Two Flagships, Two Visions of Power: Mercedes-AMG S 63 4MATIC+ and S 65
Affalterbach has delivered a sweeping mechanical overhaul to its premier luxury saloon lineup, giving the Mercedes-AMG S 63 4MATIC+ an entirely re-engineered powertrain while refining the visual dominance and dynamic poise of the twelve-cylinder Mercedes-AMG S 65. This mid-cycle update for the W222 generation S-Class introduces fundamental shifts in how AMG blends crushing velocity with high-end executive comfort, deploying downsized forced induction, quick-shifting multi-plate clutch technology, and an intelligent fully variable all-wheel-drive system.
For the Mercedes-AMG S 63 4MATIC+, the heart of the revision sits under the sculpted aluminum hood. The venerable 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 steps aside for AMG’s 4.0-litre V8 biturbo unit, codenamed M177. Far from being a compromise in power, the smaller engine delivers 450 kW (612 hp) between 5500 and 6000 rpm—an increase of 20 kW (27 hp) over the previous iteration. Maximum torque reaches 900 Nm across an expansive rev band spanning 2750 to 4500 rpm. Routed through the 9-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT sports transmission and AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive, the S 63 4MATIC+ charges from zero to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, matching thoroughbred supercars off the line.
Parallel to the V8 transformation, the twelve-cylinder Mercedes-AMG S 65 maintains its stature as the undisputed spearhead of the AMG S-Class range. Its 6.0-litre V12 biturbo powerplant churns out an immense 463 kW (630 hp) and an astonishing 1000 Nm of torque, directed exclusively to the rear wheels via the heavy-duty AMG SPEEDSHIFT 7G-TRONIC PLUS transmission. Together, these two saloons offer distinct expressions of grand touring: one a razor-sharp, technically assertive all-weather performance saloon, and the other an effortless twelve-cylinder flagship engineered with peerless highway reserve.
Sharper Aero and Distinctive Front Facias
Both models announce their arrival with an updated front graphic. At the leading edge, standard MULTIBEAM LED headlamps feature ULTRA RANGE Highbeam units that cast light hundreds of meters into the dark, complemented by the distinctive triple-torch daytime running light signature that identifies the refreshed S-Class family. Beneath the headlamps, the restyled front apron incorporates AMG’s expressive jet-wing architecture, guiding cooling air into the radiators and heat exchangers with aerodynamic intent honed on the racetrack.
A sculpted front splitter reduces aerodynamic lift at high speeds along the front axle. AMG differentiates the character of the two saloons through specialized trim treatments: the S 63 utilizes aggressive black and body-colored elements to highlight its athletic demeanor, while the flagship S 65 receives intricate front air inlet grilles rendered in high-sheen chrome. Along the flanks, three-dimensional chrome inlays run the length of the side skirts, visually lowering the saloon toward the asphalt and creating an aggressive side profile.
Forged light-alloy wheels are standard equipment on both models, cutting unsprung mass to sharpen steering response. The S 63 4MATIC+ rolls on 19-inch forged wheels as standard, while the S 65 steps up to distinctive 20-inch wheels. On the V12 saloon, the 16-spoke forged design features spokes twisted in a deliberate contour that guides reflections inward toward the wheel hub. This mirror-polished ceramic finish creates the optical illusion of an even larger wheel than its 8.5 J x 20 front and 9.5 J x 20 rear dimensions suggest. Each wheel features an integrated aluminum center cap modeled after motorsport center-lock hardware, emblazoned with the AMG wordmark.
Lightweight Construction and Sculpted Rear Design
At the back, a redesigned rear apron houses an integrated aerodynamic diffuser and model-specific dual exhaust tailpipes finished in high-gloss chrome. For the S 63, twin trapezoidal outlets bookend the bumper, while the S 65 sports contoured quad exhausts that announce the twelve-cylinder architecture. These brightwork accents create a striking contrast when paired with dark exterior paint selections, underlining the dual nature of these machines as stately executive sedans capable of shocking track performance.
Beneath the paintwork, AMG engineers applied their Lightweight Performance strategy to curb weight across the chassis. The entire outer skin of the saloon—including the hood, front fenders, doors, and roof panel—is stamped from lightweight aluminum. Under the trunk floor, the spare wheel well is molded from carbon-fiber composite rather than stamped steel. A compact lithium-ion starter battery replaces the traditional heavy lead-acid battery, shaving significant kilograms from the front end and lowering overall vehicle mass.
Handcrafted Cabin Luxury and Digital Displays
Inside, the passenger compartment balances high-speed ergonomics with meticulous craftsmanship. AMG power-adjustable sport seats offer deep side bolsters, memory functionality, and integrated heating to lock occupants securely in place during high-g cornering without diminishing long-haul comfort. The S 63 is trimmed in supple Nappa leather with custom V8 seat upholstery patterns and embossed AMG badges embedded into the backrests. For the S 65, the cabin is upgraded to Exclusive Nappa leather adorned with classic AMG diamond-quilted stitching across the seating surfaces and door panels.
