What Is It?

2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG

The Specs

This five-passenger sedan is based on the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class and continues with one of the world's best V8 engines. The 6.2-liter hand-assembled, double overhead cam mill puts out 518 horsepower—an increase of 11—without the use of turbos or a supercharger that can dilute an engine's character. From previous experience, this snarling motor absolutely rips to its redline and the revised seven-speed automatic promises to effectively get all that power to the ground. The MCT gearbox uses a computer-controlled clutch instead of a torque converter to join the engine and transmission, a setup previously only seen in the five-speed SL65. Volker Mornhinweg, the Chairman of AMG, said that the new gearbox and other engine tweaks improve fuel economy by 12 percent. Chassis enhancements include rear air springs, adjustable shock absorbers, and tighter steering. And just in case anyone gets sleepy piloting this caffeinated machine, it includes a system called Attention Assist that detects drowsy drivers.

The Bottom Line

The first E63 was a watershed car for Mercedes since it was the first modern Benz that had the same involving character as a BMW. We can't wait to drive the new one.