille with double lamella, huge air intakes under the headlights and the license plate. In addition, the wider wheel arches, which were necessary because of the 1,7 centimeters grown track. On the side, the covered sills stand out, which visually push the E 63 slightly downwards. At the rear dominates the spoiler integrated in the trunk lid and the large apron, which accommodates two chrome-plated twin tailpipes. Thus, the work of designers deserves the title "elegant sportiness".
Anyone familiar with the E-Class can quickly find their way around the AMG interior, but has to familiarize themselves with a few new displays on the two widespread monitors, which provide more or less exciting information, especially on excursions to the racetrack. Of course, the certainly proud owner is spoiled with high-quality materials and excellent seats, can also use the certainly rich, but not yet known price list depending on the account balance. So far everything pure Mercedes.
After the start of the first exploration tour, the E 63 is initially unspectacular. The eight cylinders purr surprisingly gently, thanks to the mighty pulling power of 850 Newton meters enough for leisurely swimming in everyday traffic low speeds. Unnoticed by the driver, the electronics keep putting half of the cylinders down again and again. This saves fuel and, above all, helps to reduce fuel consumption to below nine liters according to the current, heavily controversial standard. Of course, this only applies if the comfort mode is activated on the small rotary switch in the center console.
Who spends so much money for a sports sedan, will probably often resort to this switch to choose the sport levels. Then the Mercedes twists through the nine gears of the automatic transmission. In addition, this E-Class, contrary to its original purpose to the blustering wheel rudder. The passers-by or just overtaken should not remain hidden, what is just passing by. Everything but in the permitted legal framework, assures Mercedes. When cornering around the serpentines up to a remote racetrack proved to be another technical highlight. The all-new all-wheel drive developed distributes the power so ingeniously that even after tight bends power immediately comes back to the wheels. At which, the super brain decides in fractions of seconds. Incidentally, the AMG offers so much safety in addition to the expected sportiness when the courageous hobby racers run out of talent.
In addition, there is a newly developed chassis, of course extremely effective brakes, a familiar exact steering and all the electronic assistance systems that the bulging Mercedes-shelf gives. The latter, however, can be deactivated on the racetrack in various forms. The then wild E-class can be animated to drift until the tires bring the rubber to smoke. The tire dealer will be happy, the gas station attendant as well. Because the starter of the car is miles away from mentioned norm. Sure, because the crawling in this gang of eight cylinders want to be fed to animate the two turbos to peak performance. The wealthy owners will hardly care how high the gold credit card is charged.
These additional costs are deducted primarily from American accounts. Because in the US, most of the two E 63 versions will probably find their fans, who will then decide mainly for the power version. Although in the offer so also an AMG without "S" beckons, which holds with 420 kW / 571 PS some respect distance to the 600-PS limit. For him, the presumed starting price of over 100.000 Euro applies.
Whatever AMG, this newcomer will cause heated discussions. Especially with those who will probably never find an opportunity to experience it from within. The few hundred pieces sold each year in Germany should not change the world. Perhaps, however, steer the view of the venerable Stuttgart company even more in the direction of sportiness. Even if not every star driver has a small Nico Rosberg. (Peter Maahn / SP-X)