Don't worry, there's still a twin-turbo V-8 under the hood.
Everyone’s favorite luxury rocket sedan is back, and it’s more capable than ever. The 2023 Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance uses a hybrid V-8 powertrain capable of 791 hp and 1055 lb-ft of torque, ranking it among the most powerful cars from the tri-star brand ever. It’s backed up by a host of chassis and technological innovations, promising both comfort and serious performance.
Think of the 2023 S 63 E Performance’s drivetrain as a bigger version of the system found in the C 63 S E Performance released earlier this year. Up front you’ll find AMG’s tried and true 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8, making 603 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque in this application. It’s connected to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission and, at the rear, what Mercedes calls an electric drive unit. The unit consists of an electric motor where the rear axle would normally sit, stuffed with an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. It’s powered by a 13.1-kWh battery that also sits in the rear. Combined, both power sources can propel the S 63 to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds, onto an electronically limited top speed of 180 mph.
Straight-line speed is only half the story, though. The 2023 S 63 E Performance comes standard with things like adaptive air suspension, active roll stabilization, active engine mounts, and rear axle steering to ensure all of that power doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the car, whether you’re cruising on the highway or carving up your favorite canyon road. There are six-piston AMG high-performance composite brakes up front, and a three-stage stability control system to cater to different driver skill levels.
If drive modes are your thing, you’ll like the S 63 E Performance. The big four-door has no fewer than seven: Electric, Comfort, Battery Hold, Sport, Sport+, Slippery, and Individual. Most of them are fairly self-explanatory, save for Battery Hold mode, which can keep the battery charged while still running both the gas and electric motors. From Mercedes:
The combustion engine and electric motor run situationally, as in the “Comfort” driving mode. The biggest difference is the operating strategy keeps the battery state of charge constant. For example, if the battery is at 75 percent charge, it remains in this range in “Battery Hold.” Use of the electric motor is then limited and optimized for low power consumption, which is compensated for by recuperation. Drivers can decide when to make full use of the battery charge again simply by changing the driving mode.
As with any new S-Class, the S 63 E Performance is stuffed with all the latest tech. The long list includes active distance assist, active steering assist, traffic sign assist, active lane keeping assist, active lane change assist, active emergency stop assist, attention assist, cross-traffic alerts, active blind spot assist, and even evasive steering assist, which Mercedes says can “support” drivers when they’re trying to avoid someone or something else in the road.
Mercedes has yet to release pricing for the 2023 S 63 E Performance, though it’s safe to assume it’ll come with an MSRP nearing $200,000, going by the last S 63’s starting price. A spokesperson told Road & Track via email final pricing and availability will come at a later date.
Brian Silvestro Road & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing.
Keyword: 2023 Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance Is a Hybrid With 1055 Lb-Ft of Torque