The engine downsizing game seems trite these days. We've been hearing about the inevitable replacement of large-displacement engines with more efficient, forced-induction powerplants for years. To meet the increasing demands for cleaner cars, even performance cars must follow this path, which brings us to the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG.
AMG's big changes for the 2012 E63 are a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8 and a seven-speed automatic transmission that ditches the traditional torque converter for a wet clutch. Though the outgoing engine displaced 6.2-liters (the 63 badges didn't match the actual displacement then either), it made do with normal aspiration and port injection. With its new engine, AMG is replacing displacement with technology and every 5.5-liter V-8 is leaving Affalterbach with twin turbochargers and direct injection. Though there's no horsepower increase with the smaller engine, peak power remains 518 hp and maximum torque climbs to 516 lb-ft, up 51 lb-ft from 465 lb-ft in the 6.2-liter cars.
An optional (though highly recommended) AMG Performance Package boosts the output to 550 hp and 590 lb-ft as well as increasing top speed from155 mph to 186 mph. To extract the additional grunt, AMG simply increases the turbochargers' maximum boost to 18.8 psi, up from 14.5 psi in the standard E63. Visual changes to performance-pack cars are limited to red brake calipers, a nifty carbon-fiber engine cover, a carbon-fiber spoiler on the trunk, an AMG steering wheel, and the AMG sport suspension. Even with the performance package, the E63 AMG is capable of flying under the radar until you put your foot in it and the V-8 starts to scream.
The new engine deserves a better transmission, so AMG ditched the torque converter in last year's car in favor of a wet clutch. The C, S, S+, M, and RS transmission modes are familiar to AMG customers, but "C" mode now features stop/start programming and starts in second gear. Fear not, start/stop isn't active in sport, sport+, or manual modes and can always be deactivated manually when the transmission is set to comfort. Customers looking to validate Mercedes' claimed 4.2-second 0-60 sprint (4.1 with performance pack) will want to dial in RS to utilize launch control. Sport, sport+, and manual modes include rev-matched downshifts and the matching exhaust burble.
