THE most powerful E-Class Mercedes ever will combine sledgehammer performance with new levels of technology and styling when it arrives Down Under in mid-2017.

Described by AMG boss Tobias Moers as “the biggest step we’ve ever made in a generation change”, the Mercedes-AMG E63S will not only be the most powerful E-Class Mercedes to date, it will also feature all-wheel drive for the first time, linked to a nine-speed automatic transmission.

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How fast will the E63S be? Moers says it will be “faster on the Nordschleife [Nurburgring] than ever. It’s going to be under 7m50sec”. To put it in perspective, remember that ’Ring-burning 2008 spat between Nissan and Porsche over whether the GT-R or the Porsche 911 Turbo was the fastest production car around the circuit? They were posting similar times.

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Mercedes is claiming the new E63S will rocket from 0-100km/h in just 3.4 seconds, more than 0.5sec quicker than the outgoing E63 S. That improved acceleration is attributed to the twin-scroll turbochargers being mounted in the vee of the V8, making the engine more responsive, and all-wheel grip from Mercedes’ 4MATIC system, which will enable the E63 S to put every kilowatt to the tarmac via a 20-inch wheel and tyre package.

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Benz’s Air Body Control suspension is standard but AMG has tweaked it for even higher levels of stability and cornering speeds and it now combines dynamics, steering precision and comfort.

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It’s estimated the wildest Mercedes-Benz E-Class yet will set you back around $250,000 when it lands here next year but don’t hold your breath for the wagon version that will be available overseas.