E-Class update brings more smarts

The facelifted line arrives next month, with an enticing AMG sedan continuing as pack leader.

REST assured, it’s still endowed with ample horsepower and athleticism, still among the fastest sports sedans on the market.

So, when Mercedes-AMG attests that the biggest change arriving with the mid-life update for the E 63 AMG super-sedan is ‘enhanced everyday comfort’, you needn’t worry: A less edgy ride quality is the only outcome. Otherwise it’s still very much on pole as a performance icon.

The new $239,900 edition, above, heads up a revised E-Class lineup that includes five other derivatives, all with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol in various states of tune.

These range from the E200 sedan and Coupe with 145kW/320Nm that respectively set you back $106,600 and $108,500, the 220kW/400Nm E350 in $137,900 Coupe and $149,000 Cabriolet formats, plus the E 300e sedan, in which the engine pairs with electric assist. The (155 kW/350 Nm) engine is supplemented by a plug-in electric motor (90 kW/440 Nm) via the same nine-speed auto as in all the other variants. Total system output is 235 kW/700Nm. With the onboard battery topped up using the standard Type 2 charging cable, a combined cycle fuel economy figure of 2.2 litres per 100 km (ADR) is possible, Mercedes Benz NZ claims. This is a $146,100 car.

It’s a strong lineup, but Benz buyer trend tends to gravitate toward the strongest performer, so the arrival of AMG’s foil for the BMW M5 that has also recently revised will be eagerly anticipated, not least because Benz has made clear that the high-performance products it has now will certainly be the last to run this 4.0-litre twin turbo V8.

The New Zealand distributor isn’t wasting the opportunity to see this car out in style; as with the previous generation, it has opted only for the more powerful S trim of the E63, and only in a sedan body.

Power for the AMG S remains unchanged at 450kW/850Nm, sent through a nine-speed multi-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive system.

The updated car is identified by it achieving a larger centre air intake on the front bumper, an AMG grille with vertical louvres and reshaped LED headlights. A wind-splitter and new, more functional air intakes up front add styling and also “significantly reduce lift” at the front of the car, according to Mercedes-AMG.

The standard 20-inch wheels are wider on the front of the revised E63 S, accommodated by wheel arches measuring 27mm wider than the outgoing model.

A revised rear bumper and diffuser, tail light and tailpipe trim design refreshes the rear end.

New colour offerings including graphite grey metallic, high-tech silver metallic and brilliant blue magno are available for the exterior of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG E63 S.

Inside, the AMG-specific Nappa leather-upholstered sports seats receive integrated head restraints, with the dashboard and door trim sections also finished in grey Nappa leather.

Across all updated E-Class models is Mercedes-Benz’s MBUX infotainment system, which features on dual 12.25-inch screens, with one acting as the instrument cluster and the other as the infotainment control.

The MBUX interface comes equipped with advanced voice control Mercedes claims can understand “nearly all sentences” related to infotainment and vehicle operation.

Each model in the range is equipped with a new, comprehensively digitalised generation of steering wheel, integrating an array of controllers – plus, for the first time in a Mercedes-Benz, “hands-on detection” is enabled via sensor mats integrated into the steering wheel rim.

Another new feature is MBUX Interior Assistant, which is standard on the E63 and optionally available on other models (excluding Cabriolets) as part of an innovation package. This allows actuation of some cabin functions by intuitively detecting hand movements from either the driver or passenger using a camera in the overhead console. For example, a hand gesture toward the centre touchscreen can change the media display or highlight individual elements. Or, a reading lamp can be switched on by extending a hand towards the interior mirror.

An Augmented Reality display is able to be specified for the first time; it’s a feature of the Vision Package and Innovation Package, again optional on all but the E63. Augmented Reality intuitively overlays navigational signals and key driving assistance information directly onto a forward camera view displayed on the central navigation screen.

Dare to go 'Pro'?

Want a road car capable of being a track-driving ‘pro’? AMG has just the product.

IN track-racing, two cars makes a team, right?

 So it kinda makes sense that New Zealand has been allocated just a pair of examples of the closest thing you can get to an AMG GT3 racing car – the Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro.

While our allocation is quite potentially the smallest for any recipient country – Australia, for instance, gets 15 – just being on the list is something of an achievement, as AMG is only building 750 examples of this road-legal, but utterly track-prepped weapon.

