Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, First Drives, Luxury

Turbo Lungs Yield An Improved Executive Express



It's an interesting time for Germany's premium performers here in North America. Audi isn't offering any RS models - at least not until the long wait for its TT RS ends. BMW is still cruising along with M3 sales and its new price-leader 1 Series M Coupe while we look forward to the next M5 in May 2012. Over at Porsche, the 911, after a record 30 variations on the 997 theme, is almost ready to give way to the 991 generation - a car we expect to test this fall.

Into this lull before the next blitzkrieg jumps the revamped 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. And while we've just driven it in idyllic southern France, it won't actually arrive in the U.S. until mid-September. At least the folks in Affalterbach assure us that U.S. dealers will continue to get a steady stream of the current (and much loved) E63 right up until this freshened one arrives. Of course, if you can't wait for the 2012 E63, there are similar AMG treatments on sale in the CLS-, CL- and S-Class.

For those fortunate few who already have one of the final 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 E63s on order, DO NOT CANCEL! Even though this new E63 with its M157 biturbo 5.5-liter V8 is a thing of greatness, we so love the outgoing car's booming M156 powerplant that you should harbor no regrets in welcoming the 2011 model into your garage. Still, we'd be lying if we didn't report that the updated model is slightly improved in certain ways. Better still, Mercedes-Benz is spreading the message that the E63's base pricing will not go up at all, so it should still start at $87,600.Continue reading 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG

2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



Permalink | Email this | Comments

More...
Autoblog
07-11-2011 12:58 PM