BMW is busy testing the new iteration of their larger sporty sedan, the BMW M5. But so is Mercedes with its own Mercedes-AMG E 63 sedan. Time to see what’s in store for the two uber limos.
If the future BMW M5 won’t be ready for a market release any time sooner than late 2017, early 2018, the Mercedes-AMG E 63 is set to reach the showrooms as soon as this Autumn.
In both cases, the camouflage does its job and so it’s really hard to tell any significant changes in exterior design, even though it’s clear both models will use a quad exhaust pipe setup and will have some pretty aggressive front bumper.
It’s clear the new generations of both uber sedans won’t bring any major advances in design over their regular counterparts. Of course, the 5 Series is still a year away, so we don’t really know what the series model looks either. But, considering the evolutionary design of the latest 7 Series, it is safe to assume it won’t bring any major advances in this department.
We have become more than familiar with the new E-Class by now. Hence, we expect the E 63 and the ‘normal’ E to share many design cues. New to E 63 will be the wide, gaping lower air-intake, carbon fiber decor and AMG wheels.
According to rumours, the new BMW M5 will use the same 4.4 twin turbo V8 engine as the current model, but it will be souped up to produce 626 hp which, let’s be honest, sounds like a hell of a lot for what is, essentially, a family sedan in shape.
Meanwhile, top E-Class is said to offer as much as 600 HP too, courtesy of its new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8. Mercedes’ new hot sedan will be the first model set to inherit AMG’s state-of-the-art V8 in its highest tune, trumping both the C 63 and the AMG GT S in the process.
The power bump is not the only thing which will have people drooling over the prospect of the new BMW M5, but also the reports which say that, for the first time, customers will be able to order the car with the BMW xDrive four wheel drive system. Rear wheel drive will still be standard, but the new BMW M5 will also be available with all wheel drive as well.
Regardless of what you might think yourself, it’s good to know the new BMW M5 is also going to be a full 100 kilos lighter than the current model. The all-new E 63 will also be lighter and faster than its predecessor, getting the high-tech nine-speed gearbox in the process, re-tuned for faster change times – in order to suit the AMG philosophy.
Also as a move to counter the competition’s offer, it’s rumoured the new BMW M5 will get a Touring version, similar to the Mercedes-AMG E 63 T-Modell.
Photo: AUTOMEDIA
