The facelifted line arrives next month, with an enticing AMG sedan continuing as pack leader.

REST assured, it’s still endowed with ample horsepower and athleticism, still among the fastest sports sedans on the market.

So, when Mercedes-AMG attests that the biggest change arriving with the mid-life update for the E 63 AMG super-sedan is ‘enhanced everyday comfort’, you needn’t worry: A less edgy ride quality is the only outcome. Otherwise it’s still very much on pole as a performance icon.

The new $239,900 edition, above, heads up a revised E-Class lineup that includes five other derivatives, all with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol in various states of tune.

These range from the E200 sedan and Coupe with 145kW/320Nm that respectively set you back $106,600 and $108,500, the 220kW/400Nm E350 in $137,900 Coupe and $149,000 Cabriolet formats, plus the E 300e sedan, in which the engine pairs with electric assist. The (155 kW/350 Nm) engine is supplemented by a plug-in electric motor (90 kW/440 Nm) via the same nine-speed auto as in all the other variants. Total system output is 235 kW/700Nm. With the onboard battery topped up using the standard Type 2 charging cable, a combined cycle fuel economy figure of 2.2 litres per 100 km (ADR) is possible, Mercedes Benz NZ claims. This is a $146,100 car.

It’s a strong lineup, but Benz buyer trend tends to gravitate toward the strongest performer, so the arrival of AMG’s foil for the BMW M5 that has also recently revised will be eagerly anticipated, not least because Benz has made clear that the high-performance products it has now will certainly be the last to run this 4.0-litre twin turbo V8.

The New Zealand distributor isn’t wasting the opportunity to see this car out in style; as with the previous generation, it has opted only for the more powerful S trim of the E63, and only in a sedan body.

Power for the AMG S remains unchanged at 450kW/850Nm, sent through a nine-speed multi-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive system.

The updated car is identified by it achieving a larger centre air intake on the front bumper, an AMG grille with vertical louvres and reshaped LED headlights. A wind-splitter and new, more functional air intakes up front add styling and also “significantly reduce lift” at the front of the car, according to Mercedes-AMG.

The standard 20-inch wheels are wider on the front of the revised E63 S, accommodated by wheel arches measuring 27mm wider than the outgoing model.

A revised rear bumper and diffuser, tail light and tailpipe trim design refreshes the rear end.

New colour offerings including graphite grey metallic, high-tech silver metallic and brilliant blue magno are available for the exterior of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG E63 S.

Inside, the AMG-specific Nappa leather-upholstered sports seats receive integrated head restraints, with the dashboard and door trim sections also finished in grey Nappa leather.

Across all updated E-Class models is Mercedes-Benz’s MBUX infotainment system, which features on dual 12.25-inch screens, with one acting as the instrument cluster and the other as the infotainment control.

The MBUX interface comes equipped with advanced voice control Mercedes claims can understand “nearly all sentences” related to infotainment and vehicle operation.

Each model in the range is equipped with a new, comprehensively digitalised generation of steering wheel, integrating an array of controllers – plus, for the first time in a Mercedes-Benz, “hands-on detection” is enabled via sensor mats integrated into the steering wheel rim.

Another new feature is MBUX Interior Assistant, which is standard on the E63 and optionally available on other models (excluding Cabriolets) as part of an innovation package. This allows actuation of some cabin functions by intuitively detecting hand movements from either the driver or passenger using a camera in the overhead console. For example, a hand gesture toward the centre touchscreen can change the media display or highlight individual elements. Or, a reading lamp can be switched on by extending a hand towards the interior mirror.

An Augmented Reality display is able to be specified for the first time; it’s a feature of the Vision Package and Innovation Package, again optional on all but the E63. Augmented Reality intuitively overlays navigational signals and key driving assistance information directly onto a forward camera view displayed on the central navigation screen.