The new Mercedes-AMG E63 is by far and away the most exciting version of this car the German automaker has ever made. It is so good, it could for the first time be better in every way than its main rival, BMW M5. And we’re not just saying this because the car packs 612 horsepower in its ‘S’ guise. There’s a lot more to it.

As Oliver Wiech, head of AMG’s vehicle model series development team, explains in this video, the 2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4MATIC+ is one of the world’s most capable cars thanks to a combination of brute force and sophisticated technologies:

Just to recap, the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine in Mercedes-AMG E63 S generates 450 kW (612 hp). This makes it the most powerful engine to have ever been installed in an E-Class. At the same time it is even more efficient thanks to a cylinder deactivation system fitted as standard, and thus sets the benchmark in its segment. With acceleration of 3.4 seconds from 0 – 100 km/h the new business limousine is at the top of its class. The AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT (Multi Clutch Technology) nine-speed sports transmission is combined with a wet start-off clutch for the first time, and it works in tandem with AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system.