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By: Ikedi Ani-okoye

Author: Matthew Carter

E63 AMG

The E is the bedrock of the German taxi industry because it works. lt provides plenty of room inside, a large boot for luggage and a fair tern of speed, even in diesel form. Exciting, however, it is not. All of Which makes die E 63 AMG soinething of an oddity. Outwardly it looks just like a Stuttgart taxi (colour scheme aside), but beneath its ultra-conservative exterior beats the heart of a caged animal.

The clue lies in the badging. E is obvious enough, but 63 signifies that the engine is not exactly standard, while AMG is German shorthand for 'light the blue touch paper' Actually it's not. AMG stands for Aulrccht Melcher GroBaspach and is to M-B what 'M' is to BMW. Working as a separate operation within the benz empire, AMG takes a standard car and, using some good old-fashioned tuning skills, turns it into a fire-breathing monster.

There are AMG Yersions of iust about everything in the M-B range, including the S-class limousine. But it is arguably in the bread-and-butter E-class that the transformation is at its most pronounced. AMG takes tihe 5.5-1itreV8 engine from the top 'normal' model in the range, the E 500, and increases it to 6.2-Litres. Without recourse to turbo- or supercharging, each hand-built engine develops 514 hp and an awesome 630 Nm oftorque Peace doe '63' in the name).

To put that in perspective, the E 500 - itself far From sluggish - develops a mere 388 hp and 530 Nm respectively. The engine is then mated to a seven-speed (yes, seven) automatic gearbox to turn in performance figures the envy of many a sports car... let alone a diesel taxi. The E 63 AMG hurls itself From rest to 62 mph in 4.5 seconds. Well, die saloon version does: buy the Estate and be prepared for that time to increase to a yawn inducing, er, 4.6 seconds.

Top speed in both cases can only match the E 500 at 155 mph. But Flat's down to a 'gentleman's agreement' flat sees top speed artificially limited - almost everyone complies, Porsche being she notable exception. TAe ihat limiter away and top speed would be more than 180 mph. AMG completes the package by beefing up the brakes - the front discs are made From a carlton composite material - and tuning the standard air suspension to cope with the added performance potential. Externally, honeyed, ?rou'd be hard pushed to tell that this is something special.

There's a deeper front apron, while the front bumper incorporates some air vents designed to help the integral oil cooler dissipate hot air. The eagle-eyed might spot the subtle side skirts and, on the saloon, the deeper rear apron and the small boot mounted spoiler, designed to reduce rear end lift by 30 per cent. But discreet badges aside, that's about it. That little lot will set the buyer back almost E67,600, or a cool L20,000 more than the E 500. And, as ~vith any M-B, there's plenty of opportunity to push that ngurc still higher.

'My' E 63, for example, added a host of options - sat nav, premium sound, voice activation, intelligent lights - which stuck a further ten grand on the bill. And you just know that you won't see much of that back when you come to sell. One of the other options was something called the AMG Performance Package, leith performance suspension and special 18in wheels. It's Eor those who reckon the 'standard' AMG offering isn't hardcore enough And that worried me somewhat.

It's all very cell stiffening she suspension and bolting on super lose profile tyres if you Avant a record lap time at die Narburgring. But if you're more concerned by how your car will cope with the ruts and potholes on the Mile End Road, stiff suspension is the last thing you'll need. So I set off fearing the worst. But needn't have worried. Yes, the ride is firm andserious potholes are best avoided, but generally speaking comfort is exceptional, given the sporting nature of tihe beast.

The 63's Adaptive Damping System helps, allowing the driver to choose one of three suspension settings: comfort, normal and sports. Llnlike some such systems, this one actually works. And it goes without saying chat with all that rubber on the road, the E 63 grips like a Ludlum thriller. The brakes and steering, too, feel as if they have been stolen from a two-seater.

In fact, AMG has achieved a quite remarkable trade off: dynamically the E 63 would be quite at home on the racetrack, yet delivers a Arm but well-damped ride perfect for everyday use.I have deliberately saved the best bit for last. From the moment you punch the starter button, you know this is something special. Urgent is one way to describe the massive V8 Barking is another. This car has power and torque in abundance, making a mockery of our antiquated speed limits.

Little avoider, given chat derestricted Germany is its natural habitat. 'l Especially spectacular (and more relevant to the UK) is fhe in-gear acceleration, which allows overtabing to be completed in the blink of an eye. And the noise is something else, though the sound deadening within the cabin is so good that windows have to be wound doom for the full aural assault. Special credit must be given here to the seven-speecl automatic, which has paddle shifts behind the steering wheel should the driver fancy a bit of DIY.

Left to its ossm devices, she changes slur wonderfully. But when in sports or manual modes, the transmission takes on a real edge, with fast shifts actually thumping in. When in manual mode, it really is a manual, the driver having to shift the gears when the red line is reached rather than relying on a computer chip to come to the rescue. All in all, the E 63 is a pure driver's car masquerading as a humble hack. Wonderfully understated, it could easily be mistaken for a Stuttgart taxi. But no taxi ever performed like this.