New Mercedes R 63: our most wanted cars 2026
Mercedes has a history of slightly silly high performance MPVs and now could be the time for an R-Class return, with a little help from AMG.
MPVs fell out of favour sometime in the mid-noughties. Most were dull, boxy kid-carriers with little to inspire the driving enthusiasts amongst us. But every now and then, something special crawled out of the woodwork, throwing the rational rulebook through the window to give the minority exactly what they wanted.
That happened in 2006, when Mercedes revealed its frankly absurd R 63 AMG. By fitting the 503bhp 6.2-litre V8 from the ML, it transformed the people mover into a firebreathing seven-seat sports car. Nothing of its type has been seen since, so I reckon it’s high time Merc backed a banger and brought back the R-Class as a high-performance EV flagship.
It arguably makes more sense now than it did then. Using the firm’s latest MB.EA electric architecture, you’d have none of the original car’s package compromises – such as the whopping great V8 in the nose, or the driveshafts sending power rearwards for the necessary 4Matic all-wheel drive system. With the right dimensions you could have seven proper seats, and no compromise in the third row.
I’m not a huge fan of Merc’s current addiction to touchscreen real estate, but there’s no arguing that its latest models have seen a sizable uptick in cabin quality. The maker even offers a certified vegan interior on the GLC – increasingly very relevant today, and something that could easily be applied to my fantasy AMG.
While we’ve yet to get a good look at any of the forthcoming souped-up SUVs due over the next few years, there’s no way Mercedes-AMG would let a hypothetical R 63 leave its Affalterbach factory without a pair of motors developing more than 700bhp and close to 1,000Nm of torque – so we can use that as a starting point. Throw in some clever chassis tech, performance brakes and a set of grippy, performance-oriented tyres, and you’ve got the ultimate wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Talking of clothing, in true AMG fashion, my hot R-Class EV gets a subtle bodykit with pumped-up bumpers and large multi-spoke alloy wheels. While I wouldn’t choose it myself, it seems appropriate to include a take on Merc’s polarising illuminated grille – here with a series of light strips rather than the 942 back-lit squares you’ll find on the latest GLC. Marginally less chintzy, if you ask me.
Inside, if you ignore the huge, dash-spanning infotainment screen, then it all centres around the electric R’s gargantuan cabin. Space is key with any tailor-made family car, and the R 63 is no different. Room to stretch out in every row, heated seats even in the very back, plus climate controls in the armrests so everyone can set the temperature just right. Let’s also throw in a massive boot, plus a generous frunk to provide room for the charging cables under the bonnet.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Mercedes-AMG R 63 with EQ Technology is the ultimate modern-day dad wagon.
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