From the May/June issue of Car and Driver.Spend some time in one of America's high-rent districts, and you'll see plenty of Mercedes vehicles sporting AMG badges. Some are genuine AMG models; others may wear an AMG trim package. Their presence is symptomatic of well-heeled shoppers reflexively buying "loaded" vehicles even when the expensive performance features offer no benefit to their driving lives. Luxury automakers happily encourage this thinking.As cynical as this may sound, there is no doubt that the full-on AMG models, such as the Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance, deliver genuine speed and thrills. In this full-size sedan's case, that starts with 791 total horsepower thanks to a 603-hp twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 paired with a nine-speed automatic, plus a 188-hp electric motor coupled to the rear axle through its own two-speed gearbox. Total system torque is a massive 1055 pound-feet sent to all four wheels.2025 Mercedes-AMG S63 E PerformanceThis is enough thrust to hurl the 5877-pound, 210.1-inch-long sedan to 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 10.8 seconds at 129 mph. Floor the accelerator at 50 mph, and the speedometer blows through the century mark in seemingly no time, while you're shoved hard into your seat. In Sport+ mode, the ordinarily crisp shifts are even firmer, and the energized exhaust channels a slightly muffled NASCAR stocker.The only way to get a big sedan capable of greater thrust is with a high-end Lucid Air, Porsche Taycan, or Tesla Model S. While those EVs as well as the S63 must be in their highest performance modes to deliver maximum acceleration, the EVs are notably more responsive in their lesser modes. That's because when the S63 is in Comfort mode, its V-8 turns off at a stop. When it begins moving again, it does so on electric power alone. That works fine in gentle driving, but if you demand more acceleration, the gas engine has to fire up and build boost before the car surges vigorously. 2025 Mercedes-AMG S63 E PerformanceThe S63 perks up considerably in Sport and Sport+. And there's plenty of electric assist from the 10.4-kWh battery, which is large enough to motivate the S63 by electrons alone, albeit only for an EPA-estimated 16 miles. Once that battery is depleted, the car operates as a typical hybrid, occasionally shutting off the engine to maximize efficiency, even on the highway.If the throttle response is a bit wanting, the S63's chassis fully lives up to its AMG billing. The steering is nicely weighted and provides sharp directional responses. Thanks to virtually imperceptible help from the rear axle, the car feels smaller than it is. The S63's Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires cling to the skidpad at 0.96 g, and the sedan dives into corners eagerly on back roads yet also provides great on-center stability on the highway. Brake feel is also decent, though pedal effort could be higher. Equipped with the optional carbon-ceramic brakes ($8950) on the front axle, the S63 stops from 70 mph in an impressive 161 feet and from 100 mph in 330.2025 Mercedes-AMG S63 E PerformanceThis chassis responsiveness does not come at the expense of comfort, as the S63's well- controlled ride is never harsh. Even when the suspension tightens in Sport and Sport+, the car rides reasonably well. It is an S-class, after all, although you feel and hear tar strips and pavement slabs more than in its less aggressive brethren.Befitting an S-class, the cabin is large and sumptuous. The front seats are supremely comfortable—once we disabled the active inflatable side bolsters that irritatingly pressed into our ribs at every hint of a corner. 2025 Mercedes-AMG S63 E PerformanceThe cavernous rear compartment is elaborately tailored and in our S63 had options totaling $11,000. These included highly adjustable individual rear seats with separate video screens, climate controls, and foldout trays. The right one even has a power-folding leg rest. A private jet could do worse than these seats.Such a fancy rear cabin seems a bit odd for an AMG model that is presumably driver-focused. And it's also slightly mismatched with only 11 cubic feet of cargo space.But this yin and yang of explosive performance and maximum luxury does support the "loaded" mindset. This S63 E Performance's $187,350 starting price inflated to $229,400 with options. Pretty loaded, we'd say. 2025 Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance
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