Stuttgart, Germany - AMG - the mission: Combine pure sports car dynamics with day-to-day Mercedes suitability. In case the purpose was unclear, that's the messaging from Kai Marten, Director of AMG Operations in Stuttgart, Germany.

The E63 AMG is referred as a sports saloon combining performance with exhilarating driving dynamics.

Engine manufacturing at the heart of AMG
Before jumping into my 'First Impressions' of the formidable E63 AMG, let me share a word or two about the process adhered to by the high-performance company responsible for fortifying Mercedes-Benz machinery. Their facility, located in little town Affalterbach, Germany, employs 64 mechanics to hand-build engines in a dust-free sanitized assembly plant.

"One engine, one mechanic," is the protocol in which a single mechanic builds an engine from start to finish, and lays his reputation on the line by applying his 'John Hancock' to the completed product.

Each AMG 6.2-litre engine is comprised of some 493 bits and pieces, and takes in the neighbourhood of 3.5 hours to painstakingly put together. All components are coded and bar-scanned prior to being bolted, and no robotic aids are utilized in the process.

Now, let's leave the clinical environs of AMG and examine their latest contribution to automotive dominance.

2010 E63 AMG - more power, improved economy
Heavily revised for 2010, the E63 AMG is referred to by Mercedes-Benz as a dynamic sports saloon combining outstanding performance with exhilarating driving dynamics thanks to a technology transfer from the high-performance SL63 AMG Roadster.

At the heart of that technology is a high-revving 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 developed entirely by AMG. This monster roars with a peak output of 518 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque while achieving a 12-percent increase in fuel efficiency over last year's version. Simply put - more power from less fuel.

The average overall fuel economy for the 2010 E63 AMG is rated at 12.6L/100km; but hey, who's fooling whom? With an MSRP well over $100K, people don't buy such extremity to exemplify their frugality, or their "greenness" for that matter. Save those ideals for buyers of hybrid cars. This rocket is all about power, prestige and performance - full stop.

This monster roars with a peak output of 518 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque.