Mercedez Benz News Next-Generation E63 To Only Come In All-Wheel Drive

[William Maley]

As much anyone will tell you there is no such thing as too much power, there is a point where power will just overwhelm the tires and you'll be sitting there, doing a burnout. This is why you're seeing more manufacturers adding all-wheel drive to their vehicles to actually get the power down to the wheels.

 

The latest one is Mercedes-AMG. Speaking with Top Gear, Mercedes-AMG boss Tobias Moers says the next-generation model will be available with all-wheel drive. The reason comes down to people preferring the current model with the all-wheel drive model.

 

“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.

 

It should be noted when Mercedes introduced the refreshed E63 for the U.S. in 2014, you could only get it with all-wheel drive. Elsewhere, you had the choice of rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.

 

Moers also dropped that the next E63 would use the same biturbo V8 as the C63 and AMG GT. For the E63, the engine will get a number of changes including new cylinder heads and a different arrangement of the turbos. The plan is to produce around 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.”

 

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

 

Source: Top Gear

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[ccap41]

I thought the current E63 was only available in AWD with a permanent 33:77 front:rear split..? Or was it available just RWD outside of the US?

[William Maley]

I thought the current E63 was only available in AWD with a permanent 33:77 front:rear split..? Or was it available just RWD outside of the US?

Only in the U.S. Other markets had the choice of rear or all-wheel drive. I have edited the story to make this distinction a bit clearer.

[oldshurst442]

“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.”

 

 

 

Take note anybody working at Cadillac...

THIS is a CLEAR message of where Mercedes is thinking and headed towards...

 

AWD, throttle response and minimum of 600 horsepower...

M-B definitely wants to leave the sledgehammer approach behind.

With the Viper dead and the Vette maybe going to the traditional mid-engine way, and Mercedes announcing this...Cadillac better be listening and adjusting their approach!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Controlled power that still hits you like a ton of bricks.

 

 

Not like the way it used to be...all that power being flung in any direction and with both hands on the wheel and still very hard to control....

 

Real drivers though, could master the sledgehammer approach. Tricky but doable.

[ccap41]

 

I thought the current E63 was only available in AWD with a permanent 33:77 front:rear split..? Or was it available just RWD outside of the US?

Only in the U.S. Other markets had the choice of rear or all-wheel drive. I have edited the story to make this distinction a bit clearer.

 

Okay, that makes sense then.  Thanks ya

[smk4565]

Makes sense if rear drive has a 10% take rate. Plus with this kind of power you need to send it to all 4 wheels to get traction. The good news is the 9-speed transmission and downsized engine should improve fuel economy.