Geneva show: Mercedes-AMG E63 Estate uncovered

MERCEDES-AMG has proven you can have your cake and eat it too with the reveal of its E63 S Estate, packing a supercar-scaring 450kW/850Nm turbocharged V8, torque vectoring all-wheel-drive system and a load-loving rear end.

Despite its potent performance, the Audi RS6 Avant-rivalling AMG wagon has already been ruled out for the Australian market due to the slow uptake of the previous E63 Estate as confirmed by Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific senior manager of public relations, product and corporate communications David McCarthy.

“We haven’t been able to get reasonable sales from an E63 Estate – it can barely crack double digits annually, versus the current C63 Estate, which this year (2016) will hit 150 units,” he said late last year.

“They do really well in Europe, including the UK, but the market for a quarter of a million dollar wagon is clearly fairly limited.” In overseas markets, Mercedes will offer the E63 Estate in two variants, an entry-level version that makes do with 420kW/750Nm and the aforementioned top-spec S – both powered by AMG’s 4.0-litre biturbo bent eight with cylinder deactivation technology.

Power is fed to all four corners via a wet clutch nine-speed automatic transmission, allowing the zero to 100km/h acceleration times of 3.6 and 3.5 seconds respectively for the E63 and E63 S Estates.

Top speed is electronically limited to 249km/h, but buyers can opt for the AMG Driver’s package which will raise that figure to 290km/h.

By comparison, Audi’s flagship RS6 Avant Performance is powered by a 4.4-litre V8 which produces 445kW/750Nm and can accomplish the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.7s, as well as hitting a limited top speed of 250km/h.

Best of all, Mercedes-AMG has not sacrificed any practicality for performance, with the E63 boasting a capacious 640 litres of boot space with the rear-seats up, and an expansive 1820L with the 40:20:40 electric fold seats down – trumping the Audi RS6 Avant’s 565/1680L capacity.

Exterior changes will see the E63 Estate stretched 27mm at the front for wider wheel arches, larger 20-inch wheels and increased track width, while sharing the same front fascia as its sedan sibling.

A prominent rear diffuser flanked by quad chrome exhaust outlets sits at the elongated rear end, while 360mm brake rotors are featured at all four corners.

Suspension is handled by a bespoke variable damping, three-chamber air system, with three selectable modes – Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus – and AMG has fettled the engine mounts to allow for hard and soft settings.

Mercedes-AMG CEO Tobias Moers said the E63 Estate represents a blend of sporting performance and real-world utility.

“The new AMG E63 Estate combines our brand’s hallmark driving dynamics with high everyday practicality,” he said.

“It is not for nothing that the model has been a permanent fixture in the AMG portfolio for 40 years. The powerful engine and the intelligent all-wheel drive underpin our claim to always be at the forefront of development when it comes to performance.”