Both these German super sedans have gone all-wheel drive but does that shift translate into improved on-track performance?
RIGHT from the first W124 500E/ E500 from nearly three decades back, Mercedes-benz’s top-flight E-class and the BMW M5 have been competitors. However, never before have these two super sedans been this close in terms of engine performance and the way that grunt is delivered. For the first time, both cars have been developed with an all-wheel-drive system.
It’s just as well, too. With 441 kw/750 N.m (M5) and 450 kw/850 N.m (E63 S), these cars would have ripped their rear tyres to pieces (as the predecessors tended to) if that was fed only to one axle. On track, these systems also helped Deon Joubert to extract the most out of both cars.
We were able to test both vehicles on the same, mild Cape Town autumn morning and watched as Deon jumped from the one driver’s seat to the next.
Although via the E63 S’ exhaust note the AMG sounded significantly the quicker of the two – and ultimately clocking a time of 1:21,60 – when we downloaded the BMW’S data on our Vbox Racelogic equipment, it posted a near identical time of 1:21,70 seconds. We’re talking junior-supercar lap times here...
To put the times into perspective, compared to the previous generations of both, that’s nearly 2,5 seconds a lap quicker. The 2013 Mercedes-amg E63 achieved a 1:24,46 and the 2012 M5 posted a 1:24,12 (the 2014 M5 Competition Package did 1:23,70). There’s no doubt the addition of all-wheel drive is the most significant contributor to this reduction in times.
Said Deon: “They are so similar to drive. The E63 is the more muscular of the two thanks to its engine and the sound the exhaust generates. However, the M5 stood up better to track work than the E63. This is partly owing to this M5’s optional carbonceramic discs versus the steel units on this E63. However, for the single flying lap, both brake systems did a good job and the feel through the pedals was faultless. That said, the BMW is marginally more difficult to drive at the limit than the E.
“The Mercedes-amg was the easier car in which to set a time for a flying lap, but the BMW is the type of car I would like to spend more time with. The M5’s Michelin tyres also did a much better job on track than the Mercedes-amg’s Pirelli tyres.
“Alongside the GT R and the A45, this is one of the best products from MercedesAMG. In terms of on-track performance, the Mercedes-amg C63 doesn’t get close to the BMW M4, but this E63 is on the same level as the M5.
“At the end, the decision to change the drivetrain systems of both these cars from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive was an inspired one.”