It was about time for Mercedes-AMG to
start testing the next S63 on public roads and, as usual, our spies were there
to capture the action. As you can see, the test car is covered from head to toe
in the classic camo wrap but touches like the front Panamericana grille, the
bigger wheels, and the aggressive quad exhaust tips point out to this being the
AMG variant of the S-Class family.
Of course, the biggest news is hidden
under the skin of the new AMG S63, as the new generation is set to receive a
plug-in hybrid powertrain for the first time; at its heart, it will still use
the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine but here it will also be assisted by an
electric motor. The net result is expected to be around 700 HP.
For customers not willing to settle with
anything less than 800 HP, Mercedes-AMG will offer them the new S73, which will
employ a similar plug-in hybrid powertrain, only here it will feature a more
powerful electric motor. That’s the same unit we’ve seen Mercedes testing in
the upcoming AMG GT 73 4-Door for the past few months. Given that the upcoming
S580e plug-in hybrid variant is going to offer around 100 km of EV
range, we expect that the new AMG models will offer more or less the same.
AMG is expected to take advantage of all
the tech features offered with the new S-Class to make it a proper bullet
train, including a retuned air suspension and all-wheel steering system. Bigger
brakes and other high-performance components are also on AMG’s list. The new
plug-in hybrid Mercedes-AMG S63 and S73 models are expected to be revealed next
year, with a market launch in late 2021.
