Drift modes appear to be an emotive topic. I've
gone on record
pondering if they're pointless. Journalist John Cadogan is a little more ... Australian on the topic. You'll get the gist long before his video's
18-minute conclusion
; I've made it to the end and reckon Full Metal Jacket's Gunnery Sergeant Hartman would be impressed at his sustained sweariness. Suffice it to say, you'll be wanting headphones if you're planning to watch at work or in front of the kids...
Headphones at the ready for this one!
No swearing in my (thankfully rather shorter)
vid from the E63 launch
; just a bit of giggling and tyre squeal. So do I still think drift modes are pointless?
I'll stick by the central thrust of my argument that they are, essentially, novelty. But an interesting chat yesterday with a friendly chap from GKN Driveline (suppliers of the Twinster AWD system that lets the Focus RS do what it does) and dinner table small talk with AMG's development boss Oliver Wiech at least shed some light on how and why these things have come about.
I'll park Cadogan's point about manufacturer-endorsed 'douchebag modes' for now, while accepting they do raise some interesting ethical questions. Credit to AMG though; you're not going to select the E63's Drift Mode by accident and the fact it insists on leaving you totally exposed with no driver aids whatsoever should (hopefully) concentrate the attention of anyone intending to try it out. Morally - and potentially in insurance terms - you're on your own. The Focus is a little different, given you have to scroll 'past' Drift Mode any time you want to cycle through the settings, temptation made considerably more accessible than it is in the AMG.
This is how happy 612hp makes you
Anyway. In the E63's case I think it's a more symbolic move. 90 per cent of the previous shape E63s sold were 4Matics, even in those markets where customers had the choice between that and the rear-driven set-up RHD markets got as standard. This rather suggests buyers of monster saloons buy into the IDEA of huge power and hairy-chested handling. But, when given the choice, readily opt for 'nannying' all-wheel drive. The new technology in the 4Matic+ system means AMG can vary the torque split from zero to 31:69. Adding a setting that fixes it 0:100 is technically very simple. And provides a cake and eat it solution. Look at it this way: if Porsche had been able to install a button that made a clutch pedal drop into the footwell and change the PDK shifter to an H-pattern manual in the 991 GT3 and RS it would have spared itself a lot of grief too; slightly more challenging technically but there is that facelift pending...
Modern performance cars are packed with ability and technology buyers demand but - in the vast majority of cases - will never use. Like 'ring lap records owners delight in reciting but will never achieve themselves or off-road modes in posh SUVs I'd file E63's Drift Mode in that category. And appreciate the privilege of being able to try it out at AMG's expense. Due journalistic diligence and all that. Without the self righteous rage, or apparent desire to see someone killed to prove my point.