The Mercedes‑AMG E63 S has had a rather fetching facelift

Mirroring the latest M5, the most potent E-Class is not a new car but a mid-life refresh with no changes to power or performance. It does get a cosmetic facelift, chiefly around the nose, and new driver assist functions and cabin features like the latest widescreen cockpit, all in line with the range-wide E-Class update of earlier this year.

A certain amount  of chassis retuning has also taken place, but where the M5 Competition puts the emphasis on more track ability, the E63 S majors on extra comfort. The whole E-Class range received a comfort boosting makeover in March and the benefits apply equally to the E63 S, with AMG saying its latest “Hammer” has a soft side with tangibly more ride comfort than before.

Key to the E63 S’s new suppleness is dynamic engine mounts, which AMG says are unique in the class. They certainly stand in contrast to the new engine mounts that BMW has opted for which are all about extra stiffness. The Mercedes solution is to have mounts that automatically vary their stiffness depending on how the car is being driven. As before, the E63 S gets its own bespoke spring and damper set-up and three-chamber air suspension.

The styling refresh endows the fastest Merc saloon with the latest AMG-specific radiator grille with 12 vertical louvres and big central star, flanked by flatter all-LED multibeam headlamps.  The wheels are new, the wheel arches flare out more, and the aprons front and back have been reshaped, not just for a pretty face but also better cooling efficiency and aerodynamic performance.

Like two peas in a high performance pod, here’s 14 things the AMG E63 S and M5 Competition have in common:

1. Only the top versions of each car are available for UK buyers (we don’t get the regular E63 or M5)
2. There are no price rises over the outgoing models, as both will be around £98,000 (tbc)
3. First deliveries will be by the end of summer
4. Both the M5 and the E63 have twin-turbo V8 engines, the AMG a 4.0-litre, the BMW 4.4-litre
5. Both have paddle shift autos, a nine-speed in the AMG, an eight-speed in the BMW
6. 600-plus PS: the AMG 612PS, the BMW 624PS
7. Plentiful torque: the AMG 850Nm from 2,500rpm, the BMW 750Nm from 1,800rpm
8. Three seconds from 0-62mph: the AMG 3.4 seconds, the BMW 3.3 seconds
9. 180mph-plus top speeds when derestricted: the AMG 186mph, the BMW 189mph
10. Intelligent all-wheel-drive with rear-drive only mode for drifting fun
11. Facelift of new grille, new lights and new body colours
12. 3-inch dash infotainment screens
13. Electronically regulated rear-axle locking differentials
14. Optional carbon-ceramic brake systems

And one thing they don’t have in common: you can get the AMG in either saloon or estate body styles.