It’s almost as though Mercedes is intentionally trolling BMW. Just one day after the Munich-based brand unveiled its updated 2021 M5, the three-pointed star’s AMG performance arm is taking the wraps off of the revised 2021 E 63 S. Like its long-time rival, the latest iterations of Mercedes-AMG’s super sedan and wagon enter the new model year with fresh looks and improved tech, but mostly carryover mechanical bits.
That’s no sweat off of the E 63 S’s back, though, as the model’s handbuilt twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine’s 603 horses pushes the AMG sedan and wagon to 60 miles per hour in a blistering 3.3 and 3.4 seconds, respectively, and on to electronically limited top speeds of 186 and 180 mph, per Mercedes. In reality, we expect the mid-size models to top those numbers, given we coaxed a 2018 E 63 S to 60 mph in only 3.2 seconds. Meanwhile, a heavier wagon did the deed in just 3.0 seconds. Not all credit goes to the AMG E’s big V-8 engine, either, as the model’s nine-speed automatic transmission (with a wet multi-plate clutch in place of a torque converter) and all-wheel-drive system—which includes a dedicated Drift Mode that routes all of the engine’s power to the rear wheels—are equally responsible for launching the E 63 S sedan and wagon off the line.
Drummond Jacoy, Director Overall Vehicle Development Mercedes-AMG, said the engine carried over because executives are happy with its power and characteristics. It is a case of having the right power output for the car, not just pure numbers. The engine is part of the overall package to emphasize driving capability with precise and quick shifting for a car designed for both the track and a comfortable long-distance drive.
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While its dynamic capabilities remain largely unchanged, the E 63 S welcomes a host of changes to its exterior and interior designs. Notably, the model features a new face that incorporates the styling features of the Benz-badged 2021 E-Class. This includes new headlights and an aggressive front fascia with the latest AMG cues, such as the integration of the sub-brand’s vertical-slat “Panamericana” grille design. A reworked rear end for the sedan further alters the car’s looks, while a new design for the standard 20-inch wheels ought to better emphasize the E 63 S’s bulging wheel arches, which measure 1.1 inches wider than those of the run-of-the-mill E 300 sedan.
As in the rest of the E-Class model line, the 2021 E 63 S features the brand’s latest infotainment system: MBUX. Alongside its standard 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and 12.3-inch touchscreen display, the E 63 S sports a new steering wheel design that includes haptic feedback for its touch-sensitive operative functions. Additionally, the flagship AMG E-Class model’s tiller includes wheel-mounted aluminum shift paddles and a set of buttons for swapping between the car’s various drive mode functions.
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Neither the 2021 Mercedes-AMG E 63 S nor the 2021 BMW M5 offers significant-enough dynamic changes to convince us the two updated models threaten to alter the order of high-performance mid-size luxury vehicles. That said, the E’s new styling and infotainment tech should make it even more compelling to look at and live with.
Kudos to Mercedes for keeping the wagon around, too, which gives the E an edge over the sedan-only BMW (although it does now have the Audi RS 6 Avant to contend with). Look for the 2021 E 63 S to arrive on our shores before the end of the year with pricing similar to today’s sedan and wagon models, which currently start at $108,345 and $112,745.
