Its lighter, more powerful and ridiculously luxurious. Mercedes officially unveiled its 2014 S63 AMG 4Matic today ahead of its in-person debut during the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

There won’t be any mistaking the 2014 S63 AMG when it reaches showrooms, even with its handsome new sheet metal. And while the brand’s biggest and newest performance sedan wears the same handsome styling as its relatively mundane siblings, the engineers behind Mercedes’ AMG arm have been hard at work proving the considerable prowess they hold in building athletic luxury products.


After all, the most recent products from their training camp have been the A45 and CLA45 AMG models. Time for something a little more grown up, no?

“Following the successful launch of the A45 AMG and the CLA45 AMG, the new S63 AMG 4MATIC highlights our expertise in the automotive high-end segment,” AMG CEO Ola Kallenius said.

Starting skin deep, a series of changes improve the car over its predecessor. Body panels are crafted from aluminum, the brakes are lighter and buyers can choose optional carbon ceramic units. Carbon fiber is molded to cradle the spare tire and even the front end is made of aluminum. Mercedes even saves weight by using a lithium ion battery and in total cuts 220 lbs from the car. There’s more.

A newly massaged version of the brand’s 5.5-liter biturbo V8 rests under the hood and makes 577 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque. That power is sent through AMG’s multi-clutch seven-speed transmission to the brand’s 4Matic all-wheel drive system for the first time in an S63. Collectively, that launches the car from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds with 33 percent of the engine’s torque sent to the front and 67 percent to the rear. Top speed is electronically limited to 186 mph.

Mercedes says the car is also more efficient than last year’s model, although official fuel consumption figures haven’t been released.

An updated air suspension that can adapt more readily also promises a more comfortable ride while maintaining performance. Mercedes gave the new S63 AMG higher camber, a larger anti-roll bar and a stiffer subframe carrier on the rear axle, all of which are unique to the car.

As an AMG model, the cabin gets specific changes as well. Those include a sport steering wheel and seats. Those buckets have been newly designed and Mercedes says they will offer improved support over the previous car. Finally, the cabin gets other touches like an embossed AMG logo on the leather arm rest above the center console.

Mercedes will unveil the car in person early this September during the Frankfurt Motor Show. The company didn’t announce pricing yet, but the outgoing S63 AMG starts at $140,000. Expect that number to climb considerably with the added all-wheel drive and improved materials.

As an AMG model, the cabin gets specific changes as well. Those include a sport steering wheel and seats