cars news 10: Report: Next-Gen Mercedes-AMG E63 Will Be All-Wheel Drive Only

Mercedes-AMG boss Tobias Moers confirmed in a new report from Top Gear that the next-generation AMG E63 will be all-wheel-drive only. Moers said that Mercedes-AMG will introduce a new all-wheel drive system the German automaker has never had before, and notes that it’s the biggest step they’ve made in a single generation of the car.

One of the reasons for the AMG E63 moving exclusively to all-wheel drive is that the majority of previous E63 buyers opted for cars that put their power down through all four wheels. In Germany, Moers told Top Gear that over 90 percent of buyers opted for all-wheel drive in the E63. Regarding the new all-wheel drive system, it’s likely that it will actively distribute torque where it’s needed in the same way the Ford Focus RS does. This means you’ll still have all kinds of drift action and tire smoke in your German sledgehammer of a sports sedan, which more than makes up for the inability to do burnouts. What you won’t find in the next AMG E63, however, is the rear-wheel steering that debuted on the AMG GT R, which Moers notes isn’t needed in the E-Class but will likely find its way into other hardcore AMG models in the near future.

Moers also confirmed to Top Gear that the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 from the AMG C63 and AMG GT will be used on the E63 but with slight changes. While parts such as the block and crankshaft will be similar, the cylinder heads and turbocharger positioning will be revamped, while still maintaining a “hot V” engine setup, where the turbos are placed in between the engine’s cylinder heads. The most powerful version of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 is in the AMG GT R, which makes 577 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. For the E63, on the other hand, Moers hinted that the engine could make around 600 hp. He also hinted that the overall package is the main focus for the E63, meaning the car’s power and chassis must be in line with each other.

Source: Top Gear