Only weeks after giving the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe its first public showing at the North American International Auto Show, the German maker is giving us a sneak peek of yet another intriguing variant: an AMG wagon that will offer not just plenty of cargo space but the power to get you where it needs to go in a hurry.
The 2018 Mercedes-AMG E63 S wagon will punch out 603 horsepower from its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 – and it will put that power down through all four wheels to ensure maximum launch and grip, it revealed today.
The new AMG power wagon will be both quicker than its predecessor – able to launch from 0 to 60 in 3.4 seconds – but also more fuel efficient. But final U.S. EPA numbers are not yet available.
(Click Here for more on the new E-Class Coupe.)
“The new AMG E63 Wagon combines our brand’s hallmark driving dynamics with high everyday practicality. It is not for nothing that the model has been a permanent fixture in the AMG portfolio for 40 years. The powerful engine and the intelligent all-wheel drive underpin our claim to always be at the forefront of development when it comes to performance,” said Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes-AMG in a statement accompanying these images of the new E63 S wagon.
The latest-generation E-Class made its formal debut at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and the Daimler luxury brands has been busy rolling out a procession of variants ever since. That includes the E63 sedan, last autumn, and the E-Class Coupe at this year’s Detroit Auto Show.
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As with all AMG models, there are some notable exterior and interior details that distinguish them from more mundane Mercedes-Benz offerings. But the real news is on the powertrain side.
That starts with a handmade biturbo V-8 that churns out 603 hp and 627 pound-feet of torque. That’s directed through a new sport-tuned nine-speed Speedshift gearbox with a wet clutch. The wagon also features the new AMG Performance 4MATIC+, a special, sport version of the Mercedes all-wheel-drive system.
The maker claims the wagon will launch from 0 to 60 in 3.4 second and top out at 180 mph, the sort of number likely to get you into trouble anywhere but on the Autobahn.
The AMG wagon’s design has been tweaked, giving it a more sporty appearance than the Benz two-box model.
“For the first time on an AMG wagon, the hood is inset between the fenders and bumper like on a coupe, thus exhibiting an entirely new, more dynamic approach to the sculpting,” the carmaker explains. “More powerful-looking and 1.1-inches wider, the wheel arches accommodate the greater track width and the larger wheels on the front axle.”
Up front, there’s a wide bumper and a large front splitter. A closer look also reveals an upgraded cooling system to handle the extra power and the heat generated by the S63 wagon’s large brakes.
There are unique AMG side sills and rear bumper with integrated diffuser, as well as two high-gloss chrome-plated twin exhaust pipes.
The wagon offers a practical alternative to those who want something roomier than an E-Class sedan but who don’t want to make the leap to an SUV. With the rear seats up, the wagon still has 35 cubic feet of cargo space, the largest, Mercedes claims, in the wagon segment. That can be expanded by tilting or folding the rear split seats.
The 2018 Mercedes-AMG E63 S wagon boasts an all-new full-support multi-chamber air suspension claimed to improve steering and handling. There’s a four-link front axle, and the rear axle has been completely redesigned, as well. Adaptive damping can be switched from Comfort to Sport and Sport+.
The E63 S wagon will make its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show a month from now and will reach U.S. showrooms by autumn. Pricing and mileage numbers are expected closer to the on-sale date.
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