While the past 2 years saw Mercedes-Benz Malaysia introduce pretty much its entire electric vehicle (EV) lineup, something truly exciting has been launched by the company this year – the Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance. It is the most powerful version of the S-Class that made its world debut in late 2022, and it is now available in Malaysia at RM2,238,888.
As you can tell by the “E Performance” moniker, this version of the S-Class is not purely powered by a V8 petrol engine only. There is some plug-in hybrid (PHEV) assistance here, which allows for a maximum power output of 802 hp (metric) and 1,430 Nm. We’ll expound on its performance figures in just a bit. So this high-performance S-Class is built on the W223 chassis, which is also available as the S 580 e and the Maybach S-Class in Malaysia.
Combining “peak luxury” and “peak performance”, you can tell that the Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance by its subtle hints on the outside. Sure, it doesn’t have a lip spoiler like its smaller “E” and “C” counterparts, but the quad exhaust tailpipes and the extreme rear diffuser hint at the extreme performance figures of the car. As expected of an AMG vehicle, it also sports the Panamericana grille, AMG bumpers, and big 20-inch AMG wheels with a staggered setup.
Now back to the performance aspect of the S63. The highlight here is the 4.0-litre biturbo V8 engine albeit with assistance from a PHEV system. The engine itself makes 612 hp (metric) @ 5,500-6,500 rpm and 900 Nm @ 2,500-4,500 rpm. The rear-mounted electric motor makes 190 hp (metric) and 320 Nm. Combined, the system makes 802 hp (metric) and 1,430 Nm.
Mind you, the S63 E Performance weighs 2,595 kg, but with the amount of power that it makes, it is capable of a 3.3-second 0-100 km/h acceleration time and a top speed of 290 km/h (electronically limited to 250 km/h). This S-Class gets the 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system and the transmission in use is the AMG Speedshift MCT 9G gearbox.
It may be a plug-in hybrid which may sound kind for the environment, but the PHEV system is here to give this 2.5-tonne machine more grunt. On electric energy stored in the 13.1-kWh battery alone, the S63 E Performance can only travel for 33 km. It can also be charged at a maximum AC charging rate of 3.7 kW.
In the handling department, the bodyshell of the S63 E Performance has been reinforced with an aluminium stabiliser under the V8 engine. At the rear, there are diagonal aluminium struts in the underbody to increase driving precision. Standard equipment on the S63 E Performance includes AMG RIDE CONTROL+ suspension with adaptive damping and Active roll stabilisation.
An interesting feature of the S63 E Performance is the active engine mounts that adjust their stiffness to the current driving condition. The engine mount stiffness communicates with a set of sensors that detect the road condition ahead. This allows for a further increased spread between performance and comfort.
As it should, the Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance ramps up the S-Class’s interior with the typical AMG touches. You get the full-fledged AMG steering wheel, sports pedals, a carbon-fibre dashboard, sports seats with big bolsters and the Affalterbach badge, and some AMG-exclusive menus in the head unit.
Despite the added sportiness of the S63 E Performance, it hasn’t forgotten its luxury aspect. There’s the brand-signature ambient lighting system, plush seat cushions, and a multitude of screens so everyone can be entertained on the go. Like the ‘normal’ S-Class, it still gets the “Boss” seat which is the second-best seat in the S63.
While the S-Class has been approved for SAE Level 3 driving functions in some regions, the Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance for Malaysia (and even the rest of the S-Class variants) have yet to be approved for this feature. That aside it still comes with a comprehensive suite of advanced safety features with the typical ACC, LKA, RTCA, and the like of it.
GALLERY
