Mercedes’ 
entire lineup has been going under the knife one by one recently. In fact, some models have even received new names to go along with their new looks. Along with this change comes the renaming of AMG as a sub-brand that Daimler calls Mercedes-AMG. We’ve already seen this move with the 2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 and Mercedes-AMG GT, and the E63 is set to receive the same name change when its new generation hits the market in time for the 2017 model year.
Though the most of the changes to the Mercedes-AMG E63 will focus on an updated chassis, a new engine and a revised interior, we’ve created a rendering to give you an idea of what to expect from the looks of the new fast E-Class. Though the 2017 E63 will be lighter, more rigid and quicker than ever before, it’ll soon have a new M5 to contend with.
Will the 2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 be able to fend of the new, all-wheel-drive 2018 M5, and whatever Cadillac and Audi toss its direction moving forward?
Updated 04/14/2016: A leaked brochure reveals details on the upcoming E63 AMG. Continue reading to learn more about the sedan’s new twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 engine and stay tuned as an official debut will happen shortly.
Continue reading my full preview of the E63 to find out what I think.
Spy Shots
March 14, 206 – 2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 station wagon caught testing
February 24, 2016 – 2017 Mercedes E63 AMG sedan caught in very light camouflage
Exterior
Now that we’ve already seen the new E-Class in the metal at the Detroit Auto Show, we decided to revamp our first rendering of the AMG E63 for a more accurate depiction of the high-performance sedan. Much like the E-Class looks like a larger C-Class with minor differences here and there, the E63 will be similar to the C63. Feature that will set it apart should include a longer wheelbase, a slightly modified roofline, different headlamps and taillights clusters, a different rear bumper, a thicker C-pillar, and, more importantly, a heavily revised upper character line.
As for what will make the AMG E63 stand out in a pack of standard E-Class sedans, look for the usual AMG upgrades to the body. These should also be similar to those seen on the AMG C63 and should include reshaped front and rear bumpers, new side skirts, a new front grille pattern, and “V8 Biturbo” and “AMG” lettering and badges on the front fenders and rear fascia. I also expect it to feature a motorsport-inspired rear diffuser with three fins, chrome-plated, quad-exhaust tips, and an integrated trunk-lid spoiler. New, wider aluminum front fenders, a wider front track, and sporty, lightweight wheels should round off the E63’s menacing appearance.
Update 02/24/2016: Photos of the Mercedes were snagged as the car sat parked in a snow-covered lot. There’s not much difference to be seen, though one major aspect has been updated. Check out the lower air intakes. This snow-covered test mule features air fins that span horizontally across the large openings. The two fins help add depth and detail to the front, while likely acting as protection for the twin intercoolers. There’s also a small stem of some short helping support the lower valance. Whether that will make production or not, is unknown, though our guess is that this support is a quick fix for a damaged bumper.
Interior
2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 interior shown here
On the inside, the E63 will also look similar to previous AMG-badged sedans. However, while the exterior will borrow from the C63, the cabin will look closer to the S63’s, as the E-Class and the S-Class feature a similar dashboard, especially the four A/C vents on the center stack and the smoother dashboard design. Most of the cockpit will remain unchanged from the E-Class, but certain features will be replaced by sportier alternatives. Look for a flat-bottom steering wheel, a bespoke instrument cluster with a 200-mph speedometer, more aluminum and carbon-fiber trim, and bolstered, leather-wrapped seats. The sedan will also receive the AMG-exclusive analogue clock and the AMG Dynamic Select switch. Expect new leather and stitching options, as well as a bevy of features that can be tailored to individual preferences.
Drivetrain
The high-performance midsize will get an all-new drivetrain, as the E63 will move away from the twin-turbo, 5.5-liter V-8 of the previous generation and toward the biturbo, 4.0-liter V-8 found in the Mercedes -AMG GT and the AMG C63. But while it cranks up to 503 horsepower in the AMG GT and AMG C63, the 4.0-liter will generate in excess of 550 horses in the mid-size sedan.
Official specs are still a mystery, but a dealer brochure that leaked to GermanCarForum.com says that the E63 will pack 563 horses and 553 pound-feet of torque, while the E63 S will get a whopping 604 horsepower and 627 pound-feet, Motor Trend reports. The borchure also mentions that the E63 will hit 62 mph in 3.7 seconds, while the E63 S will achieve the same benchmark in 3.5 ticks. Top speed will continue to be electronically limited to 155 mph.
In the U.S., the E63 will likely continue to come standard with 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The seven-speed multi-clutch, Speedshift MCT transmission of the current model will be replaced with a nine-cog automatic that delivers quicker shifting and improved fuel economy.
Prices
In 2015, the standard E63 bases at $93,600 and the S model starts at $100,600. Don’t look for these numbers to jump too much for the new generation.
Competition
BMW M5
Shortly after the 2017 E63 hits the market, the entire 5 Series lineup may receive a redesign that is similar to its smaller siblings. This will include to-the-grille headlights, a widened and more upright kidney grille, new bumpers, and other evolutionary updates. What will likely carry on is the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine that the 2015 M5 has, but Bimmer may tweak it to produce closer to 600 horses. The Competition package, which pushes the output to 575 ponies, will likely also earn a few extra horsepower in the process. With the new look should also come some serious lightening, which will get the M5 under the four-second mark to 60 mph to make it more competitive with the E63. Another way it’ll get closer to the E63’s sprint time is the much-anticipated addition of all-wheel drive.
Read our full review here.
Audi RS 7
Because there is no RS6 Sedan available yet, the only Audi in competition with the E63 will be the RS7. It may be a little too much of a liftback sedan to truly match up against the E63, but the RS7 is one of the few four-door cars with the power and agility to match the big E. Powering the RS7 is a 4.0-liter turbocharged V-8 that delivers 560 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. The engine mates to a standard eight-speed auto transmission and Audi’s famed quattro all-wheel-drive system. This results in an insane 3.7-second sprint to 60 mph. The big issue is that the RS7’s $108,900 base price is a bit too rich for the base E63.
Read our full review here.
Conclusion
Mercedes is undergoing a full overhaul, and the logical next step was to revamp the E-Class. With the standard sedan already in the open, the E63 should follow soon with AMG’s newly developed body kit, the brand-new biturbo V-8 engine, and a transmission that shifts quicker than ever. Look for big things from the E63 moving forward, but look for similar changes from the likes of Audi, BMW, and Cadillac.
LOVE IT
Lighter construction and a body that is more rigid Shared platform should result in minimal price hikes Updated cabinLEAVE IT
New M5 may overtake it The idea of a stretched C-Class may turn buyers awayUpdated History
Updated 03/14/2016: Our spy photographers caught the upcoming E63 AMG out for a new testing session, but this time in its station wagon variant. The model is expected to make its world debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show in October.
Updated 02/24/2016: Our spy photographers caught the upcoming E63 AMG out for a new testing session, this time wearing less camouflage than ever. The model is expected to make its world debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show in October.
Updated 01/13/2016: We created a new rendering for the upcoming AMG E63 based on the standard model unveiled at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show.
Updated 08/06/2015: A new report indicates that the upcoming E63 AMG could deliver as much as 600 horsepower from its new 4.0-litre V8 engine. This represents a significant increase over the car’s current 550 horsepower, but also significantly more power than what the competitors are offering: 552 horsepower for both the BMW M6 and the Audi RS6.