What a hot E!

The Mercedes-AMG E 63 is a high-performance machine parading as a luxury sedan blending the sophistication of an E-Class with the capabilities of a sports car

- Dhruv Saxena

Mercedes-Benz is a brand synonymous with luxury, with cars that set benchmarks in terms V of comfort and onboard tech cosseting their occupants in ways not many brands can claim to. The E-Class especially in its long-wheelbase guise sold in India is a fine example of that. Replace the 'Benz' in the name with ‘AMG’ and things take a rather exciting turn. These cars swap their formal suits for chic jackets, fine brogues for a pair of sought-after sneakers, composed nature of a luxury sedan for the pulsating performance of a sports car as illustrated by the MercedesAMG E 63 you see here.

The new E 63 is based on the facelifted E-Class launched last year. It drops the regular E's chrome bits in favor of blacked-out bits and adds AMG's signature Panamericana grille to the mix befitting its high-performance nature. Flared wheel arches, 20-inch rims shod with grippier rubber, and quad pipes flanking a diffuser-like element complete the look. The E 63 is based on the standard wheelbase E-Class, 140mm shorter than the E LWB sold in India, and that is the easiest way to tell the two apart. It adds AMG-specific badges and exterior colors to the mix to complete the super sedan look. The difference is subtle and most might not be able to tell the regular E and the AMG apart, but subtlety is one of the defining traits of this segment. When it comes to looks, that is.

1. Dashboard comes from the regular E-Class without too many changes. Buyers get to choose from multiple trim and upholstery options. 2. Customisable instrument panel gets AMG-specific layouts. 3. Touchpad to access infotainment system replaces rotary dial