The Most Powerful S-Class Ever
Here we have a full-size 2025 luxury full-size sedan by Mercedes-Benz that is packin’ 791 horsepower thanks to a 603-horse twin-turbocharged 4-liter V8 married to a nine-speed transmission and a 188-horsepower electric motor attached to the rear axle. Talk about torque; this iron fist in a velvet glove brings 1,055 pound-feet of torque to the table that’s sent to all four wheels.
What does all that mean? How about blasting you from zero to 60 miles per hour in just 2.6 seconds! It can handle a quarter mile in 10.8 seconds at 129 miles per hour. Yes, this car is seriously fast!
If you really want to bake your brain, try putting it in Sport + Mode and watch the shifts tighten up to launch you into hyperspace. And the glorious sound from the exhaust gives you a whole new reason to live. THIS is what driving is all about. Oh… and it’s a Hybrid.
An S-Class on Steroids – The Unicorn
For 2025, Mercedes added more than a few tricks including a new top speed of 180 miles per hour and optional high-performance carbon fiber front brake rotors. Also new this year is a three-year satellite radio subscription and a nifty digital key system.
But what about the hybrid part of this thing, you ask with quivering lips? Well, it seems that the Mercedes-Benz F1 Racing team has been developing a high-performance battery system for use in its race cars for quite some time. The new hybrid powertrain in this S63 E Performance is based on the research the race team did to create a truly superior hybrid system for the track.
As mentioned earlier, this is the most powerful S-Class ever that works its magic with a 603-horepower twin-turbocharged V8 up front and a 188-horse electric motor at the rear axle for a total of 791 horsepower and 1,055 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid package includes a 10.4-kWh battery pack which will take you 16 miles on electricity alone. The all-wheel drive system uses a dual-clutch Mercedes nine-speed automatic transmission married to a two-speed tranny at the rear axle for the electric motor.
For nimble handling, fast, maneuverable lane changes and ultra ease of parking, rear axle steering is standard. The S63 uses an AMG Ride Control air suspension and AMG Active Ride Control stabilization as standard equipment to make the big sedan (weighing in at 5,700 pounds) easy to throw into corners.
Built on the S-Class platform, this sleek five-seater sedan is offered in one trim called the S63 E Performance with an MSRP starting at $187,350. But it can be purchased with a wide range of additional goodies. The model we drove included China Blue paint, Yachet Blue Nappa Leather upholstery, high-performance Michelin Sport 4S tires, AMG forged cross-spoke wheels, a Burmeister high-end 4D Surround Sound stereo system, a rear seat package, the AMG Night Package and more that brought the price up to a whopping $221,500.
Interior Comfort
An absolutely opulent cabin includes distinctive AMG upholstery and stitching in real Nappa leather. A 12.3-inch digital gauge display and vertically mounted 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen runs the latest MBUX software which can be controlled by touch or voice command from anywhere in the vehicle. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and wireless phone charging is standard.
The rear seats give you plenty of room to spread out and relax and there is 19 cubic feet of cargo room in the trunk. The S63 E Performance is packed with the latest safety and driver assist features including automated emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control and a self-parking feature.
On the Road
As you might expect, though this is a supremely luxurious executive sedan, it also packs top notch thrills thanks to the combination of a combined 791 hp, a truly superb chassis, and high-end steering and suspension goodies. I mean zero to 60 in less than three seconds and a quarter mile time of just 10.8 seconds is nothing to sneeze at. But wait, there’s more.
Nudge the accelerator at about 50 mph and this thing will blast you to 100 mph in one startled inhale. The shifts are crisp and accurate, and the G Forces will plant you firmly in those big, comfy AMG seats. Utilize Sport+ Mode and the car gets even tighter. Only an all-electric Porsche Taycan can launch you into the stratosphere this fast.
But what about when you’re just tooling around town with nothing to prove? Put it in Comfort Mode and it is a whole other beast. In fact, the V8 turns itself off at stop lights, and when the light turns green, it moves forward under electric power only. But punch it, dear friends, and the Merc lunges forward like a banshee in heat.
No matter what your driving conditions might be, the steering is awe-inspiring, perfectly weighted and the rear steering makes this big sedan feel like a much smaller car. We like that. You can dive into corners with the greatest of ease on twisty back roads and feel fully in control.
The dazzling unicorn we drove is fitted with the optional ceramic brakes (a $8,950 option) which are very impressive. In fact, Mercedes tells us the car will stop from 70 mph in just 161 feet!
All in all, we were very impressed with this AMG. We think you will be too.
MSRP $186,200
As reviewed = $221,500
🎥 Watch the 2025 Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance in Action
Experience the incredible power, luxurious cabin, and thrilling performance of the most powerful S-Class ever built—791 horsepower of hybrid AMG perfection.
