2013 Mercedes-Benz E63 Reviews

The Mercedes E-Class is a prestigious medium-large car that’s been reinvented in recent years. Once a conservative model, it has become pretty stylish as the Germans aim for a wider range of buyers.

High performance sedans from Germany have a new leader with the arrival of the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S – a stealth weapon that packs a massive punch in a subtly-aggressive sedan body.

In Europe, the E63AMG S gets all wheel drive -- ensuring the mountain of power and torque percolating from its bi-turbo, petrol V8 engine is held in check

Australians love an underdog whether it’s on the sporting field or in Hollywood. But when it comes to cars we have few opportunities to strut our stuff. The arrival of the new HSV GTS -- the fastest and most powerful production car ever designed, engineered and built in Australia -- is our best chance yet at hitting the big time. And not a moment too soon.As reported earlier the new HSV GTS is a fitting exclamation point for the Australian car industry. The 2017 ‘Commodore’ will likely be a globally-developed hum-drum front-drive sedan that’s about as Australian as a Toyota Camry.We’ve been blown away by the performance and refinement of the new supercharged HSV GTS but what we really wanted to know is how it compares on a global stage. With all due respect to the highly capable Ford Falcon GT -- in particular the limited edition R-Spec version released last year -- the new HSV GTS has moved beyond the decades-old Ford v Holden comparisons.Both local hero cars may have supercharged V8s but the hot Holden and all its technology (forward crash alert, heads-up display, blind-zone warning, self-parking and cross traffic alert when reversing) means it really is in another league these days.There really is only one rival, the twin-turbocharged Mercedes-Benz E63 S-AMG. It’s a bit of a tongue twister but the ‘S’ is important. It’s not just any E63 but the updated 2014 model with an optional Sports pack (standard in Australia) that delivers the same power as the HSV GTS (430kW) but an epic 800Nm of torque from its twin turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 (instead of the HSV’s also-considerable 740Nm from its supercharged 6.2-litre V8).With those numbers the Mercedes absolutely flattens the fast sedans from Audi and BMW; by comparison they look plain pedestrian. That only leaves the small matter of a rather large price difference, a pair of keys and an open road to explore. PERFORMANCEDon’t worry we won’t keep you in suspense. The HSV GTS is a fraction slower to the speed limit than the Mercedes-Benz E63 S-AMG. But the Mercedes’ 0.3-second advantage costs $150,000 -- or $50,000 for every 0.1 of a second if we use the manufacturer claims as the benchmark. HSV says the GTS can reach 100km/h in 4.4 seconds, Mercedes says its car in “launch mode” can achieve the same feat in 4.1 seconds. We didn’t get near either time in either car.We squeezed a 4.7-second time out of the manual HSV GTS and a 4.5-second time out of the automatic Mercedes-Benz. So a $75,000 difference per 0.1-second then. Both cars struggled to get grip off the line despite wearing identical Continental tyres (20-inch diameter on the HSV, 19-inch on the beastly Benz). They both used electronic wizardry to try to ration their power as gently as possible but it turns out you just can’t keep good engines down. And power really is nothing without control.A sidenote, we actually got a better time out of the GTS by launching it ourselves rather than in HSV’s launch mode (press a button, step off the clutch and hope for the best; we got repeatable 4.8-second times if you’re curious).We’re assured the automatic HSV GTS is slightly quicker than the manual version and we believe it, especially as the manual needs to grab second gear just before it eclipses the 100 mark. Can you feel the acceleration difference between the two? Can you #@*% what. The Mercedes’s twin turbo 5.5-litre V8 has much more oomph from lower revs and the adrenaline boost lasts longer.What the 0 to 100km/h times don't show is how the Mercedes in much more toey, more ready to launch at any moment from whatever speed you're doing with just the slightest dab of the throttle. Its in-gear acceleration is significantly quicker than the HSV.The only minor letdown with the Benz is the gearbox. Mercedes’ seven-speed multi-clutch auto can be a little sluggish between gears when it’s not being floored (even with four shift modes to choose from). The HSV is no slouch but the Mercedes-Benz E63 S-AMG snots it in the right conditions. The power is, quite simply, more readily available.PRICEWould a Mercedes customer ever consider a Commodore? Don’t scoff until you’ve sat in