Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG gets new engine for 2011

It would seem that Mercedes-Benz engineers are either perennially restless, or they could never make up their minds. In the earlier half of this decade, the Mercedes-Benz S 55 AMG was content with an overpowering 5.5-litre supercharged V8. Then the German firm decided to replace that with a 6.21-litre naturally-aspirated V8, fitting the motor in, among others, the S 63 AMG. And now, they’ve decided to replace that excellent motor with a new 5.5-litre turbocharged V8, although the car will still be badged an S 63 AMG.

The new engine debuted in a 2011 S 63 AMG showcar that is a homage to the history of powerful AMG V8 engines, resembling the 300 SEL 6.8 AMG racing car that won a class victory and second place in the overall ranking for AMG at the 24-hour race in Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps in 1971, apparently making the company “world-famous overnight.”

The new direct-injection 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 will have two applications. One version will make 537 hp and up to 800 Nm of torque between 2000-4500 rpm. The other version will make 563 hp and up to 900 Nm of torque between 2500-3750 rpm. Both engines are mated to a 7-speed automatic.

In the upcoming S 63 AMG, the manufacturer claims fuel consumption figures of 10.5 litres/100 km, or about the same as a high-powered V6. As part of a driving mode called “Controlled Efficiency,” features include a start/stop function that helps improve fuel economy by 25% compared to the current S 63 AMG.

Despite better efficiency, the new engine allows the S 63 AMG to do the 0-100 kph run in 4.5 seconds, which is 0.1 seconds quicker than the outgoing model. Top speed is still electronically limited to 250 kph.

The engine will likely be fitted in everything from the C 63 AMG to the GL 63 AMG. Expect the new models to reach UAE and other GCC showrooms by the second half of 2010. Keep track of updates in the Mercedes-Benz buyer guide.