Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG W221 The Second Best-Looking S-Class In History

I am a huge fan of the fifth-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class, also known as the W221. I drove this car in pretty much every specification, over long and short distances, and I always found it more rewarding than the equivalent BMW 7 Series and Audi A8 during that era.
 

The W221 S-Class is arguably the second best-looking S-Class in history, after its immediate successor, the W222. This looks great even by 2024 standards, and its interior features a timeless design.
 
When first introduced, the W221 set a new benchmark for luxury sedans while also offering a suite of innovations that would influence the industry for years to come – innovations such as the second-generation PRE-SAFE system, which could actually anticipate collisions and prepare the occupants by tightening their seat belts, adjusting their seats, and even closing the windows.
 
The W221 also debuted DISTRONIC PLUS, an adaptive cruise control system that could bring the car to a complete stop. Think of it as a precursor to the fully autonomous driving systems we’re trying to implement today.
 

Other important functions included the AIRMATIC suspension, the ABC system (Active Body Control), the COMAND APS system, and the SPLITVIEW display.
 
Now, if you’re going to get a used W221 S-Class today, you probably want to go for the S63 AMG variant, which hails from a time when flagship Benz models featured AMG simply as the last moniker within the inscription, as opposed to it being part of the brand name. I actually preferred it that way, but I digress.
 
What we have here is a beautiful S63 AMG from 2008, with 93,000 miles on the clock. It was up for grabs at auction until recently, when it failed to sell. The highest bid only went as far as $10,050, which is a ridiculously low price for such a vehicle. I mean, if you’re lucky, you can grab something like this for a little under $20,000, but somebody clearly tried to get this car “on the cheap” here and it didn’t work.
 

This black luxury sedan comes with the AMG Styling Package, which adds the revised front spoiler and side skirts. Additional goodies include the bi-xenon headlights with Active Curve Illumination, the panoramic sunroof, Parktronic system, soft-close doors, a power-operated trunk lid, and a set of 20” five-spoke AMG wheels with Continental ExtremeContact tires.
 
Meanwhile, interior highlights include the black Nappa leather 14-way power-adjustable front seats (also heated and ventilated), Burl Walnut wood trim accents, dual-zone automatic climate control, electric rear sunshades, Keyless-Go, and a Harman Kardon sound system, among others.
 
As for what this can do in terms of performance, the answer is plenty. It’s got a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engine, good for 518 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, with everything going to the rear wheels via an AMG Speedshift seven-speed automatic transmission. It’ll help you hit 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, which is seriously quick by any standards.