SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Though it’s greatest often known as an opulent halo automobile that options Mercedes-Benz’s newest improvements, the S-Class tends to tackle a barely completely different sense of function after the engineers at Affalterbach get their palms on it. AMG-tuned variations of the full-sized sedan date again so far as the early Nineteen Seventies with the W116 technology, and the components has stayed admirably constant all through the a long time: Stuff a large energy plant within the engine bay and assist it with specialised efficiency {hardware} for optimum impact. That custom continues with the brand new S 63 E Efficiency, however how that functionality is achieved modifications in some important methods.
Because the de facto successor to the dearly departed, V12-powered S 65, the S 63 E Efficiency seeks to additional show there’s a alternative for displacement by pairing a boosted V8 with an AMG-developed hybrid system. Collectively, the powertrain develops a peak 791 horsepower and 1,055 pound-feet of torque, figures which make this essentially the most highly effective sedan in Mercedes-AMG’s historical past. It additionally permits the S 63 E Efficiency to be motivated purely by electrical energy for about 20 miles on a cost (its 13.1-kilowatt-hour battery pack was designed for efficiency somewhat than vary, AMG notes), a function that’s anticipated to change into an rising necessity in European metropolis facilities over the approaching years.
Whereas this method addresses the issues of fanatics and regulators, it leads to a powertrain that’s stunningly advanced and a automobile that suggestions the scales at over 5,800 kilos – or about 900 kilos greater than its predecessor. That’s not a negligible quantity of mass, however the S 63 E Efficiency can also be packing some intelligent engineering to deal with it.
Earlier than diving into the mechanical nitty-gritty, let’s take a second to soak within the S 63 E Efficiency’s aesthetic. It’s not a wild departure from a typical S-Class, however components just like the AMG-specific grille, entrance fascia, aspect skirts, rear diffuser and quad-tipped exhaust ship a sportier look whereas holding issues comparatively low-key. It’s the same story inside, the place apart from the flat-bottomed AMG steering wheel, badging and S 63-specific trim components, it’s largely enterprise as traditional. That additionally means there’s nonetheless a definite emphasis on offering an expensive expertise to the passengers within the again seats, as S-Class homeowners are way more prone to be chauffeured round of their vehicles than those that are cross-shopping E 63s and M5s.
Up entrance, the 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen infotainment system provides up real-time details about the hybrid system’s state of cost, electrical motor temperature and battery temperature, together with readouts that present a visible illustration of the facility circulation of your complete drive system. The digital gauge cluster and head-up show could be custom-made with AMG-specific layouts for a extra sport-oriented look, too.
The large information, although, is that powertrain. There’s rather a lot occurring right here, so we’ll begin with the interior combustion stuff. Underneath the hood is AMG’s acquainted 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 that develops 603 horsepower by itself, and it’s matched up with a nine-speed computerized gearbox that sends energy to all 4 wheels by means of a variable all-wheel-drive system.
Located behind the transmission is a completely excited synchronous electrical motor that gives 188 horsepower for as much as 10 seconds at a time, or 94 hp repeatedly. It additionally generates 236 lb-ft of torque — all that energy permits the S 63 E Efficiency to function at speeds of as much as 87 mph purely on electrical energy. The hybrid system has its personal two-speed transmission in addition to an electronically managed limited-slip differential. The electrical motor can management drive torque to every wheel independently by means of the limited-slip differential, successfully making a supplemental, hybrid-system-based digital stability management system. In response to Mercedes, this implies the combustion engine doesn’t must be throttled, permitting it to function at greater torque, in the end rising the automobile’s agility.
AMG says that the S 63 E Efficiency’s 13.1-kWh rear-mounted battery pack takes engineering inspiration from the system utilized in Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 group’s hybrid race vehicles – a design which emphasizes repeatable efficiency that may be known as upon in speedy succession. To attain that within the S 63, non-conductive liquid coolant is pumped by means of the pack and directed round every of its 1,200 cells to make sure that the warmth is distributed evenly all through and optimum temperatures are maintained. 4 completely different ranges of recuperation energy could be known as up by urgent the drive mode button on the steering wheel (somewhat than turning it like a dial to alter drive modes), they usually vary from Degree 0’s nearly resistance-free coasting to Degree 4, which is aggressive sufficient to permit for one-pedal driving.
