Engine and transmission
Breathing under the bonnet of the E63 AMG is more compact than earlier, but technologically much more advanced, and a more powerful twin-turbocharged engine. Boasting technologies such as direct injection, Biturbo, air-water charge air cooling and generator management, the E 63 manages to deliver some astounding power figures, while managing to offer better fuel efficiency too.
The base models for the E63 AMG cars (which happens to be the one launched in India) delivers ‘only’ 557 bhp of power at 5500 rpm, and 720 nm of torque between 1750 – 5250 rpm. In the stock form this model comes with rear wheel drive. This is an increment of 32bhp and 20 Newton metres over the previous model.
As we mentioned earlier, though, there is a more powerful ‘S’ variant which boasts 585 hp and 800 Newton metres of torque. The more powerful version also comes with a newly developed performance-oriented AMG 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system. This system can be had optionally with the less powerful variants too.
Acceleration timings represent those mad power figures, with 0-100km/h sprint taken care of in 4.2 seconds for the India spec E63 AMG. The S variant would do the trick in 3.6 seconds though. Top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h. And as we realized during our test run at BIC, it wouldn’t take you any more length than the back-straight of the India F1 circuit to achieve that speed – braking distance to come back to a halt included. Now that’s pretty quick!
Transmission duties are taken care of by the top of the line AMG Speedshift MCT-7 multi-clutch transmission. The sports transmission is exclusive to Mercedes-AMG and is M-B’s answer to the Audi S-Tronic for lightening fast shifts. The highly advanced transmission is sporty, direct and has an incredible emotional appeal for the performance enthusiast.
The MCT (stands for Multi Clutch Technology) transmission is essentially the 7G-Tronic automatic transmission without a torque converter. The system features a compact wet startup clutch to launch the car from a stop and features many modes. The AMG sports transmission also impresses with its low weight of just 80 kilograms, which has been made possible through the use of lightweight magnesium for the transmission housing.
The transmission offers four drive modes C (Controlled efficiency), S (Sport), S+ (Sport plus) and M (Manual). In C mode, the transmission shifts relatively early, and at lower rpm, with variations depending on driving style.
In S (Sport) mode, the engine and transmission get more aggressive and urgent. The engine speed is allowed to go higher in each gear, and the gearshifts are 25% faster than in C mode.
The S+ mode shifts the gears another 25 percent faster than in S. The M mode is as fast as the S+ mode, but does not upshift or downshift automatically, and holds on to revs until there is a manual input. The shift time of 100 milliseconds in M and S+ modes is blitzy fast for any variety of transmission in the world.
Finally, the E63 has another cool trick up its sleeve, the RACESTART function. The new Race start Function is AMG’s version of Launch Control for the quickest acceleration from a standstill. This is ensured by managing optimum traction for the driven wheels. While you never need to use your left foot in an automatic car, for the Racestart function, you actually do. To attain maximum acceleration from a standstill in RACESTART mode, this is what you need to do.
• Depress the brake pedal with your left foot, and keep it depressed.
• Choose the RS (Racestart) mode on the drive mode select dial
• The multifunction display will now show a message. RACE START Confirm: Paddle UP Cancel: Paddle DOWN
• Pull the right steering wheel shift paddle to confirm.
• Now the multifunction display will show that RACE START is available, and will ask you to depress accelerator. Remember, you should have the brake pedal depressed with your left foot all this while.
• Depress the accelerator pedal fully within 2 seconds to avoid RS mode cancelation.
• When you keep the accelerator pedal depressed, the engine speed should increase to around 4000 rpm.
• The multifunction display will now prompt you to release brakes.
• Take your foot off the brake, but keep the accelerator pedal depressed. If you don’t take your foot off the brakes in 7 seconds, RaceStart will be canceled.
• You’ll get launched at the maximum possible acceleration (according to Mercedes)
• Once you reach 50km/h RS mode is deactivated and transmission mode shifts automatically to Sport+ mode
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