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How much? £69,000
On sale in the UK: Now (prices is an estimate)
Engine: 6208cc 32v V8, 518bhp @ 6500rpm, 464lb ft @ 5200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Performance: 4.5sec 0-62mph, 155mph, 22mpg, 295g/km CO2
How heavy / made of? 1840kg/steel
Need to know

CAR's rating

Rated 4 out of 54

Handling

Rated 3 out of 53

Performance

Rated 4 out of 54

Usability

Rated 5 out of 55

Feelgood factor

Rated 4 out of 54

Readers' rating

Rated 3.5 out of 53.5

Mercedes E63 AMG (2009) CAR review

By Chris Chilton

First Drives

05 July 2009 00:01

The new E63 is Merc’s AMG-powered middleweight and follows a tried and tested plan: big V8 + sober saloon = autobahn domination. Well that’s the theory, and this is the reality.

So this week it’s the E-class’ turn to have a go with the 6.2-litre V8?

Yes, Mercedes likes to spread the bhp love around and so it’s no surprise that the shortly after the release of the regular E-class, we’re now being offered this: the AMG-fettled E63, a circa £69k businessman’s hot rod.

It’s running the same naturally aspirated engine that all non-V12 AMGs have used since Merc ditched the old supercharged 5.5-litre V8. It pumps out 518bhp and 464lb ft of torque – around 10bhp up on the old E63 and enough to push the 1840kg E-class to 62mph in 4.5sec. And it’s slightly greener this time, recording 22mpg, a 2mpg improvement, while CO2 emissions drop from a terrible 341g/km to a faintly less terrible 295g/km.

Forget the figures, tell me about the E63's noise!

It’s indecent, a proper solid, metallic V8 throb. Twist the key to start it and you get a good flare of revs before it settles down to a meaty idle. Nice, but at low speeds it sounds like a typical low-revving V8 with some free-flow pipes on it. This engine really revs, and when you extend it towards 6500rpm and hear the hard bark filtering through into the cabin, that’s when you it really know that this is no ordinary Benz.

>> Click 'Next' below to read more of our Mercedes E63 AMG first drive

    

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Mercedes E63 AMG (2009) CAR review

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JohnboyMac

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JohnboyMac says

RE: Mercedes E63 AMG (2009) CAR review

Oh, yes please.

The forth coming M5 no doubt will be a more foused car but with this Merc there no assoication with over popular 3 series. I can see a lot of current M5 owners buying this. And it's £11k chea[per than the RR V8 petrol.

11 August 2009 14:40

 

Lesciba

Lesciba says

RE: Mercedes E63 AMG (2009) CAR review

I think Benz has got a surprice 4 us... Certainly BMW's upcoming M5 will beat this benz handsdoun' and benz knows that... So - ladies and gentlemen' dont be shocked when benz introduces the E65 AMG V12 to take out the upcoming M5 & Audi's RS!!!!!

12 July 2009 17:38

 

Aaronchen

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Aaronchen says

RE: Mercedes E63 AMG (2009) CAR review

Mercedes-Benz has achieved success over the decades with offering a range of cars that don't do anything badly, generally being well above average in most areas.  AMG extended those strengths starting as far back as the W124 Hammer which i fondly remember as a genuine wolf in sheep's clothing.

However, the styling language of this new E-Class (even in AMG form) is quite enough to make me want to vomit especially since the latest C-Class looks so good.  Next to this new E-Class, the ageing M5 looks beautiful and lined up against the Jaguar XF (if rear cabin space is not your priority) the new E can only be seen as carrezorie banal!  Even the cabin design seems to have gone in the wrong direction.

Just on looks alone, I would take the M5, XFR and RS6 any day of the week over an E63.  The board at Daimler-Benz should summarily execute the team that produced this abomination called the new E.  And while at it, they should also impale the imbecile who is moving Mercedes gearshifters (7G Tronic models) to the steering column!

11 July 2009 13:25

 

caspoman

caspoman says

RE: Mercedes E63 AMG (2009) CAR review

"but it’s light years ahead of the old E-class in terms of cabin materials" Who are you kidding? Just drop down the sun visor and touch the hard sand-paper textured plastic. The interior is so aggressively puerile. Even the non-AMG versions. Not fitting for a brand like MB who used to have an image that was well understood by everyone

 

08 July 2009 09:32

 

Brand0

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Brand0 says

RE: Mercedes E63 AMG (2009) CAR review

AdrianFleming -  "too much is made of the agility of these super saloons"? Are you being serious? Agility, feel etc are what M cars are supposed to be about first and foremost.  If I had a toy or two in the garage for the proper drives, I'd not run an M5, AMG etc as my everyday car, but a 550i or E500.  In my book there can never be too much made of this type of cars' sporting ability, otherwise, they would be no more than slightly quicker versions of already quick cars.

For me, the fact that the report says this AMG is "not quite as exciting as BMW’s aging M5" relegates it to at least second place, for surely, this genre of car should be all about excitement, to the detrement of pampering, which is why BMW/Mercedes provide the 550i/E500.

I'd have to question the reasoning behind your RS purchase over, say, an S6?

07 July 2009 10:27

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