Mercedes-Benz has launched its 15th AMG model in India, continuing the commendable reputation of being one of the only companies that offer its full portfolio of performance vehicles in India. The Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe now joins the likes of the Mercedes-AMG E63 S, GLC43 and the venerable AMG GT-R in the country, and is priced at Rs. 2.55 crore (ex-showroom, pan-India). The Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe marks a rare kind of vehicle in the country – a two-door, four-seater, high performance luxury car, similar to the likes of the new generation BMW M4 Coupe that was unveiled at the 2018 Auto Expo.
The new generation AMG S63 Coupe replaces the old 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 with a new, 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that increases the power figures from 576 bhp to 603 bhp, and offers a staggering 900 Nm torque. By default, the AMG S63 Coupe is fitted with the AMG Driver's Package, which increases the electronically-limited top speed of the car to 300 kmph. The acceleration figure of 0-100 kmph in 3.5 seconds compares favourably to its nearest competitors in the performance car industry, and is facilitated by the performance edition of Mercedes-Benz's 9G-Tronic gearbox – the AMG SpeedShift MCT 9G. The SpeedShift MCT 9G employs the standard multi-clutch technology of gearboxes used in high performance cars, and the single input shaft automatic gearbox facilitates faster response times that help quicker engine revs, thereby making the car travel faster. AMG has also equipped the car with cylinder deactivation technology, which shuts off half the cylinders to provide better fuel economy (not like a potential owner would be too bothered about it) and better power management when the car is cruising along.
Unlike the E63 S, the Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe sports the new generation 'Panamericana' front grille that we first saw in the Mercedes-AMG GT-R in India. The car carries more design cues from AMG's range-topping GT lineup here, but is laid out in the same format as the all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which focuses solely on luxury. Inside, the Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe includes two, 12.3-inch displays for infotainment and the instrument cluster, which is the layout that's seen in all of Mercedes-Benz's flagship offerings. It gets all the technologies that the S-Class offers, including the Burmester hi-fi 3D surround audio system, the central touchpad with handwriting recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless charging, Head-Up Display, in-car LTE hotspot, a refrigerator box in the rear row, heated windshield, armrests, front and rear seats, multi-contour active massaging on front seats, soft-close doors, in-cabin fragrance and 64-colour ambient LED system.
The intelligent radar-based driver assistance systems include active brake assist, route-linked speed adjustment, adaptive high beam, blind spot and lane-keeping assistance, cross-traffic alert, active park assist with surround view, adaptive braking, Distronic (proprietary active proximity adjustment), evasive steering, night view monitor and more. Interestingly, it also gets a controllable AMG Performance exhaust system that, as Mercedes-Benz says, has "infinitely adjustable flaps modulate the exhaust note authentically and directly. The flaps open or close dependent on the selected AMG DYNAMIC SELECT driving mode, but can also be controlled individually with a separate button in the AMG DRIVE UNIT on the centre console." God bless the makers for thinking of such things!
The Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe, evidently, is not everyone's cup of tea. It will now sit at the very top of AMG's offerings in India, alongside the GT-R and the GT Roadster. To make things more exclusive, Mercedes-Benz India has also opened a host of Designo customisation options for any buyer of the S63 Coupe, which will help them completely customise how the car looks and feels.