Since it was just released last week most people haven’t even seen an SLS AMG in person. Last weekend at the AMG Driving Academy at Road Atlanta we were able to do way more then just look at it. They had 6 SLS AMGs for us to run on the track. I’ll tell you that this is an amazing vehicle and almost 150 mph feels like nothing for this car.

We arrived at Road Atlanta early Sunday morning and were greeted by a parking lot full of AMGs. After breakfast and a quick driver meeting we broke into groups of 10 drivers and two instructors.

Our first exercise was practicing inducing understeer and oversteer in SL63s on the wet skidpad. With that much power, no ESP, and wet pavement it’s pretty easy to put in a little too much throttle and spin all the way around.

Next, we switched to the SLS for high speed braking and corning exercises. For this we accelerated the SLS as fast as we could from our start point down the hill into turn 10a. Arriving at the corner at just over 80mph we worked through using full ABS braking to stop in the shortest distance, then braking with the correct modulation to stop at the apex of the corner, and then finally doing the turn 10a and 10b combination.

Our next activity was a slalom run and drag race in the E63. For the drag race portion we were racing another student full out down the pit lane but we had to figure out the braking point that would stop our car first within a set of cones without overshooting. Then we switched to the C63s for the high speed braking and avoidance drill. The video below is from one of my runs. They had the instructors radio wired to broadcast through our cars all day so they could give us tips and instructions. Our instructor was really fun.

After lunch it was time to run the full track. We started out in the E63. In groups of 2 or 3 we followed an instructor around the track. They placed cones around the track to show us the ideal turn-in, apex and track-out points. It was really humbling to see how fast the instructors could go while giving us instructions over the radio and watching us in their mirrors. Later they took us on a high speed taxi ride in a C63. Hopefully powersliding and using the curbs the way they did is covered in the two-day advanced class. Between taxi rides, they put us by ourselves in a CLK63 Black Series that was setup with cameras and data acquisition. I’ll be sure to post my video in a few days when the send it to us.

Then it was time to run the track in the SLS. We had great luck and were in a group with just one other car meaning that we had more time in front (behind the instructor). They really let us push pretty hard. On the back straight we were above 140mph before braking for turn 10a. Our group was fast enough that we caught and passed the other half of our larger group that were also in the SLS.

We ended our day with a flat out timed run in the SLK55 on the autocross course. I put in a respectable time but didn’t manage to win the Helmet or iPad that they gave as prizes. It was a great day and I highly recommend that you sign up for this event if you really want to see what Mercedes-Benz and AMG are capable of. To sign up just go to www.AMGacademy.com

Atlanta Classic Cars has 2 unsold 2010 E63s scheduled to arrive before the end of the year. These vehicles are still in transit from Germany but should arrive in early December. These are our first E63s that are not pre-sold!

#1
Steel Grey
Black Leather
Black Ash Wood Trim
Premium 2 Package
Parktronic
Driver Asistance Package
Illuminated Door Sills
MSRP $97895

#2
Black
Black Leather
Black Ash Wood Trim
Premium 2 Package
MSRP $93225

The 2010 E63 has been a hot commodity for the last few months! Every one we have had has been pre-sold so I haven’t even had a chance to drive one yet. Maybe one of these will make it here without a deposit and I’ll get a chance. Maybe not! Please get it touch if one of the E63s should have your name on it!

Mercedes has just released the pricing for the 2010 E63. Starting at an MSRP of $85,750 it is about $2000 less than the 2009 E63. At only $166 per horsepower it is a great value.

The 2010 E63 is scheduled for launch this month. The first batch has already been built and are waiting to be released to dealerships. There is a lot of anticipation for this vehicle. I was talking with a cutomer today about the inclusion of a console mounted shifter on the AMG version of the E-Class. Unlike the other 2010 E sedans that use the column mounted gear selector, the E63 AMG is using something they call the ‘AMG DRIVE UNIT with center console-mounted E-SELECT lever.’ This very similar to the setup in the new SLS AMG.