To make sure that the S 63 E Efficiency’s chassis can sustain with the powertrain, AMG outfitted it with a specifically tuned air suspension and adaptive dampers in addition to two-piece electromechanical anti-roll bars that may join and disconnect as wanted for extra physique management or improved trip high quality. Normal rear-axle steering additionally permits the rear wheels as much as 2.5 levels of steering angle, which is lower than what the non-AMG S-Class provides, nevertheless it’s higher than nothing. At speeds under 62 mph, the rear wheels flip in the wrong way of the entrance wheels, successfully shortening the automobile’s wheelbase, whereas at greater speeds the rear wheels flip in section with the fronts to enhance stability.
Urgent the beginning/cease button brings the S 63 E Efficiency to life solely underneath electrical energy. Consolation mode – one of many seven drive modes out there – is the default, and it incorporates the V8 into the combination as wanted. Electrical mode, in the meantime, does its greatest to maintain the automobile motivated purely by electrical energy, however if you happen to dig deep sufficient into the throttle, it would robotically swap over to Consolation mode and fireplace up the engine.
Settled in on the helm, the supple bolstering of the entrance seats – that are nearly equivalent to the thrones in the usual S-Class apart from their lack of headrest pillows – make it clear that the S 63 E Efficiency’s mission is extra about quick grand touring and unhurried cruising somewhat than nook carving.
And it actually delivers in that regard. Whereas heading by means of Santa Monica and up Pacific Coast Freeway, the S 63 E Efficiency delivered vault-like serenity in Consolation mode. Though the brief, comparatively stiff sidewalls of the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S efficiency tires sometimes enable a very egregious street imperfection to get by means of, the air suspension and adaptive dampers do a outstanding job of smoothing issues out in any other case, even within the stiffened Sport and Sport+ modes.
Stretches of open street up in Malibu gave us an opportunity to get to know these extra aggressive modes a bit higher, too. Whereas it sometimes generated an ungainly clunk (one thing we’ll chalk as much as the tough edges of a pre-production mannequin), instant throttle response is an apparent and instant advantage of hybrid system, because it eliminates any semblance of turbo lag from the V8. We have been barely underwhelmed by the S 63’s straight-line efficiency, although. Whereas a 0-60 mph dash in 3.3 seconds is undeniably fast by efficiency automobile requirements, it’s much less spectacular when you think about the colossal quantity of grunt that this automobile has to work with. In follow, it solely feels marginally faster than the roughly 700-pounds-lighter Audi S8, one of many S 63’s few rivals, regardless of having a large benefit in each horsepower and torque. Whether or not that’s a product of the powertrain’s limitations or is mass-related (almost definitely) is troublesome to determine throughout a avenue drive like this, however that quadruple-digit torque doesn’t assure that you just’re going to be the king of stoplight drags.
The tight, winding roads of the Malibu hills aren’t essentially this automobile’s pure surroundings both, however the rear-axle steering makes the sedan surprisingly agile, whereas the optionally available carbon ceramic brakes delivers wonderful stopping energy with out over-eager response at decrease speeds. You’re at all times conscious of the S 63’s substantial footprint whereas guiding it by means of switchbacks, nevertheless it does a superb job of mimicking the behaviors of smaller AMG-tuned sedans, and it’s even keen to do a little bit of tail wagging out of slower corners if you happen to ask for it.
Just like the S8, the S 63 E Efficiency is a little bit of an anomaly from a conceptual standpoint. For those who’re shopping for an S-Class to be pushed round in, does peak efficiency actually even matter? And if you happen to’re shopping for it as a result of of the efficiency, why are you contemplating a sport sedan that’s outclassed in nearly each metric by the smaller, lighter and cheaper Mercedes-AMG E 63 S?
Maybe some issues don’t must make logical sense. Judged in a vacuum, the S 63 E Efficiency is a feat of engineering that additionally occurs to be legitimately opulent and extremely succesful. The tip end result isn’t fairly the jaw-dropping Q-ship that the numbers might have urged, however the seat massagers and Burmester audio system ought to show to be efficient coping mechanisms for would-be homeowners.
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