the new Holden. The HSV GTS has a much more upmarket feel to it. Sure, few potential buyers of either of these cars are going to cross-shop them. The only downside is that, inside, the GTS looks exactly the same as the HSV Clubsport R8. In the GTS you’re paying for an engine, a heavy-duty differential, a gaping front bumper, big yellow brakes and three years of engineering work. If you can comfortably afford a Mercedes-Benz E63 S-AMG then there really is no need to consider anything else -- from Germany or Australia. But if you simply can’t bring yourself to part with a quarter of a million dollars on a car that, unlike property, will ultimately go down in value, then the HSV GTS may be for you. It may even hold a little more value in the long run given that it’ll mark the end of an era in Australian muscle cars.In isolation the new HSV GTS seems expensive but when you consider it in this company the numbers start to add up. You could buy a manual and an automatic GTS and still have change from the purchase price of the Mercedes-Benz.The HSV GTS starts at $92,990 plus on-road costs. The price of the Mercedes-Benz has crept up $9500 to $249,900 but comes with the lot, including an AMG diff and the power upgrade (from 410kW/720Nm to 430kW/800Nm) that other countries must pay a hefty premium for.HANDLINGBoth of these cars can easily handle the daily grind or a race track. The HSV GTS rides on suspension technology shared with Ferrari; tiny magnetic particles adjust the amount of damping in milliseconds. The result is the most comfortable HSV to date despite riding on massive 20-inch wheels and tyres. The press of a button makes it switch from being suited to track work or city cruising.The Mercedes-Benz is just as comfortable and adjustable but without as many gadgets. The slightly lighter and lower body of the E63 means it doesn’t lean as much in corners as does the big Commodore. The Mercedes just feels lower and more agile.The biggest surprise, however, was the difference in braking performance. The HSV GTS has the biggest brakes ever fitted to an Australian production car (390mm discs up front, clamped by six-piston calipers, just in case such detail comes in handy on a trivia night) and they feel utterly superb.The brakes, sourced from AP Racing but wearing a HSV label, have a level of precision that makes the mighty GTS feel as lithe as one of those tiny hand-built club cars with frames that appear to be made out of old tube steel offcuts.The Benz has smaller brakes (360mm discs and six-piston calipers up front) but has slightly less weight to pull up. As hard as this is to believe, however, especially for Euro-philes, the Benz brakes feel quite basic in comparison, lacking the bite and precision of millimetre perfect adjustment of the HSV.VERDICTPatriotic pride and price differences aside the Mercedes-Benz E63 S-AMG is a knockout winner -- not least of which is because it highlights the many strengths of the homegrown HSV GTS. This is the closest an Australian car has ever been to matching the world’s best sports sedan, which is all the more remarkable given the $150,000 price difference. If this were a World Cup soccer match, the score would be Germany 2, Australia 1. That we landed one in the net against a bigger team with a vastly bigger budget is a victory in its own.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling  HSV GTSPrice: $92,990 plus on-road costsEngine: Supercharged 6.2-litre V8Power: 430kW and 740NmTransmission: Six-speed manual or six-speed torque converter auto ($2500 option)Weight: 1881kg (manual), 1892.5kg (auto)Safety: Six airbags, five-star ANCAP rating0 to 100km/h: 4.4 seconds (claimed), 4.7 seconds (as tested)Consumption: 15.7L/100km (auto), 15.3 L/100km (manual)Warranty: 3 years, 100,000kmService intervals: 15,000km or 9 monthsSpare tyre: Full size (above boot floor)Mercedes-Benz E63 S-AMGPrice: $249,900 plus on-road costsEngine: Twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8Power: 430kW and 800NmTransmission: Seven-speed multi-clutch autoWeight: 1845kgSafety: Eight airbags, five-star Euro-NCAP rating0 to 100km/h: 4.1 seconds (claimed), 4.5 seconds (as tested)Consumption: 10L/100kmWarranty: 3 years, unlimited kmService intervals: 20,000km / 12 monthsSpare tyre: inflator kit

