There is something strangely attractive about powerful cars that hide their fire under a thick layer of practicality and sensibility. For years BMW M5 has been the king of this segment, but these days AMG and their super sedans are making life harder and harder for the good old Bimmer.

This then is a hugely exciting prospect. The guys form MotorTrend put the giants against each other in a head to head match to see who emerges victorious. This is the BMW M5 Competition Pack vs Mercedes E63 AMG S Model:

Regardless of the verdict, we are amazed by the lunacy of the E63 S. How mad is the company that green lights an executive sedan with close to 700 horsepower? You gotta love them. That said, if BMW someday fits the M5 with an all-wheel-drive system, it could the Merc is going to need another 100 horsepower just to keep up with it. That M5 has a chassis from the Gods.