Mercedes E63S AMG Estate revealed – as fast as a Ferrari GTC4

It’s the Mercedes-AMG E63 4Matic wagon, the entirely expected addition to the new E-class line-up and complete with all the credentials needed to take top spot as the ultimate example of a family car with added Race mode.

One moment it’s a spacious five-seater with secure all-seasons all-wheel-drive and room in the back for a couple of hefty labradors; the next it’s blasting from standstill to 62mph in just 3.5 seconds and topping out at 180mph (with the optional driver’s package).

In either situation, chances are it will not go unnoticed because AMG’s E63 styling makeover is possibly more striking when applied to the estate body. The look is definitely long, low and lean, and like the sedan, it gets a much more dynamic appearance around the bonnet and nose. Inside it’s capacious: fold down the 40:20:40 split rear seats and there’s 1,820 litres of luggage room. 

Other aspects are familiar from the E63 sedan, including the bi-turbo 4.0-litre V8 with 612bhp for the S model, or 41bhp less for the entry car (which is only one-tenth of a second slower from 0-62). There’s the same nine-speed Speedshift transmission and smart all-wheel-drive system with fully variable torque split between front and rear axles. The suspension is by way of air springs and continuously variable damping.

AMG’s Dynamic Select programme is included with its familiar driver choices including, in the S version, a Race mode tailored to track driving. Carbon ceramic brakes are an option.

So is it the world’s fastest estate? 3.5 seconds is brisk enough for the 612bhp AMG to drive past the 605bhp Audi RS6 (3.7 seconds) and match on acceleration the shooting-brake three-door Ferrari GTC4, at least in V8 Turbo form. The Ferrari might have the higher top speed – plus a much smaller boot and a larger price tag of course – but on getaways from the lights, they are neck and neck. In the true “load lugger” stakes there’s nothing quicker, which is what you’d expect of a company that has been championing the performance-estate formula for 40 years. 

Or should we say nothing quicker…so far? The AMG E63 estate makes its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March when it will be trying to divert the spotlights away from another estate car debutant: the all-new BMW 5-series Touring. There will be an M5 version of that at some point – complete with a rumoured 600bhp-plus and, for the first time, all-wheel drive – but will there be a Touring version of it? Watch this space.

The new Mercedes-AMG is launching with a fully-loaded Edition 1 version, just as the E63 sedan has done. That costs £103,440 so expect a hike over that for the estate when prices are confirmed within the next weeks. You will be able to order one from April for August delivery.