The evolution of Mercedes-Benz E-Class AMG started years ago and has progressed to the latest and greatest E 63 AMG S model -- now with a colossal 430kW/800Nm from its twin turbo (bi-turbo) petrol V8 engine. It's sufficient to push the 1900kg plus four door luxury projectile from 0-100kmh in about 4.0 seconds and blatt on without let-up to its arbitrarily set terminal velocity.AMG has fully fettled the beast and installed a swag of special components designed to deliver the goods when it comes to sporty driving. The brakes are huge multi-piston units, the suspension has adjustable damping, the steering is super responsive and even the transmission offers four modes as well as race start - all courtesy of AMG.But the heart of the E 63 is its 5.5-litre, direct injection V8 with twin variable geometry turbos, variable cam timing and other engineering trickery to help deliver awesome performance and impressive fuel economy along with ‘green' credentials all at the same time.Where the previous model was offered with a Sports Package for extra power and kit at extra cost, the latest is only available in ‘S' spec - with all the go fast bits included. The price is $249,900.Included is the locking diff' that the E 63 deserves but which few optioned previously. It has a big influence on how this monumentally powerful rear drive sedan puts its power to the ground and why it behaves so well under pressure. All wheel drive E 63s are available overseas but not here. Something else pretty special is the seven-speed dual clutch transmission with paddle shift and four modes.The interior is at luxury car level and includes premium audio, full media connectivity, Nappa leather, sports wheel and a 360 degree safety camera. ‘Intelligent' LED headlights complete with selective aiming aid night driving. Driver assist kit includes nearly the full suite of Benz ‘help' as well as active park assist for parallel and nose to kerb parking.This amount of power is rare in a road car with V8 Supercars cranking out not much more in the way of kilowatts -- and certainly not as much torque. But you can't compare this car with a ‘coarse' V8 racer, the E 63 is a much more refined beast  - a veritable iron fist in a silk glove as it offers superlative levels of luxury in a stylish and practical package.We had a bit of a crack in the latest E 63 at Sandown race track where the largish Benz happily carved up the tight bits and blasted down the straights like a real race car. We were too chicken to go the whole hog and switch everything to off or full manual control on the track but even with one notch to go, the E 63 still delivers the required drive feel sought by enthusiast drivers complete with a measured amount of rear wheel slip and tail-out oversteer. Acceleration is brutal.The sound burbling out the back is good but nowhere near as stirring as the earlier, naturally-aspirated 6.2-litre V8 (still in the C 63). The look inside is understated and classy, much like the exterior treatment.

Mercedes-Benz has given its E-Class a facelift together with a combination of price reductions and extra equipment additions that combine to improve their value, according to Benz, from $7000 to $23,000 depending on the model.Earlier this year we were able to preview the coupe and cabriolet versions of the E-Class models in their home territory. They’ll be arriving here late in the year but have been preceded by the more mainstream sedan and wagon variants.STYLINGMore mainstream they may be but in terms of styling the four and five-door bodied E-Class models lose very little in comparison to their sporty siblings especially with M-B Australia’s decision to only bring in the Avantgarde specification with its big, bold three-point star embedded within the aggressive two-bar grille.External changes for the 2013 E-Class are minor with a new front end featuring one-piece headlamps and revised bonnet and bumper. The rear lights and bumper have also been changed with horizontal LED tail lights giving the new E-Class a lower stance that further enhances its sporty look.INTERIORThe interior of the new E-Class retains the same overall design theme as before but detail changes to the colours and finish of the materials work well and increase the feeling of luxury and sportiness.TECHNOLOGYWe’re used to new technology filtering down from more expensive models but in this case many of the latest features are making their debut in the E-Class prior to being passed up to the upcoming new S-Class.Most of this new technology is centred around what Benz calls its Intelligent Drive system which uses twin cameras mounted at the top of the windscreen, angled outwards at 45 degrees.These combine to provide a 3D view of the area around 50 metres in front of the car and work together with a radar sensor system to operate a range of advanced safety features such as Collision Prevent Assist which alerts the driver to a potential frontal collision and applies the brakes where necessary; Attention Assist (it monitors driver inattention and/or fatigue and issues an alert); Distronic Plus (keeps the vehicle centred within its lane on straight stretches); Cross-Traffic Assist (can detect crossing traffic or pedestrians and boost