With so many cars all looking the same these days, the carspotting in traffic is getting more and more dull with each passing model year. Mercedes Benz, however, is one of the last bastions of enthusiast automobiles — with their in-house tuning company, AMG, supering up versions of almost every car in their lineup.
What happens when you let AMG design a car from the platform up? What happens is you get the AMG S 63 coupe.
To make an AMG, you used to just change the engine. But for 2019, you get the full package: suspension, engine, interior, sheet metal; you even get a bespoke key.
The biggest draw of AMG for many people is the engine and the power it delivers. The 4-liter bi-turbo V8 makes 603 horsepower and 664 foot-pounds of torque. This is able to move the 4,564 pound coupe from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 3.4 seconds.
The feeling of that speed is hard to describe — and is intoxicating. This monstrous output from the engine doesn’t reduce the miles per gallon to an unreasonable level either, 17 city and 27 highway. The new nine-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive system help keep the car planted at any speed.
The interior comfort of the AMG S 63 also is a special place compared to any other Mercedes. The red, black, and carbon fiber make sure you never forget how special this car really is. In the comfort driving modes this car is incredibly civilized and becomes a place of relaxation.
The Burmester 3D sound system sounds truly remarkable and makes me wonder how a car can sound better than most theaters.
The Designo Bengal Red/Black Nappa leather package is really beautiful and feels like the most comfortable seat I’ve ever had in a car. For a coupe, the rear space isn’t as restrictive as you would think but it isn’t what I’d call plentiful. The front seats have more than enough room to feel like the coupe could be a full sedan. The rear trunk space is decent for a coupe at 14.1 cubic feet of storage capacity.
All of this luxury and exclusivity does come at a price. The base price of the AMG S 63 coupe is $169,450 before options. That being said you do get a lot of tech and standard features on the base model like power seats, large infotainment screen, and that glorious engine.
Some of the options on the model I drove included the Designo red leather seats, the headlamps had Swarovski crystal accents, and that 3D sound system. The MSRP of the AMG I drove was $198,150 after delivery. That means I had nearly $30,000 in options, that’s the price of another whole Mercedes.
While the car doesn’t come off as visually striking, it is a refined look that exudes power and if I was going to spend this much on a daily car, that is exactly what I would want.
Grant Miller is the publisher of Miami’s Community Newspapers. He may be contacted by calling 305-662-2277 or via email at Grant@CommunityNewspapers.com.
