Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance: 791 Horsepower, 0-60 In 3.2 Seconds

As the automotive industry transitions from internal combustion engines to electric motors we’re seeing an increasing number of models leverage both. Usually this is done to save fuel, but sometimes these technologies come together for enhanced performance.

That’s clearly the goal Mercedes-AMG had in mind with the 2024 S 63 E Performance luxury sedan. Based on Mercedes-Benz’ top-of-the-luxury-line S-Class, the S 63 E Performance combines a 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbo engine and 9-speed automatic transmission with a rear-mounted 188 horsepower electric motor. The latter is connected to its own two-speed transmission and a limited slip differential.

All these components, working through the S63’s 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system, create 791 horsepower and 1,055 pound feet of torque, making the S 63 E Performance the most powerful S-Class ever. Mercedes-AMG says the luxury sedan can accelerate to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and travel up to an electronically-limited 155 mph.

Features like the rear-axle-mounted motor and two-speed drive unit help balance the sedan’s weight while allowing it to launch from corners as the electric motor and locking differential deliver instant torque balanced against detected wheel sleep — at which point power sent to the front wheels to aid traction. The motor’s peak 188 hp is limited to 10-second intervals, but it can provide a continuous 94 horsepower to aid acceleration over longer timeframes.

The motor is powered by a rear-mounted 13.1 kWh battery, which can be charged from a household wall outlet or charging station through the S 63 Performance’s on-board 3.7 kilowatt charger. The 400-volt battery features 1,200 cells engineered to deliver bursts of power. This role requires a specific 113 degree operating temperature for maximum performance, a temperature maintained by a battery-focused coolant flowing past each cell.

To ensure battery power is always available, even without grid charging, the S 63 E Performance recaptures battery energy during braking or coasting, with the driver selecting one of four recuperation levels from the steering wheel mounted dial. Mercedes says this technology comes directly from its Formula 1 experience to provide added instant torque whenever the driver needs.

Our time with the Mercedes-AMG S 63 confirmed this goal, as the sedan never hesitated when pressing the right pedal. Unrelenting forward thrust, reflective of the electric energy supplementing the V8 engine, materialized instantaneously with every throttle application. Despite this rapid response time the S 63’s forward movement maintained an authoritative, stately demeanor.

A total of seven driving modes are available on the S 63 E Performance, each easily selected through the central touchscreen or the steering wheel controls. They range from all “Electric” mode, capable of up to 87 mph, to “Sport” and “Sport+” modes that combine the electric motor’s torque with the engine’s power for rapid acceleration and quicker throttle response. “Battery Hold” mode can save battery power for later use, while “Slippery” reduces power on low-traction surfaces.

All of these modes impact not just drivetrain performance but dynamic handling through changes in the AMG Ride Control+ active suspension system. Using an air suspension system with two continuously variable control valves the S 63 E Performance can alter everything from body roll to ride quality as easily as it redirects power to each wheel, based on available traction.

When placed in one of the more aggressive drive modes the suspension system will prioritize stability over comfort, limiting the sedan’s body motion while altering the steering ratio for quicker response. The standard rear-axle steering system also plays a role here, providing up to 2.5 degrees of steering angle to either increase body rotation below 62 mph or decrease it for improved stability above 62 mph.

As much as we enjoyed the occasional chest compression offered by the S 63’s 1,055 lb-ft of torque (accompanied by a glorious V8 rumble we’ll miss when engines eventually disappear…), the luxury sedan’s advanced technologies and accommodations were a constant source of enjoyment throughout our drive. From uncompromised interior materials to the 12.8-inch digital gauge cluster and central display screen, the S 63 is still an S-Class at heart, and for that we are grateful.

After all, the real world intrudes more often than most of us want to admit, and when you’re staring at multi-lane bumper-to-bumper Los Angeles traffic all that power means little. But the S-Class’ active driver assist features, like radar cruise control, lane-keeping assist and lane-change assist can almost — almost — make you forget your stuck in rush-hour traffic. Especially when the massaging seats go to work.

Mercedes-AMG has yet to release pricing, but when you’re talking the top performance version of Mercedes top sedan, this is truly a case of “if you have to ask…” But you did ask, and we’re going guess a price above $260,000. That’s before options like a carbon ceramic brake system and custom interior and exterior colors. But if you’re looking for the most powerful version of Mercedes-Benz’ iconic luxury sedan, with performance that can shame many exotic cars, it’s arguably a bargain.