News Source: topspeed.com

Mercedes’  entire lineup has been going under the knife one by one recently. In fact, some models have even received new names to go along with their new looks. Along with this change comes the renaming of AMG  as a sub-brand that Daimler calls Mercedes-AMG. We’ve already seen this move with the 2015 Mercedes-AMG C63  and Mercedes-AMG GT,  and the E63 is set to receive the same name change when its new generation hits the market in time for the 2017 model year.

Though the most of the changes to the Mercedes-AMG E63 will focus on an updated chassis, a new engine and a revised interior, we’ve created a rendering to give you an idea of what to expect from the looks of the new fast E-Class.  Though the 2017 E63 will be lighter, more rigid and quicker than ever before, it’ll soon have a new M5  to contend with.

Will the 2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 be able to fend of the new, all-wheel-drive 2018 M5, and whatever Cadillac and Audi toss its direction moving forward?

Updated 02/24/2016: Our spy photographers caught the upcoming E63 AMG out for a new testing session, this time wearing less camouflage than ever. The model is expected to make its world debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show in October.

Now that we’ve already seen the new E-Class in the metal at the Detroit Auto Show, we decided to revamp our first rendering of the AMG E63 for a more accurate depiction of the high-performance sedan. Much like the E-Class looks like a larger C-Class with minor differences here and there, the E63 will be similar to the C63. Feature that will set it apart should include a longer wheelbase, a slightly modified roofline, different headlamps and taillights clusters, a different rear bumper, a thicker C-pillar, and, more importantly, a heavily revised upper character line.

As for what will make the AMG E63 stand out in a pack of standard E-Class sedans, look for the usual AMG upgrades to the body. These should also be similar to those seen on the AMG C63 and should include reshaped front and rear bumpers, new side skirts, a new front grille pattern, and "V8 Biturbo" and "AMG" lettering and badges on the front fenders and rear fascia. I also expect it to feature a motorsport-inspired rear diffuser with three fins, chrome-plated, quad-exhaust tips, and an integrated trunk-lid spoiler. New, wider aluminum front fenders, a wider front track, and sporty, lightweight wheels should round off the E63’s menacing appearance. Update 02/24/2016: Photos of the Mercedes were snagged as the car sat parked in a snow-covered lot. There’s not much difference to be seen, though one major aspect has been updated. Check out the lower air intakes. This snow-covered test mule features air fins that span horizontally across the large openings. The two fins help add depth and detail to the front, while likely acting as protection for the twin intercoolers. There’s also a small stem of some short helping support the lower valance. Whether that will make production or not, is unknown, though our guess is that this support is a quick fix for a damaged bumper.

2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 interior shown here

On the inside, the E63 will also look similar to previous AMG-badged sedans. However, while the exterior will borrow from the C63, the cabin will look closer to the S63’s, as the E-Class and the S-Class feature a similar dashboard, especially the four A/C vents on the center stack and the smoother dashboard design. Most of the cockpit will remain unchanged from the E-Class, but certain features will be replaced by sportier alternatives. Look for a flat-bottom steering wheel, a bespoke instrument cluster with a 200-mph speedometer, more aluminum and carbon-fiber trim, and bolstered, leather-wrapped seats. The sedan will also receive the AMG-exclusive analogue clock and the AMG Dynamic Select switch. Expect new leather and stitching options, as well as a bevy of features that can be tailored to individual preferences.

The high-performance midsize will get an all-new drivetrain, as the E63 will move away from the twin-turbo, 5.5-liter V-8 of the previous generation and into the biturbo, 4.0-liter V-8 found in the Mercedes  -AMG GT and the AMG C63. In the E63, AMG will probably crank the 4.0-liter to about 560 horsepower for the base model and around 585 horses for the E63 S.

In the U.S., the E63 will likely continue to come standard with 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The seven-speed multi-clutch, Speedshift MCT transmission of the current model should return on the next-generation sedan with several updates for quicker shifting and improved fuel economy.

Because of the lower weight and the power remaining nearly unchanged, expect the 2017 E63 to be slightly quicker than the 2016 model. The standard E63 should hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and the S model should do the same in around 3.4 ticks. This should also result in a slight boost in fuel economy too, but if you’re buying an AMG model for its mpg, you’re doing it all wrong. In 2015, the standard E63 bases at $93,600 and the S model starts at $100,600. Don’t look for these numbers to jump too much for the new generation. Mercedes is undergoing a full overhaul, and the logical next step was to revamp the E-Class. With the standard sedan already in the open, the E63 should follow soon with AMG’s newly developed body kit, the brand-new biturbo V-8 engine, and a transmission that shifts quicker than ever. Look for big things from the E63 moving forward, but look for similar changes from the likes of Audi, BMW, and Cadillac.