SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Though it’s finest often called an opulent halo automotive that options Mercedes-Benz’s newest improvements, the S-Class tends to tackle a barely totally different sense of objective after the engineers at Affalterbach get their fingers on it. AMG-tuned variations of the full-sized sedan date again so far as the early 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 max impact. That custom continues with the brand new S 63 E Efficiency, however how that functionality is achieved adjustments in some vital 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 probably 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 relatively 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 lovers and regulators, it leads to a powertrain that’s stunningly advanced and a automotive that ideas 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 be packing some intelligent engineering to handle 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 normal 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 retaining issues comparatively low-key. It’s an identical story inside, the place except for the flat-bottomed AMG steering wheel, badging and S 63-specific trim components, it’s largely enterprise as normal. That additionally means there’s nonetheless a definite emphasis on offering an opulent expertise to the passengers within the again seats, as S-Class house owners are way more prone to be chauffeured round of their automobiles 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 ability circulate of the complete drive system. The digital gauge cluster and head-up show will be custom-made with AMG-specific layouts for a extra sport-oriented look, too.
The massive information, although, is that powertrain. There’s rather a lot happening right here, so we’ll begin with the inner combustion stuff. Beneath 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 automated gearbox that sends energy to all 4 wheels by way 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 way of the limited-slip differential, successfully making a supplemental, hybrid-system-based digital stability management system. In accordance with Mercedes, this implies the combustion engine doesn’t should be throttled, permitting it to function at greater torque, in the end rising the automotive’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 staff’s hybrid race automobiles – a design which emphasizes repeatable efficiency that may be known as upon in fast succession. To realize that within the S 63, non-conductive liquid coolant is pumped by way 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 totally different ranges of recuperation energy will be known as up by urgent the drive mode button on the steering wheel (relatively than turning it like a dial to alter drive modes), and so they vary from Stage 0’s just about resistance-free coasting to Stage 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, but it surely’s higher than nothing. At speeds beneath 62 mph, the rear wheels flip in the wrong way of the entrance wheels, successfully shortening the automotive’s wheelbase, whereas at greater speeds the rear wheels flip in part with the fronts to enhance stability.
Urgent the beginning/cease button brings the S 63 E Efficiency to life completely beneath electrical energy. Consolation mode – one of many seven drive modes obtainable – is the default, and it incorporates the V8 into the combo as wanted. Electrical mode, in the meantime, does its finest to maintain the automotive motivated purely by electrical energy, however should you dig deep sufficient into the throttle, it should mechanically change over to Consolation mode and fireplace up the engine.
Settled in on the helm, the supple bolstering of the entrance seats – that are just about similar to the thrones in the usual S-Class except for 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 relatively than nook carving.
And it actually delivers in that regard. Whereas heading by way of Santa Monica and up Pacific Coast Freeway, the S 63 E Efficiency delivered vault-like serenity in Consolation mode. Though the quick, comparatively stiff sidewalls of the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S efficiency tires often permit a very egregious street imperfection to get by way of, the air suspension and adaptive dampers do a exceptional 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 often 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 good thing about 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 automotive requirements, it’s much less spectacular when you think about the colossal quantity of grunt that this automotive 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 opponents, 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 (most certainly) is tough to determine throughout a road 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 automotive’s pure surroundings both, however the rear-axle steering makes the sedan surprisingly agile, whereas the non-compulsory carbon ceramic brakes delivers glorious 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 way of switchbacks, but it surely does a wonderful job of mimicking the behaviors of smaller AMG-tuned sedans, and it’s even prepared to do a little bit of tail wagging out of slower corners should you ask for it.
Just like the S8, the S 63 E Efficiency is a little bit of an anomaly from a conceptual standpoint. When you’re shopping for an S-Class to be pushed round in, does peak efficiency actually even matter? And should you’re shopping for it due to the efficiency, why are you contemplating a sport sedan that’s outclassed in just about each metric by the smaller, lighter and cheaper Mercedes-AMG E 63 S?
Maybe some issues don’t should 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 top outcome isn’t fairly the jaw-dropping Q-ship that the numbers could have urged, however the seat massagers and Burmester audio system ought to show to be efficient coping mechanisms for would-be house owners.
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