Mercedes-AMG Used F1 and Hybrid Tech to Turn the New S 63 Into a Full-Size Luxury Rocket

Nobody looked at the current S-Class and thought it needed more power. Nobody. “Need” has never been part of AMG’s vocabulary, however, unless it was something like, “this car needs to tear through the fabric of time and space.” That’s likely how we ended up here, with the 2023 Mercedes-AMG S 63.

As it did with the new C 63, AMG reached into the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team’s toolbox for powertrain and electrification inspiration. Under the hood, a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 comes paired with an electric motor and an in-house developed battery. The system produces a staggering 791 horsepower and 1,055 pound-feet of torque and sends it to all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission. Acceleration to 60 mph only takes 3.2 seconds, and the car tops out at 180 mph. 

The S 63’s batteries offer fast energy draw and a high power density, so they can be lighter while providing the same juice. Direct cooling draws liquid around all of the battery’s 1,200 cells to cool them individually, and Mercedes says the system helps maintain consistent battery temperature for better performance and service life. The automaker developed a new cooling system for the car and said it uses 3.7 gallons of coolant for the battery alone. 

AMG used a wet starting clutch in the nine-speed multi-clutch transmission. It’s lighter and more responsive than before and offers what Mercedes calls “emotive” shifts when the car is in Sport or Sport + mode. 

[Image: Mercedes-Benz]

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