braking where a collision is imminent); Pre-Safe Braking (detects wayward pedestrians and applies the brakes if required); and Pre-Safe Plus which can recognise an imminent rear-end collision, activates the car’s hazard lights and triggers occupant protection features.Once again we just sit back and marvel at the scope and effectiveness of the safety enhancements that modern car makers are providing, effectively at no additional cost to the buyer.MODELSThere are ten variants in the 2013 E-Class range, seven sedans and three Estates. Prices range from $79,900 for the E 200 sedan through to the spectacular E 63 AMG sedan at $249,900.ENGINESAll engines in the standard E-Class models are now either four or six cylinders and turbocharged with the previous V8 E 500 now dropped in favour of a V6 in the E 400 sedan and Estate. Although the new V6 displaces just 3.0 litres it achieves V8-like performance thanks to the use to twin turbochargers with up to 245 kW of power and 480 Nm of torque all the way from 1400 to 4000 rpm, but with fuel consumption officially measured at just 7.4 litres per hundred kilometres.The E 63 AMG sedan is the only V8 model remaining and it also uses a bi-turbo to reach its stunning peaks of 430 kW and 800 Nm. All E-Class models get seven-speed automatic transmission with steering column mounted shift paddles.Another first for the E-Class, indeed for any Australian Mercedes-Benz model, is the E 300 Bluetec Hybrid. While luxury car rivals such as BMW and Lexus also offer hybrids Benz is the first to do so with a diesel rather than a petrol engine. The combination of 2.1-litre turbo-diesel and battery pull fuel consumption down to a frugal 4.3 litres per 100 kilometres.As before all E-Class Estate models are seven-seaters with the third-row bench seat facing rearwards. Benz are expecting a slight boost in sales with the previous seven-seat R-Class no longer being imported here.DRIVINGWith so many model variants in the new E-Class range our test drive options were limited however we will report in more detail when we carry out our extended tests within the next few months. We were able to drive the E 200 and E 250 petrol and E 250 CDI diesel during the launch in and around Melbourne.Expectations are always high whenever we drive any Mercedes-Benz and the new E-Class certainly delivers even in the lower-specced models. The chassis feels solid and tight and the car is superbly balanced. Ride comfort is firm but comfortable even on some of the coarse surfaces that we passed over.As is normally the case we’d opt for the diesel powerplant with the extra mid-range torque that all keen drivers savour. Having said that the 2.0-litre petrol doesn’t fall that much short if you’re planning to operate exclusively in commuter territory.VERDICTSafer, cheaper, stunning looks. All should combine to keep the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class around the top of the shopping list of anyone looking for an affordable prestige car.The complete 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan and wagon range is:E 200 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-door sedan: $79,900E 220 CDI 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-door sedan: $82,400E 250 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-door sedan: $97,400E 250 CDI 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-door sedan: $99,900E 300 Hybrid 2.2-litre turbo-diesel / electric four-door sedan: $109,900E 400 3.0-litre bi-turbo petrol four-door sedan: $129,900E 63 AMG 5.5-litre bi-turbo petrol four-door sedan: $249,900E 200 Estate 2.0-litre turbo-petrol five-door wagon: $86,900E 250 CDI Estate 2.2-litre turbo-diesel five-door wagon: $107,700E 400 Estate 3.0-litre bi-turbo petrol five-door wagon: $137,700Mercedes-Benz E200Price: from $79,900Warranty: 3 years roadside assistEngine: 1.8L four-cylinder, 135kW/270NmTransmission: 7-speed automatic, RWDThirst: 6.6L/100Km, CO2 154g/km

As the mist parted to reveal the road snaking away along the side of the cliffs in Spain, it was easy to believe I had died and gone to heaven. Classic roads such as these near the famous Montserrat Abbey perched in the mountains above Barcelona are tailor-made for drivers and our V8-powered AMG super car was certainly up to the task- rarely do the two intersect.The roar of the big high revving V8 cannoned off the rock face that towered above us as the car powered from corner to corner. Thank you God!Australians love their fast cars and it doesn't get much better than this. You get more power and torque than before, but unfortunately we miss out on the new all-wheel drive system. Like Benz's small GLK soft roader, the 4MATIC system was never designed for right hand drive which is kind of silly