Life is good.
Life is good. Life is especially good when you’re in Tuscany behind the wheel of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe.
Life gets downright magical when threading your way through hills dotted with castellos, pointing the S63 two-door down a picturesque winding two-lane and loosing the horses. Your heart races, the scenery smooths to a blur, the car dances under you.
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2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe first drive
Enlarge PhotoDisregard the traffic cameras; it’s a small price to pay for this kind of satisfaction.Then suddenly you’re at your villa, prosecco in hand, and you just can’t stop grinning, knowing what you’ve done—and what awaits.
The S63 AMG Coupe is made for this kind of lifestyle, and because of it, the stylish full-size coupe plays in a heady realm, potentially taking the place of cars that might seem to be in a league above. The discerning driver may well skip the Bentley Continental GT Speed or the Rolls-Royce Wraith in favor of the more seductive, sportier, yet equally refined AMG Coupe.
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When it’s time to return to reality, hitting the Autostrada for the journey home, the S63 AMG welcomes you with technology that seems to preserve the magic just a bit longer. As your new memories distract you, Distronic Plus takes some of the load, following the lanes, keeping pace with traffic, even handling full stop-and-go duties in a jam. You’re free to reminisce—or plan for the next outing.
2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe
Enlarge PhotoMeanwhile, you and your chosen companion are swathed in comfort and luxury that equal the S63 AMG sedan’s—and even rival those hyper-luxurious British marques. The seats are intricately sewn, eminently comfortable, infinitely adjustable, and will even offer a variety of massages should you wish. All of this and more is controlled through the touchpad-and-wheel mbrace controller in the center console, with options and outputs displayed in stunning high-resolution on the central display.You won’t want—or need—to push the limits in this über-coupe, however; its 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8’s 577-horsepower, 664-pound-foot output is available at any time, smoothly slinging you toward the horizon, so why bother unsettling your passenger in the corners, anyway? AMG’s 33-percent front, 67-percent rear fixed 4Matic all-wheel-drive power distribution provides ample traction, regaining any speed given up to a more relaxed pace.
2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe
Enlarge PhotoDespite its size and luxury, the new S63 AMG Coupe is, at roughly 4,400 pounds, as much as 140 pounds lighter than the CL63 AMG that preceded it, a factor that helps achieve its 3.9-second 0-60 mph time. Extensive use of aluminum, carbon composite brakes, and a lithium-ion battery contribute to the lighter weight, despite increased standard features and equipment. Top speed, should you find a friendly stretch of the Autobahn in your journeys, is electronically limited to 186 mph.Unlike the new 2015 CLS-Class, the S63 AMG doesn’t get a trick new nine-speed automatic. Instead, the familiar seven-speed AMG Speedshift MCT returns, delivering smooth and precise shifts that nearly match a dual-clutch when you take control via the wheel-mounted paddles. Left to its own devices, it can shift with a range of traits, from “Controlled Efficiency,” to Sport mode. Those same modes also control the sound of the exhaust, taming it in “C” mode, or opening it up in Sport and Manual modes.
Automatic stop-start is fitted to help boost gas mileage, and in European testing helps the new S63 AMG achieve a rating of 10.1 liters per 100 kilometers—or about 23 mpg average. That figure won’t translate directly to an EPA rating, but it points toward a greener-than-you-might-expect figure.
But to be honest, if you’re counting gallons or dollars spent at the pump, you risk missing the point. This is a car that makes every drive a special occasion, whether you’re taming the Tuscan hills or letting it do most of the driving on the daily commute.
Wherever you’re going in the S63 AMG Coupe, you’ll arrive in style, comfort, and luxury—and with as much speed as you dare.
2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe
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Mercedes-Benz provided airfare, lodging, and food to enable Motor Authority to bring you this first drive report.