The centerpiece of the driver’s cockpit is the redesigned AMG Performance steering wheel. Featuring a flat-bottom rim and contoured grip sections clad in perforated black Nappa leather, the wheel integrates twin horizontal spokes carrying touch-sensitive control buttons for navigation, driver assistance, and multimedia functions. Behind the rim, solid metal shift paddles provide tactile control over manual gear shifts. Optional materials include a grippy DINAMICA microfiber wrap. The dashboard retains its analog touch via an exclusive IWC-designed clock set into the center fascia, complete with three-dimensional milled hands and applied metal indices.
Dominating the driver’s forward view is the high-resolution Widescreen Cockpit, consisting of dual 12.3-inch TFT color screens housed beneath a continuous glass pane. The driver can toggle the instrument display between Classic, Sport, and Progressive digital layouts. The dedicated AMG menu brings track-derived telemetry straight into the driver’s eye line, providing real-time readouts for engine and transmission oil temperatures, lateral and longitudinal g-forces, active turbo boost pressure, and precise tire pressures and temperatures. For closed-course outings, the S 63 4MATIC+ incorporates the AMG Track Pace app, logging sector times, vehicle speed, and acceleration intervals for detailed driving analysis.
Inside the Hot Inside V: The 4.0-Litre Biturbo V8
The engineering marvel behind the S 63 4MATIC+ is its 4.0-litre direct-injected biturbo V8. Built according to AMG’s “One Man, One Engine” handcrafting philosophy, the engine positions its two twin-scroll turbochargers within the cylinder banks—the famous “hot inside V” configuration. This compact packaging shortens exhaust paths between the combustion chambers and the turbines, reducing turbo lag to imperceptible levels while ensuring immediate throttle response. It also allows close-coupled placement of the catalytic converters, optimizing cold-start emissions.
Each turbocharger housing features two parallel flow passages matched with separate exhaust runners from alternating firing cylinders. This separation prevents exhaust gas pulses from interfering with one another, dramatically accelerating turbine spool-up and building immense low-end torque. The M177 engine incorporates forged aluminum pistons, an optimized intake tract, air-to-water intercooling, and piezo-direct injectors that atomize fuel under high pressure directly into the combustion chambers.
Efficiency gains are equally central to the new V8. The engine features the AMG Cylinder Management system, which imperceptibly shuts down cylinders two, three, five, and eight under light loads between 1000 and 3250 rpm when Comfort mode is active. Camshafts slide axially via electro-mechanical CAMTRONIC actuators, deactivating the valve train on four cylinders while keeping the valves closed to eliminate pumping losses. The remaining cylinders operate at a higher, more thermally efficient load point. The transition back to full eight-cylinder operation occurs within milliseconds the instant the driver commands additional acceleration.
Effortless Supremacy: The 6.0-Litre Biturbo V12
While the S 63 champions sharp responses and modern downsizing, the Mercedes-AMG S 65 adheres to the towering tradition of twelve cylinders. Displacing 5980 cc, this hand-built V12 uses a lightweight aluminum crankcase, a forged crankshaft made from high-strength alloy steel, and a multi-spark ignition system featuring twelve individual twin-spark coil packs. Two large turbochargers deliver effortless boost pressure across the rev band, resulting in 1000 Nm of torque available from just 2300 to 4300 rpm.
Driving the S 65 is an experience characterized by unrelenting, turbine-like thrust. The saloon completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in 4.3 seconds, gathering pace with a silent, gathering swell that presses passengers deep into their leather seats. Top speed is electronically governed to 250 km/h in factory configuration, though specifying the optional AMG Driver’s Package raises the limiter to 300 km/h. The V12 exhaust note is deliberately pitched as a refined, cultured baritone, maintaining cabin quiet during highway cruising while asserting its presence when opened wide.
Gearbox Hardware: MCT 9-Speed and 7G-TRONIC PLUS
To harness the quick-revving 4.0-litre V8, Mercedes-AMG equipped the S 63 4MATIC+ with the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9-speed sports transmission. In place of a conventional hydrodynamic torque converter, this transmission employs a compact, wet multi-plate clutch for starting off. By reducing rotational inertia, the wet clutch delivers immediate response to throttle inputs, swift launch characteristics, and measurable weight savings. The transmission software supports multi-gear downshifts—allowing the gearbox to drop directly from ninth to fifth gear under kickdown—and executes automatic double-declutching rev-matches in Sport and Sport+ modes.
The colossal 1000 Nm torque output of the S 65 requires the heavy-duty engineering of the AMG SPEEDSHIFT 7G-TRONIC PLUS. Reinforced internal planetary gearsets and specialized clutch packs handle the immense twist produced by the biturbo V12 without flinching. The transmission calibration provides smooth, seamless gear shifts in Comfort mode, while Sport+ and manual paddle modes sharpen shift speeds to deliver immediate torque transfer during aggressive driving.
