Mercedes have fired their latest salvo in the executive saloon market with the launch of the new E 63 AMG model.
The W212 E-Class was facelifted recently and with the new line-up first appearing with just four-cylinder turbocharged engines, the new twin-turbo V8 petrol is indeed a fine addition. It will compete head-on with the BMW M5.
The 5.5-litre hand-built AMG V8 in the new E 63 is twin-turbocharged and features direct injection. It makes 557 PS and a considerable 720 Nm of torque – 32 PS and 90 Nm more than the previous model with the 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine. The power is fed to the fat rear wheels through the 7-speed AMG Speed Shift Multi-Clutch Transmission. Mercedes claims a 0-100 km/h time of just 4.2 seconds while the top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.
There’s even a more powerful E 63 AMG S model complete with 585 PS, 800 Nm and an AMG-tuned 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system, but it remains to be seen if Mercedes-Benz India decide to ship out the goods.
The E 63 AMG has been launched at Rs 1.29 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi) and will be available at dealers across the country by order.