Price? Well, of course, it’s expensive. At $420,000, the GTR PRO carries a $85k premium over the GT R Performance, which might seem a touch steep as the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 has been carried over from the standard GT R, so it still produces 430kW and 700Nm of torque.

But it takes a whole heap of special stuff not seen on the regular model, starting with $25k worth of carbon fibre bits hanging off the body. Plus a whole heap of race-level underskin enhancements.

As you’d expect from a car that has been designed to provision the ‘ultimate’ track experience… well, ultimately, only until the far more honed, properly bespoke AMG Project One comes along. That thing will be far more exotic and far more expensive than any current performance AMG.

And speaking of that, as much as the GT R Pro has ‘unbeatability’ about its look, it’s not actually the fastest or most powerful GT in the current NZ stockpile. That’s still the four-door, which makes another 40kW and has a faster overall top speed. It’s also all-wheel-drive, to better cope with all that animal.

Still, so much about the Pro suggests it would in no way be a disappointment. AMG’s proposition that it can still be driven to and from the circuit (unlike the AMG GT4), and takes lessons the company has acquired racing the coupe in the GT3 and GT4 categories around the world seems to resonate fairly.

As today’s mandatory Nurburgring Nordschleife video explains, the difference between a GT R Performance and the Pro comes down to improvements to the handling. Plus soe weight reduction.

There’s a new AMG coil-over suspension system that allows the driver to tailor the set-up, with adjustments to the spring pre-load as well as the compression and rebound of the dampers, based on their preference and the track they’re on.

There’s also adjustable front and rear torsion bars, with the former made from lightweight carbon fibre. The same material is used extensively across the car, with everything from a rear-end underbody panel to the front splitter, diffuser and even the seats made from carbon fibre in a bid to cut kilos.

Mercedes has upgraded the brakes, with carbon ceramics fitted as standard, behind 20-inch forged alloy wheels; finished in titanium grey exclusively for the GT R Pro.

The aerodynamic package reshapes, with a pair of aero flics added for great stability, vented front wheel arches, rear wheel arch extensions while keeping the GT R’s fixed rear wing. If you want to go further, it’s possible, but only with an after-market tuner. The video here shows the car after it has been with one such specialist.

More power, more aero still makes it more … well, as the film shows, ‘enthralling’ seems the right word.

But even as it comes from AMG, the GT R Pro is no wuss. They claim it can lap the 20km Nordschleife in seven minutes and four seconds, which is 6s quicker than the AMG GT R.

It’s enough of a race car to take a Track Package that delivers a partial steel roll cage and a pair of four-point racing harnesses (as well as regular lap sash belts), but not so much as to lose its luxuries. The racing-style seats – as well as the rest of the cabin – are trimmed in a combination of Nappa leather and Dinamica upholstery.

The daily drive seatbelts are finished in designo silver and there’s a retractable cargo area cover to keep your valuables out of sight. Mercedes will also throw in an AMG car cover.

The GT R Pro stands out for one other reason – it’s the final product overseen by the legendary Tobias Moers, who for some daft reason (and surely it can be nothing less than a pay offer by Lawrence Stroll?) has departed as chief of Mercedes’ AMG division to become CEO of beleaguered maker Aston Martin.

Moers has bumped Andy Palmer, with immediate effect. The Briton launched some great new cars but the past year has been one of terrible losses, a steady and catastrophic share price fall, and a descent into near-bankruptcy.

What can the German do to turn things around? Aston is a tough gig. But Moers has talent.

Aside from a successful record in building up AMG as Mercedes’ in-house tuner, he developed the stand-alone Mercedes AMG SLS supercar and was in charge of AMG by the time the GT launched. He’s also overseen the AMG One.

So is this the German brand protecting its investment in Aston and building for a take-over? Well, apparently not. Daimler, Mercedes’ parent, is adamant that Moers has left their employ.

Still, the links between the brands are close, now. As you surely know, Aston uses AMG V8 engines in the Vantage and DB11 V8, and Mercedes electronics in all its cars. The AMG nameplate is also on the powertrains of the Racing Point Formula One outfit that will from next year become Aston Martin Formula One. 

Daimler has a five percent stake in Aston Martin and the team principal of Mercedes Formula One, Toto Wolff, recently personally invested more than $100 million into Aston Martin.

 Meantime, if you’re up to Pro standard, the cars will be available exclusively from the country’s two AMG Performance Centres, in Auckland and Christchurch.