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2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe

Conventional wisdom would dictate that adding more power and several key performance enhancements to an already very good car, like the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 Coupe, will end up equaling an even better car. In the case of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe, conventional wisdom sort of applies, but perhaps not as much as we'd have initially guessed. We'll get into the nitty gritty details in just a moment, but here's the most immediate takeaway we had in our minds as we walked away from this super coupe: The S63 AMG is excellent, but so is the slightly more mundane S550 Coupe on which it is based, and which is priced some $41,000 less expensive than its more powerful sibling. Chew on those figures while we examine what differentiates the two S-Class Coupes. Drive Notes As expected, the single greatest highlight of the 2015 S63 Coupe is its engine. As a powerplant, it's a gem. As a hand-built engineering exercise, its 577 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque are just as impressive in real life as they sound when recited from stat sheets. Not that the old CL63 AMG was lacking in power, but the new S63 AMG Coupe boasts 41 more horses and 74 more lb-ft than the outgoing engine. The run to 60 miles per hour takes a scant 3.9 seconds, according to M-B, aided in no small part by the car's 4Matic all-wheel-drive system and other assorted electronic brains deciding where, exactly, all those ponies should be sent. The rear-biased system is tuned to send two-thirds of the engine's power to the rear wheels in a bid to make the car feel more like what performance-minded drivers expect. Top speed is electronically limited to 186 miles per hour, which is plenty fast enough, even in the days of 200-plus-mph sedans from M-B's former corporate cousin Dodge. We didn't get anywhere near the car's maximum velocity, but our brief trips into triple-digit territory were quiet, comfortable and completely free of drama. The seven-speed automatic gearbox responds quickly to requests of your right foot, but the steering wheel-mounted paddles don't change gears as quickly as we'd like when in Manual mode. Controlled Efficiency (which we'd call Comfort) maximizes efficiency, keeping the transmission in higher gears and shifting earlier than when in Sport mode, and we didn't find much fault with the computer's shifting algorithms in either setting.

Mansory G63 AMG Sahara Edition substitutes performance for taste

We aren't sure if it's an unwritten rule or not, but it seems like European tuners are wholly incapable of building cars whose aesthetics don't offend people blessed with the gift of sight. Take Mansory, for example. The Swiss tuner has turned its hand to the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, a vehicle that on it's own is not exactly a visual stunner. Functional sure, but not exactly beautiful. But with Mansory wielding the design pen, the result is, well, yeah. It's not great. This is the Mansory G63 AMG Sahara Edition, and surprisingly, its camouflaged paint scheme is one of its least obnoxious qualities. But its grille, headlights, hood scoop, roof-mounted lights and rear spoiler just don't do this Mercedes any favors. And for some reason, the tuning firm has decided to put two different styles of 22-inch alloys. The driver's side isn't horrible, although we can't say the same about passenger-side hoops. The interior treatment is nothing compared to the cabin, though. Falcons. There are falcons in the headrests. No, we don't know why either. The avian theme isn't limited to the headrests, though, as Mansory has added wings to the seats, dash and door panels, all the while continuing on with camouflage color scheme on certain interior surfaces. Of course, if you can live with the design decisions, you'll be getting a ludicrously potent G-Wagen. Mansory has boosted the 5.5-liter, biturbocharged V8 to 828 horsepower while it's actually been limited to 737 pound-feet of torque. We aren't sure what the addition of 292 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque does to the G63's run to 60, although we're betting the Mansory version is a lot quick than the 5.3-second stock time. Check out our live gallery of the G63 AMG Sahara Edition, from the floor of the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Related Video:

Mercedes mulling Renault-based entry-level X-Class?

Somewhere in between the Smart brand and the all-new A-Class (pictured above), Daimler is said to be readying a smaller entry-level product for the Mercedes-Benz brand to compete with models like the Audi A1. According to AutoBild, Mercedes-Benz will get a new hatchback based on a platform from its recent partnership with Renault-Nissan, and it could be called the X-Class.
Expected to debut by 2018, the Mercedes-Benz X-Class could be offered in sedan, hatchback and crossover variants, and it would likely have a starting price below the $20,000-euro mark. Power would come from either a 1.0-liter inline three-cylinder engine or a 1.5-liter inline-four, and the car would likely be built in a low-cost nation in order to make the financials work. Wearing the Mercedes-Benz name, the X-Class would have to exhibit more distinguishable luxury and styling to set itself apart from the models that helped provide its underpinnings.