really. In this model the previous AMG Performance Pack has morphed into a fully-blown 'S' model with even more power and torque, as well as plenty of other goodies.No word on pricing yet, but these cars aren't cheap and, when you see the engineering that goes into them - you can understand why (the current model starts at $240,000). But that still leaves plenty of room for options like the amazing 1200 watt, 14 speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system.AMG is to Benz as HSV is to Holden, with AMG accounting for almost 8 per cent of Benz sales in Australia - one of the highest proportions in the world. Based on the new, facelifted E-Class, the AMG model features a single front facia design, unlike the donor car which offers two, along with the new single headlight cluster that employs LEDs to create the effect of twin lights - a hallmark of the car for three generations.It features a 48mm wider track at he front for improved handling, the front and rear bumpers have also been redesigned, with further cosmetic changes to distinguish the more powerful S model from its sibling, including larger wheels and red brake calipers.Inside there's plenty of logos and the S features contrast stitching on the leather plus contrasting silver coloured seatbelt webbing. Although the cars are limited to 250km/h the speedometer reads all the way to 320.Benz is renowned for safety and this car maintains that reputation, with a host of safety systems amalgamated under the heading of Intelligent Drive. Automatic braking is standard, to prevent rear enders as well as avoiding pedestrians and cameras/sensors provide a 360 degree view around the car looking up to 50 metres ahead, and even warning of traffic approaching from either side.Benz claims the 5.5-litre bi-turbo V8 is the most efficient series production V8 in the world. There's two models, both with the same size engine, but one with 410kW/720Nm and the other with 430kW/800Nm.In left hand drive form, it is also offered with all-wheel drive, split 33:67 front to back, potentially giving the car more grip and faster acceleration. To wit the all-wheel drive, 4MATIC S is able to dispatch the dash from 0-100km/h in a Ferrari-like 3.6 seconds.The rear-wheel drive S version that we are getting is good for 3.8-3.9 seconds - it hasn't been tested yet. While the rear-drive 410kW version is good for 4.2 seconds. Top speed of both cars is limited to 250km/h.18 inch wheels with 255/285 rubber are standard, while the S adds 19s with the same size tyres but with lower profiles, along with a rear diff lock - further aiding in putting all that power to ground.Both models are hooked up to an automatic, AMG Speedshift MCT 7-speed sports transmission, with paddle shifters, that blips the throttle on down changes, together with electro-mechanical variable speed sensitive steering.Start/stop is standard (but can be turned off) and the driver can select from a number of drive modes and the suspension is also adjustable, with air dampers holding up the rear.Despite the increase in power, the 410kW model consumes the same 9.8 litres/100km as its 386kW predecessor, while the 430kW model is expected to consume a fraction more - it too hasn't been tested.Basically, the car could still do with more grip. When you're pushing out this much power, the difference between 410 or 430kW is difficult to quantify, certainly well beyond our knowing.Suffice to say the E63 is mighty quick in either configuration, either off the line, in a straight line or through the twisty bits, as we discovered - although the latter requires some finesse. The sound and feel of the big V8 is almost tangible, especially in sport mode with the exhaust baffles fully open. The throaty roar from the quad pipes sounds like the hounds of hell themselves are approaching.We got to drive both the rear wheel drive 410kW model and top of the line all-wheel drive 430kW S model - both of them sedans. Just like previous E63 that we drove the back has a tendency to step out unless you're careful - traction control or no traction control. And the smaller 18 inch wheels on the standard car don't help matters.After a bit of trial and error we found the best way to drive the car, in fact the only way - is fast in and slow out of corners, braking deep and letting the car complete its turn and straighten up before hitting the throttle again. The beefy AMG brakes are superb but can be upgraded to ceramic discs if desired, at considerable cost however.Even with all-wheel drive to keep the car in check you need to remain watchful. At one point we pulled out to overtake, which can be accomplished in a nanosecond, and the car almost snapped sideways into the car we were trying to pass as we tromped the throttle.