Say Goodbye To The RWD Mercedes-AMG E63: The Next One Will Be AWD Only
When leaked stats for the next Mercedes-AMG E63 landed a few months ago, the unholy 603bhp and 627lb ft of torque put out by the S model immediately had us thinking about the potential for masses of tyre smoke. However, it turns out there won’t actually be a rear-wheel drive version.
Speaking to Topgear.com, AMG boss Tobias Moers mentioned that in Germany - where there was the option of rear or all-wheel drive for the outgoing E63 - 90 per cent of buyers opted for all-wheel drive, signalling that: “People in that segment are looking for four-wheel drive.”
Given just how high the power figures are getting in these kind of cars, it’s not surprising to see a greater demand for all-wheel drive. Indeed, it’s long been rumoured that the next BMW M5 may go for the all-wheel drive only route, or at least have the option of having all wheels driven for the first time.
The all-wheel drive system in the E63 will be all-new, and while no details have been given thus far, expect it to favour the rear-most tyres. So in other words, it should still be up for tyre-smoking tomfoolery. Good.
It’ll also be very, very fast - according to those leaked figures we mentioned earlier, the top S model will do 0-62mph in just 3.5 seconds. This is all thanks to a worked-over version of the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 found in the AMG GT and C63, and even the ‘standard’ version will be good for 563bhp.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Hmmm. The AMG was kinda the German muscle car… would Mercedes/AMG seriousy try to eat Audi’s lunch?
With Audi’s advertising smacking down Mercedes, they might have baited Mercedes into a bad move.
AWD is not a bad move while car enthusiasts prefer RWD, It doesn’t mean its better, you know… we all hate ESP and most of driving aids, but that doesn’t stop car makers from putting them in their vehicles, does it?
I thought the E63 was already AWD only. I might be wrong though.
Mercedes dealership somewhere in Germany
“Which options do you want, sir?”
“I don’t care, just put them all.”
That’s why 90% bought AWD models.
Lol that probably how it happened.
Options list. Tick. Tick. Tick.
Why is that option not ticked?
Because that’s all-whee..
Tick.
No more wheelspin in third gear? :( these cars are for fun, not for laptimes…
These cars are for driving, not for crashing… ;)
The amount of power they are putting down makes it alright for me, also with all the technology inside these cars they are now pushing on £100k before the options so if I was buying then I would be scared of the rear end coming out!
But what will it compete with?
Yay. More undercover Audi drivers on the road.
Do you want to make it diesel too?
So now there will be two audi companies?
noooooooooooo