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Introduction
Mercedes-Benz R63 AMG -- 2007 Preview: Perhaps fitting with the start of the winter Olympics just around the corner, ice skating was the allegory used by Mercedes to debut its new R63 AMG at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show. Claiming that the new 2007 Mercedes-Benz R63 AMG is “designed to ice the competition,” AMG Product Manager Rob Allan compared his newest hot-rodded model to the skills both figure skaters and hockey players must employ for success. “Skating is about speed and agility, turning and stopping, despite a lack of traction,” noted Allan, remarking that like the best ice skaters, the new R63 AMG is athletic yet artful, powerful but poised.
Why it Matters
Based on the recently-introduced R-Class sports-tourer (evidently German for station wagon), the 2007 Mercedes-Benz R63 is a performance-tuned six-passenger vehicle that blends the attributes of a sports sedan, a minivan, and an SUV into a single do-it-all package. Mercedes-Benz has been applying the AMG treatment to every model in the lineup, so why not the R-Class wagon? Besides, Mercedes wants to expand the appeal of AMG products in regions of the country where inclement weather is the rule rather than the exception, and the all-wheel drive R63 AMG is a terrific way to capably blend the handling and acceleration of a sport sedan with the comfort and spaciousness of a minivan and the AWD security of an SUV. It is in a class by itself.
What's Under the Hood
Lending credence to the concept of a sport-tourer, the 2007 Mercedes-Benz R63 AMG is equipped with a modified version of the company’s 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. Under the hood revs a hand-built, 6.3-liter V8 engine making 503 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque, capable of accelerating the R63 from rest to 60 mph in just five seconds. A seven-speed automatic transmission with shift buttons on the steering wheel channels the grunt to all four wheels, and the driver can choose one of three transmission modes depending on the kind of driving she’s performing: sport (S), comfort (C), or manual (M). AMG’s wizards have also modified the 2007 Mercedes-Benz R63 AMG’s suspension, adding sport-tuned shocks to the standard Airmatic system and a uniquely configured adaptive damping system (ADS). Brakes are upsized, vented and perforated, and the R63 rolls on polished 19-inch rims shod with 295/45 performance tires.
What's Inside
Inside, the 2007 Mercedes-Benz R63 AMG gets sport seats to keep the driver and front passenger glued in place when the going gets fun, upholstered in Nappa leather with Alcantara inserts. A unique AMG gauge cluster is also added, along with a leather-wrapped, three-spoke sport steering wheel. Stainless steel pedals with rubber studs are included, along with special AMG door sill trim plates.
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About Christian Wardlaw
Christian Wardlaw joined Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC) in January 2003, and current serves as Manager of Content Development for Autobytel. Previously, Christian spent eight years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Automotive Data for Edmunds.com. A writer, editor, and automobile aficionado, Christian is a different sort of car enthusiast. His passion lies in the vehicles that people most often buy, rather than with high-performance sports cars or ultra-luxury sedans. “Given the choice to spend an hour with a Dodge Viper or a Honda Accord, I’ll choose the Accord,” he claims. Unless, of course, the driving venue is a racetrack. Christian has been a car enthusiast all of his life, uttering “car” as his first word while growing up in Detroit. A graduate of Western Michigan University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English. His daily drivers include a 1994 Mazda Miata, a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and a 2005 Nissan Murano.
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