- Doors and Seats
2 doors, 4 seats
- Engine
5.5TT, 8 cyl.
- Engine Power
430kW, 900Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (98) 10.2L/100KM
- Manufacturer
RWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe first drive review
Before Gran Turismo was a smash hit Playstation game, the Italian phrase loosely referred to larger two-door cars capable of covering long distances at high speed.
Appropriated by everything from the tiny Renault Clio GT hatch to the home grown Ford Falcon GT sedan and exotic Maserati GranTurismo coupe, the label has been worn by all manner of cars claiming to be something special.
Mercedes-Benz has its own take on the theme with the new Mercedes-AMG GT but there is another model in its line-up that arguably does a better job of embodying the gran turismo ethos.
Meet the Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe, the first S-Class coupe variant to arrive in Australia, and the latest in a fine tradition of full-sized coupes from the brand.
As the name suggests, this coupe is a two-door sibling to the S-Class limousine, a model that serves as a showcase for all Mercedes-Benz can offer. With a shorter wheelbase, lower roof and wider haunches than the sedan, the new coupe has classic proportions enhanced in this form by sporting additions from AMG.
Split five-spoke alloy rims measure 20 inches in diameter, an aggressively styled front end serves to aspirate 5.5-litres of twin-turbocharged V8, and quad exhaust tips at the rear amplify a rumbling voice impressively bereft of the wheezing and whooshing that can accompany turbocharged high-performance cars.
The latter category is one that the S63 slips into neatly, thanks to 430kW and 900Nm outputs that help it reach 100km/h in just 4.2 seconds. Foreign models fitted with all-wheel-drive can better that, but a lack of right-hand-drive availability means that local coupes retain the classic front-engine, rear-drive layout classically favoured by cars of this genre.
The engine is mated to AMG's "speedshift" seven speed automatic that offers impressively snappy changes up and down through the ratios, particularly in sports mode, and when prompted by metal shift paddles placed behind suede-like grips on its thick steering wheel.
While impressive for the most part, our test example offered the occasional clunky shift during low-speed driving that served as an unwelcome reminder of the brute forces at play.
When finished idling around town that powerful V8 hungrily reels in tarmac when given its head, growling mightily as it swallows fuel and air at a rate far exceeding its official 10.2L/100km fuel figure.
Though it trips the scales on the beefy side of two-tonnes, the coupe is impressively composed on tight roads thanks to its cleverly calibrated air suspension. The AMG-honed system offers a choice of flavours with distinctly different characters. A comfort setting serves up an impressively isolated ride, gliding over most bumps without fuss thanks to Mercedes-Benz' magic body control system that scans the surface ahead for imperfections, adjusting its settings on the fly to appropriately soften and harden the suspension as required.
The car's sport mode was the most rewarding on winding roads, with excellent body control and crisp responses from well-weighted, consistent steering. While its dimensions are undeniably large, the S-Class coupe seems to shrink around the driver, allowing for accurate placement and confident progress on the road.
The headline act for the new S-Class is its ability to tilt into corners, leaning a little over two degrees toward the apex of bends so that passengers are not blighted by body roll.
The system is not intended to increase cornering speeds, but instead seeks to better align occupants with cornering forces, creating an artificial sense of cambered roads that makes for more comfortable motoring. The system is subtle when experienced from the cabin, though it's easy to spot it in action when following a similarly equipped model on a demanding road.
Comfort is a key theme of the S-Class coupe, which features some of the most comfortable seats on sale inside a cabin trimmed in rich nappa leather. The pews feature adjustable bolsters, two-dimensional lumbar adjustment and a "hot stone massage" function that gently kneads away at your back. Twin 12.2-inch display screens up front show a variety of information ranging from speed and navigation to entertainment, climate and massage options intended to make driving as pleasant as possible.
That said, the rear seat is better suited to occasional use or short trips, as there is not a lot of leg room in the back of the big 'Benz. Passengers in back also have a shortage of headroom and no controls for the rear windows, which may rule out claustrophobic occupants from riding in the rear.
Naturally, the S63 is fitted with the latest technology available to the brand. A new stop-start system helps save fuel, and a full suite of driver aids includes autonomous braking and active cruise control with the ability to steer around bends in an emergency.
Mercedes-Benz says full-size coupe customers are a special group that are loyal to the brand, many of whom may not attempt to put the car's gadgets to full use.
That's totally understandable, because the S-Class coupe has timeless attributes that transcend its technology. Stylish, powerful and comfortable, the S63 AMG is by every definition, a classic gran turismo.
Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe pricing and specifications
Price: From $409,000 plus on-road costs
On sale: Now
Engine: 5.5-litre biturbo V8
Power: 430kW at 5500rpm
Torque: 900Nm at 2250-3750rpm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic, rear-wheel-drive
Fuel use: 10.2L/100km