The new Mercedes-AMG E63 has been revealed and it scores 450kW and 850Nm from its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine and accelerates from 0-100km/h in a blistering 3.4 seconds.

Although rear-wheel drive is now in the past for AMG’s super sports sedan, a fully variable all-wheel drive system called 4Matic+ is essentially back-boots-driven until slip is detected.

In Race mode with the nine-speed MCT transmission in manual mode (accessed via the paddleshifters) and with electronic stability control (ESC) deactivated, the AMG E63 ditches drive to the front wheels permanently – and a Drift Mode then becomes active.

2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 engine

A combination of 265mm-wide front and 295mm rear tyres on 19- or 20-inch rims are available, but Australia will officially pass on the standard E63 that makes 420kW/750Nm and accelerates only a tenth slower than the E63 S that will arrive here mid next year.

Where the standard E63 gets a mechanical rear limited-slip differential, the E63 S gets an electronically controlled but mechanically-actuated variation working in concert with ESC On, Sport Handling Mode and ESC Off settings.

2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 rear

The flagship also gets dynamic engine mounts and optional availability of 402mm front/360mm rear carbon ceramic discs.

Compared with the regular E-Class the entire rear axle has been redesigned by AMG, complete with extra bracing, increased negative camber and a tubular anti-roll bar derived from the AMG GT R supercar.

2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 driving

As is typical of new AMG products, multiple modes act on the weighting of the variable-ratio steering, transmission aggression and the damping for the standard air suspension, in each case with Comfort, Sport and Sport+ modes, or a mix-and-match Individual setting.

2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 interior

The next M5 has been spied in testing – your move, BMW M division