It’s telling that Car and Driver magazine has named the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe one of its “10 most beautiful cars.” The pricey ($172K) coupe is certainly that: sleek and shapely, with a long nose and short deck and a tricked-out cockpit like the home office of an oil billionaire with good taste.
But the S63 is more than just a pretty face. It’s also comfortable to a fault and powerful as a rocket, befitting a premium player among high-end luxury coupes. Competitors in its exclusive class include the Bentley Continental GT, the Rolls Royce Wraith, and the Maserati Gran Turismo.
With a combined city/highway EPA rating of 18 mpg, the S63 actually edges out those three rivals in the fuel-economy department by a couple of mpg’s. (But, do any who play in this league really give a fig about gas mileage?) The rating emanates from its all-wheel-drive, 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8, which shuts off at stoplights thanks to an auto-stop system.
Paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission, the engine generates 577 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. Time from 0 to 60: just 3.7 seconds. The time is all the more impressive when you consider that the S63, weighing in at nearly 4,700 pounds, is no lightweight.
Inside the cabin, meantime, you’ll get lost in soft Nappa leather, shiny brushed aluminum, and handsome black wood. You’ll find a nav system, a night-vision feature, lane departure assistance, and more. There’s even a heated armrest and massaging seats.
Then again, the S63 is a top-of-the-line Mercedes—a brand long favored by the favored few. Sums up Benz driver Nina Vaca, chairman and CEO of Dallas-based The Pinnacle Group: “My car resembles my personality—or at least that for which I strive … best in class, dependable, fast, sleek, all the while exuding class and elegance.” Beautiful, indeed.
