Saar: With a 4.0-litre, twin-turbo, V8 under the bonnet, which produces 612PS/850Nm, it becomes the most powerful E-Class ever made.

Riding high on the strategy to introduce 10 new products this fiscal, Mercedes-Benz India has now launched the most powerful E-Class ever made. It is called the Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4MATIC+ and starts at Rs 1.5 crore (ex-showroom India). For that price, Mercedes-Benz isn’t going to bother producing this iteration of the E-Class locally. Instead, it will be imported as a completely built unit.

What’s worth noticing is that Mercedes-Benz chose the E63 S for India and not the E63. While both are powered by the same 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 engine, the E63 S produces 612PS of power and 850Nm of torque. That’s 41PS/100Nm more than the E63. More importantly, the Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4MATIC+ trumps its direct rival, the BMW M5 xDrive, by 12PS/100Nm in India. Mind you, BMW is readying the M5 Competition Package which, once launched, will take the lead in terms of performance figures. But that’s then, this is now. Let’s get on with the E63 S 4MATIC+.

The engine in this bonkers sedan comes mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission which rifles the power to the road via the 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system. The result is a 0-100kmph time of just 3.3 seconds. That’s quicker than the BMW M5 xDrive and the Porsche 911 GT3 by 0.1 seconds. Top-speed for the Mercedes is electronically pegged at 299kmph, which is 49kmph more than its rival from BMW. That said, the BMW’s top-speed can be raised to 305kmph by paying an additional fee.

The real party-piece with the Mercedes-AMG is the ‘Drift Mode’ function. With that engaged, the four-door saloon becomes a rear-wheel-drive monster and gains the ability to satisfy anyone who likes to go around corners sideways. On the other hand of the scale, Mercedes-Benz has equipped the engine with a cylinder deactivation system. At low speeds, the Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4MATIC+ can turn off half its cylinders to save fuel.

Also Read: Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan Breaks Cover

This car becomes the fourth launch from the Indian arm of the German carmaker. Later this year, Mercedes-Benz India will also launch the E-Class All-Terrain. It is a hunkered-up estate version of the standard E-Class and will take on the Volvo V90 Cross Country in India.