The super-sedan war is heating up. BMW has all but confirmed that the next M5 will be offered with all-wheel drive for the first time ever, and media outlets in England are reporting that the 2017 E63 will turn the dial past 11 and up to 13 in terms of raw power.
Mercedes’ next family hot rod will allegedly be powered by an evolution of the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine that’s currently found under the hood of the C63, the GT and the indestructible G500. The eight-cylinder will be tweaked to pump out about 600 horsepower, roughly 90 more than when bolted under the hood of the GT S and about 25 more than the 5.5-liter V8 mill that powers the 2016 E63 (pictured).
The V8 will be bolted to a nine-speed automatic transmission, marking a first in AMG’s illustrious history. The downsized engine and the extra cogs will help keep fuel economy and CO2 emissions in check while making the E63 much faster than the current model.
The 2017 E63 will launch as a sedan and a station wagon, and the lineup could be expanded with M6-fighting coupe and convertible variants in time for the 2018 model year. However, whether the station wagon will return to our shores after the current model is axed is up in the air at this point.
What remains to be seen is when the 2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 will be introduced. The next Mercedes-Benz E-Class will be presented to the public in January of next year at the Detroit Motor Show, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see the fire-breathing AMG-tuned model bow the following March at the Geneva Motor Show. However, nothing is official yet and Mercedes could choose to unveil both sedans at the same time in the nation’s Motor City.