2024 Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance Employs Formula 1 Battery Tech for a Greater Good

It's entirely possible to train an elephant to dance; the real trick is getting it to want to. Not that we're comparing the 2024 Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance to the world's largest and strongest land-roving mammal, but since the car weighs in at an estimated 5500 pounds, measures 17.5 feet long, and packs nearly 800 horsepower, a certain similarity is undeniable. Our sample car's Selenite Grey Magno satin paint only encourages the analogy.

Fortunately, AMG has been challenging the laws of physics for decades, beginning with the original Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 "Red Pig" in the 1970s. But even the most robust species needs to evolve; for the S63 E Performance, that means the addition of an electric motor and an F1-derived battery to the S63's 4.0-liter 603-hp twin-turbo V-8. Together they're good for a claimed 791 horsepower.

AMG makes it clear that the focus of the S63's hybrid powertrain is "less on electric range and more on best-in-class performance." Fittingly, the S63 E Performance places the 188-hp electric motor at the rear axle and integrates a two-speed transmission and electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential. This allows the total output from the V-8 and electric motor to be delivered simultaneously. The car starts in EV-only mode, and we estimate the electric-only range should be around 20 miles at speeds up to 87 mph.

An F1-derived hybrid system

It takes quite a bit of complex choreography to ensure the S63 moves gracefully. At the risk of oversimplification, the system, referred to as a "P3 hybrid," provides instantaneous torque from a standstill for faster launches and, if driven delicately, a smoother disposition around town. In the event of wheel slip at the rear axle, the AMG Performance 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system performs a two-step and directs output to the front wheels via an electronically controlled clutch pack. Likewise, 4Matic+ provides all-wheel drive when the S63 is running on the electric motor alone.

The 10.5-kWh battery, developed in conjunction with U.K.-based F1 engine manufacturer High Performance Powertrains (HPP), utilizes the lithium-ion energy storage system derived from the units used in the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team's Formula 1 hybrid race cars. Comparatively light and compact, it can withstand the stress and heat buildup of repeated rapid discharge and recharge cycles while maintaining high current flow thanks to an advanced cooling circuit. Designed to keep the battery at an optimal 113 degrees Fahrenheit, the cooling system circulates liquid around all 1200 cells before entering an integral heat exchanger attached directly to the battery and then to another exchanger at the front of the car. A safety system is in place to reduce output if temps wander too far from the sweet spot and to safeguard the battery from accelerated degradation.

Four levels of onboard regeneration are available, ranging from the almost freewheeling Level 0 to the almost one-pedal-driving Level 3, which can return over 90 kilowatts of energy to the battery, depending on driving conditions. We found Level 2 to be the ticket for comfortable cruising and Level 0 to be the right choice for the tight twisty roads of the Santa Monica Mountains. Interestingly, AMG says the only way to charge the battery to 100 percent is via the 3.7-kW onboard AC charger. Again, the battery is optimized for fast power delivery, not record-breaking economy runs, and the regeneration algorithms take this—and battery longevity—into consideration.

Driving the S63

Though the hybrid system sounds a little complicated and intimidating, any concerns about its viability disappear after a short stint at the wheel. The various elements mesh imperceptibly thanks to careful calibration of the software, along with the electric motor's unique nature and its ability to provide immediate torque directly to the rear axle. Whether we were cruising the Pacific Coast Highway or hustling through the mountain roads above, the powertrain remains resolute with zero soft spots or clumsy handoffs. Such as a performance EV, plentiful shove is on tap at nearly any speed, but in the S63 it's accompanied by a genuine high-performance V-8 exhaust, tuned just short of full blat in Sport and Sport+ modes.