New Mercedes-AMG S 63 spied in minimal camouflage

This is our first look at the new Mercedes-AMG S 63. It’ll sit below the upcoming AMG S 73 e plug-in hybrid in showrooms later this year as the second most powerful model in the S-Class range, offering fresh competition for the Porsche Panamera.

Like all Mercedes-AMG vehicles, the new S 63 will come with a host of aggressive styling tweaks, as indicated by the camouflage wrap on this mule. Revisions will include a deeper front splitter, slightly wider side skirts and a new diffuser, which houses the company’s trademark quad-exit exhaust system.

The cabin will also get the usual Mercedes-AMG makeover, with some new sports seats, an AMG-branded steering wheel, aluminium pedals and some dedicated AMG graphics for the car’s 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.8-inch infotainment system.

Mercedes hasn’t confirmed any technical specifications for the new AMG S 63 but, given the vast size of the latest S-Class, we expect the brand will shun the electrified four-cylinder powertrain destined for the new AMG C 63 in favour of its traditional twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8, which is found in everything from the AMG GT to the AMG E 63 saloon.

In the E 63 saloon, the V8 produces 603bhp and 850Nm of torque – and we expect the tune will be the same for the S 63. We’re also fairly certain it’ll come with a nine-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive, as that drivetrain is already found in every other model in the standard S-Class line-up.

To support the extra grunt, Mercedes will overhaul the S-Class’s chassis, fitting lowered suspension, stiffer anti-roll bars and new adaptive dampers that are tuned for slightly sharper handling. There’s also some drilled discs and larger calipers hiding behind this mule’s alloys.

Mercedes-AMG will fit its latest traction control system to the S 63. Like the smaller AMG E 63, it should also come with a “Drift Mode” programme for the car’s drive mode selector, which will disconnect drive to the front axle and allow the driver to slide the car through corners.

Now read our review of the previous-generation Mercedes-AMG S 63. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…