5 Things You Need To Know About The 603bhp Mercedes-AMG E63

1. It's spectacularly quick thanks to new turbos

Confirming the veracity of the leaked stats we saw a few months ago, the new AMG’d-up E-Class has been revealed to put out a monstrous 603bhp and 626lb ft of torque in top-line ‘S’ trim.

It’s all thanks to a pair of new twin-scroll turbos nestling between the cylinder banks of AMG’s now familiar 4.0-litre V8, helping the S get from 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds. Power is sent to all four wheels via Mercedes’ nine-speed MCT automatic gearbox.

You don’t lose much in the way of pace with the standard E63 - it develops 563bhp and 552lb ft of torque, and deals with the benchmark 62mph sprint just a tenth slower. Not bad considering the relatively porky 1875kg weight figure (1880 for the S).

Top speed for both cars is the usual 155mph electronically-limited deal, with a 186mph top whack for cars with the optional AMG Driver’s Package.

2. More toys for S buyers

As seems to be the way with new AMG models, buyers of the ‘regular’ E63 have to make do with a mechanical locking differential and normal engine mounts. But on the S, you get dynamic engine mounts that stiffen up when you’re driving fast to aid things like steering response, and slacken when you’re not to make things more comfortable. Oh, and an electronically-controlled locking differential in place of the mechanical one.

3. No more rear-wheel drive models

As expected, there’s no rear-wheel drive option on the new E63. The four-wheel drive system is new too: unlike previous AWD AMGs that always favoured the rear axle, the E63 gets a variable setup, sending the power in whichever direction necessary to get the most traction.

But don’t worry: if you still want to indulge in tail-out, tyre-smoking shenanigans you can, thanks to the E63’s drift mode. Engage this, and the ESP is switched off, plus the car shuts off drive to the front axle entirely, making it rear-wheel drive.

5. LA debut, on sale 2017

You’ll be able to gawp at the new E63 in the metal for the first time at the Los Angeles Motor Show. It goes on sale in the middle of January 2017, with first deliveries happening from May.