In the photo below you will see the rotary switch used to select ‘C’ (Controlled Efficiency), ‘S’ (Sport), ‘S+’ (Sport Plus), ‘M’ (Manual), and ‘RS’ (Race Start) drive modes. In Manual and Sport Plus the 7-speed will shift in only 100 milliseconds. This is 25 percent faster than just Sport. This is partially achieved through cutting the fuel and ignition for a brief time to reduce the load on the transmission during hard acceleration. Another plus to having the rotary control knob is that it allows you the leave your car in the sport mode without having the transmission default to ‘C’ every time you start the engine like the other 2010 E-class models do.

The ‘Sport Off’ button switches the ESP setting from ESP On, to ESP Sport, and ESP Off. I haven’t seen any reviews yet that indicate if ESP off is truly off and I won’t be testing that when the first one arrives at Atlanta Classic Cars.

Similar to previous E-Class AMG vehicles, the suspension adjustment button allows the driver to switch between Comfort, Sport, and Sport Plus modes to best suit their needs.

A new feature for the 2010 E63 is the AMG Race Start function that activated by the ‘AMG’ button. Pressing this button will bring up a menu that allows you the adjust ‘configuration options’ (I won’t know what those are until we have one). To use Race Start they say you will have to stop the car, be in ESP Sport, press the brake, select ‘RS’ drive mode, and then pull the up shift lever once while fully pressing the gas and releasing the brakes. I’m assuming those last three parts don’t happen at the same time since the system is supposed to automatically rev the engine to the ideal launch RPM. That is one I will have to test and report back.

Just like the C63 Wagon I saw while I was in Germany, we probably won’t see the 2010 E63 AMG Wagon here in the United States but it is such a gorgeous vehicle I wanted to share the pictures! For some reason the US market just doesn’t respond to wagons. Too bad…this is a real sleeper!

The Dealer Ordering Guide for the 2009 E-Class is out! All of this information is still subject to change before launch. All versions are listed with a release date of “July 08.”

Metallic Paint $720 (included on E550 and E63)
Leather $1670 (included on E550 and E63)
Carbon Fiber Trim $2500 (E63 Only)
P01 Package E320/E350 $2700 / E550 $3160 / E63 $1880
iPod/MP3 media interface
Heated front seats (heated and active ventilated front seats for E550 and E63 AMG)
Power rear sunshade
COMAND system with hard-drive navigation
Zagat&reg survey restaurant guide
SIRIUS Satellite Radio&reg with SIRIUS real time traffic
HD Digital Radio&reg
Gracenote&reg media database
Enhanced voice control for audio, telephone and navigation
4GB Music Register for download of MP3 files
(MSRP value of options if available separately for E320 BlueTec/E350: $3,750)
(MSRP value of options if available separately for E550: $3,760)
P02 Package E30/E350 $4630 / E550 $5080 / E63 $3810
All components of P01 plus
Headlamp washing system
Bi-Xenon headlamps with active curve illumination
Keyless-Go
(MSRP value of options if available separately for E320 BlueTec/E350: $6,050)
(MSRP value of options if available separately for E550: $6,060)
Sport Package – No Charge(E350/E550 Only)

18″ AMG 5-spoke wheels
Sport front air dam and rear bumper with dual chrome exhaust
Sport leather steering wheel with black shift paddles

AMG Performance Package $8590(E63 Only)

18″ AMG 5-spoke multi-piece light-alloy wheels
AMG track-calibrated AIRMATIC suspension system
AMG limited slip rear differential
AMG leather/alcantara performance steering wheel
Carbon Fiber trim
Top speed raised to 186 mph
Illuminated Door sills $700
Parktronic $1,140
Split Folding Rear Seats $420
Wood/Leather Steering Wheel $570
Rear Side-Window Blinds $360
Panorama Sunroof $1,050
Electronic Trunk Closer $540

I just bought an E-Class myself! I wish I could have waited for the 2009, but I couldn’t pass up the great deal!