Next-Generation Mercedes-AMG E63 To Be All-Wheel Drive Only

Mercedes-AMG boss Tobias Moers tells Top Gear that the next-generation E63 would only be offered in all-wheel drive. This decision will likely upset many who consider rear-wheel drive as the greatest thing, but there is a reason for it. The last-generation E63 had the choice rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. Only ten percent went for the rear-drive option.

“But we are going to introduce a completely new four-wheel drive system, one which we’ve never had in the company. That’s going to be the biggest step we ever did with a generation. In Germany we had the choice of 4x4 and 4x2, and 90-plus per cent bought the 4x4. People in that segment are looking for four-wheel drive,” said Moers.

Moers also dropped a couple other tidbits for the next E63. First is the vehicle not getting the rear-wheel steering system that debuted on the AMG GT R coupe. Second is the E63 using the same biturbo 4.0L V8 found in the C63 and AMG GT. For the E63, AMG will be making some changes to the cylinder heads and arrangement of turbos to produce somewhere in the range of 600 horsepower.

“I’m more focused on the overall package. Maybe not in the past, but we’ve moved to that, to a certain extent. Power should be in line with the overall capabilities of the chassis. It’s more important to have a precise throttle response than all that power. You need a certain level and in that segment, it’s around 600bhp,” said Moers.

It is expected that the E63 will debut this fall at the Paris Motor Show.

Pic Credit: Mercedes-Benz