Drivetrain and Traction: AMG Performance 4MATIC+
The refreshed left-hand-drive S 63 breaks new ground by adopting the fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system as standard equipment. Unlike the previous fixed 33:67 torque-split system, 4MATIC+ utilizes an electro-mechanically controlled multi-plate clutch integrated into the transfer case. The system permanently drives the rear axle while continuously varying torque delivery to the front axle based on road grip, lateral acceleration, and steering input.
Under steady-state cruising, the clutch decouples to drive purely through the rear wheels, maximizing fuel efficiency and reducing mechanical drag. When accelerating hard or entering low-grip surfaces, torque is redirected instantly forward in variable proportions. The result is unshakeable traction in rain or snow alongside the rear-biased agility demanded by enthusiast drivers. Note that right-hand-drive versions of the S 63 retain rear-wheel drive due to packaging constraints around the steering gear, matching the rear-wheel-drive architecture of all S 65 models worldwide.
Chassis Dynamics: AIRMATIC vs. MAGIC BODY CONTROL
Under the sheet metal, the two flagships employ distinct suspension philosophies tailored to their specific missions. The S 63 4MATIC+ relies on an AMG-tuned sports suspension based on AIRMATIC air springs with adaptive damping. Engineers re-engineered the front suspension geometry with greater negative wheel camber, a thicker anti-roll bar, and stiffer rear subframe bushings. Independent rebound and compression control allows the dampers to switch instantly between cloud-like bump absorption and taut roll control when cornering.
The Mercedes-AMG S 65 features the cutting-edge MAGIC BODY CONTROL active hydraulic suspension as standard equipment. Paired with a forward-facing stereo camera mounted inside the windshield, the ROAD SURFACE SCAN system scans the road surface ahead, reading dips and crests before the car reaches them. The hydraulic actuators at each wheel actively load or unload the springs in fractions of a second, effectively flattening bumps before they transmit vibration into the passenger cell.
The S 65 also incorporates a dynamic curve-tilting function, operational between 15 km/h and 180 km/h. Working like a motorcyclist leaning into a bend, the system tilts the vehicle body into corners by up to 2.65 degrees. This active lean counteracts lateral centrifugal forces, ensuring that occupants experience minimal lateral displacement during spirited country-road motoring.
Braking Power and Optional Carbon Ceramics
Reining in large executive saloons with over 600 horsepower requires immense braking hardware. Both the S 63 4MATIC+ and S 65 come equipped with high-performance compound brake discs. Up front, 390 x 36 mm ventilated and perforated discs are clamped by stiff 6-piston aluminum fixed calipers. The rear axle utilizes 360 x 24 mm discs paired with single-piston floating calipers, delivering fade-free deceleration under heavy highway braking.
For drivers seeking maximum stopping power and track endurance, AMG offers an optional Carbon Ceramic braking package. This setup upgrades the front rotors to massive 420 x 40 mm carbon-fiber reinforced ceramic discs, paired with 360 x 32 mm rotors at the rear. The ceramic compound cuts total brake assembly weight by more than 20 percent, significantly reducing unsprung rotational mass to improve suspension compliance and steering agility. Finished with gold-painted calipers emblazoned with AMG Carbon Ceramic branding, the system resists thermal fade under extreme loads while offering exceptional component longevity.
Vehicle data
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Make | Mercedes-AMG |
| Model | S 63 4MATIC+ |
| Generation / chassis code | W222 (facelift) |
| Model year(s) covered | 2018 |
| Body style | 4-door luxury saloon |
| Powertrain / engine | 4.0-litre V8 biturbo (M177) |
| Power / torque | 450 kW (612 hp) / 900 Nm |
| Transmission | 9-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT sports transmission |
| Drivetrain | AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive (LHD); RWD (RHD) |
| Key performance figures | 0-100 km/h: 3.5 s; Top speed: 250 km/h (300 km/h with AMG Driver’s Package) |
| Price (as stated) | Not stated in sources |
| On-sale / announcement period | August 2017 announcement / 2017–2018 market rollout |
| Market | Global / Europe / North America |
Mercedes-AMG S 65
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Make | Mercedes-AMG |
| Model | S 65 |
| Generation / chassis code | W222 (facelift) |
| Model year(s) covered | 2018 |
| Body style | 4-door luxury saloon |
| Powertrain / engine | 6.0-litre V12 biturbo (M279) |
| Power / torque | 463 kW (630 hp) / 1000 Nm |
| Transmission | 7-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT 7G-TRONIC PLUS |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| Key performance figures | 0-100 km/h: 4.3 s; Top speed: 250 km/h (300 km/h with AMG Driver’s Package) |
| Price (as stated) | Not stated in sources |
| On-sale / announcement period | August 2017 announcement / 2017–2018 market rollout |
| Market | Global / Europe / North America |