Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe: Driven

A Bentley Continental GT is nice; the German alternative might actually be nicer though

We drove a Bentley Continental GT Speed not so long ago, which in price, performance and target audience is pretty much a direct rival for this AMG S-Class Coupe. OK, perhaps not this one with its mere V8 engine - to hold your head up against the W12 Bentley pride would probably dictate an S65. But in spirit these are very similar cars. While being completely and utterly different driving experiences.

One of the better looking modern Mercs

The Bentley wants to evoke a time to an age where champagne in Mayfair before racing your mates for dinner in Paris is the kind of thing a chap does of a Friday night. The S63 also respects the formidable traditions of generations of big, swanky Mercedes coupes from decades gone by. But it's also defiantly modern, high tech and, with features like Swarovski crystal embellishments to its headlights, down with the kind of folk Lewis Hamilton has on speed dial.

Bling like that is likely to raise a sceptical eye among PHers but the nice thing about the S63 Coupe is how it manages to be both astonishingly opulent and extravagant and yet also relatively downplayed and classy. Such are the benefits of experience - Mercedes knows a thing or two about building posh coupes and it shows. Clearly the UK press office knows a thing or two about speccing them too, this £125,605 car showing an options bottom line of £172,065. Direct comparisons with competitors in this bracket are therefore a little skewed, 'starting price' being just that.

From 'Magic' this to 'Assist' that the tech is dazzling

Mo' money
Whether you're into such obvious displays of wealth or not, there is no denying the current S-Class Coupe is a very stylish car and perhaps one of the more successful interpretations of Mercedes' current design language. With space to stretch out and breath, surface detailing that appears heavy handed and cramped on a C-Class Coupe actually makes sense and it's one of those cars whose natural confidence wins out.

This theme continues inside and were you to step from a Bentley Continental GT into this you'd feel like you'd suddenly moved forward by more than just decades - this is like a luxury car from another century. The leather is soft, the chrome embellishments just the right side of tacky and the scale and grandeur all rather intoxicating. Where there are tactile inconsistencies in the Bentley's mix of knurled metal and parts bin switchgear the Mercedes feels expensively finished to a consistently high level.

For a big lad it dances around OK

Given the huge range of technology and gadgetry permeating every facet of the S63's operation it'd be easy to spend the rest of the story listing the gizmos. By all means browse the full spec below and download a brochure from the Mercedes customer site if you want the full detail. But we'll be guessing you'll be wanting to know how it goes.

Entry level
Remembering this is the 'junior' of AMG's two S-Class Coupe variants the 585hp and 664lb ft of torque from the twin-turbo V8 are pretty burly numbers; enough to humble the seemingly equivalent Bentley Continental GT V8 S, trouble the W12 and stay on terms with even the 635hp Speed. Indeed, even the 12-cylinder Bentleys can't get near the AMG's torque output. And if you are willing to put another £60K in for the £183,075 starting price of the S65 you get the V12, 630hp and an astonishing 737lb ft of torque.

'Cheapo' V8 more than adequate; sounds good too

Never does the V8 feel under-endowed then, though in the nature of these things it is a little more audible than the V12. As per the Bentley equivalents, this will come down as much to taste as the performance required and if you want a little more engagement the 'smaller' engines deliver in both cases.

Dynamically and as a driver's car the S63 sits between the Continental GT and more overtly Aston Martin DB9 GT. Given the next generation of Astons will, of course, use AMG engines and Mercedes electronics it'll be interesting to see how that separation is managed in the future but for all the AMGness this is very much at the grand tourer end of the spectrum. And not a car for cornering on the door handles on a Sunday morning blast.

Not enough? You can always have an S65

Roll with it
If you do that might well be the 'wrong' door handle too, the rather eerie Magic Body Control blessed with Mercedes' Curve Tilting Function to make the S63 actively lean into the bend. Though you never lose sight of the S63's sheer size, this does contrive to make it feel a lot more chuckable than you might otherwise have believed. From a following car it looks downright weird; from inside less noticeable but still a little counter intuitive.

With its light steering, smooth but well-controlled ride and the distant woofle of the V8 this remains a car for broad strokes and big roads and perhaps a very modern evocation of the charms of the old SEC, perhaps the sportier end of the spectrum in the (relatively) recent history of the big Merc coupe. This, for avoidance of doubt, is a good thing.

Fast, opulent, expensive - this is a proper luxury coupe and Mercedes very much in its comfort zone. Likewise the fortunate occupants. Price of admission a bit steep for your tastes though? Fear not. If there's one thing S-Class Coupes and their CL predecessors appear to do more quickly than cover ground it's shed value, making them among the most attractive post-depreciation purchases about. Previous-generation AMG CLs now start at around £35K and £48K will get you in a year-old, dealer-offered V8 CL500. Before even a single tick on the options list that was a £95,545 car in the showroom. One man's pain and all that...

MERCEDES-AMG S63 COUPE
Engine: 5,461cc twin-turbo V8
Transmission: 7-speed automatic AMG Speedshift MCT, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp):585@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft):664@2,250-3,750rpm
0-62mph: 4.2sec
Top speed: 186mph
Weight: 2,070kg (undisclosed kerb weight)
MPG: 28.0 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 237g/km
Price: £172,065 (Basic list of £125,605 plus £7,090 for AMG high-performance ceramic composite braking system with composite brake discs, £2,760 for AMG Driver's package, £5,000 for AMG Exterior Carbon Fibre package, £2,860 for LED Intelligent Light System with Swarovski crystals, £1,550 for AMG carbon fibre engine cover, £260 for AMG exclusive floor mats, £420 for AMG performance three-spoke multi-function steering wheel in nappa leather/DINAMICA microfibre (heated), £380 for AIR-BALANCE Package adjustable fragrancing with four different scents, £660 for Comfort-ventilated front seats - includes seat heating and cooling, £4,030 for Panoramic roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL - switchable transparency, £440 for Warmth Comfort Package, £2,080 for Night View Assist Plus, £5,300 for Burmester® high-end 3D surround sound system with 24 speakers, £260 for DVD changer, £1,060 for Head-up display, £820 for SPLITVIEW, £1,110 for TV tuner with digital reception capabilities, £3,980 for AMG carbon fibre/black piano lacquer trim, £4,660 for Exclusive Nappa Leather package, £1,740 for 10-spoke 20-inch AMG alloy wheels)

Browse Mercedes CLs in the PH classifieds

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