With the team at Mercedes-AMG putting the V12-powered S65 out to pasture a handful of years ago, the highest-performance S-Class has become the 4.0-liter-powered S63. This latest iteration in the long line of hopped-up S-Class machines blends the aforementioned 4.0-liter with an electric motor at the rear axle. Powering this 188 hp electric motor is a 13.1kWh battery pack that can be recharged. According to Mercedes-AMG, this plug-in hybrid system was derived from the hybrid system that powers the brand’s Formula 1 machine. Of course, that electric motor at the rear works with the 604 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque from the internal combustion engine and gives the latest S63 a staggering 791 hp and 1,055 lb-ft of torque – not bad for a luxury cruiser. According to Mercedes-AMG, this combination is good enough to rocket this 5,831-pound car to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds.
On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Mark Vaughn hops behind the wheel of the 2025 Mercedes-AMG S63 and puts it through its paces. Vaughn gives you a guided tour of the S63 and highlights some of his favorite features and some of its accouterment. Later in the show, Vaughn takes you along for a live drive review of this S-Class. Adding to these segments, Vaughn chats with host Wesley Wren about the S63, the competitive set, and more. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes this 2025 Mercedes-AMG S63 special.
