A 155mph, six-seater MPV with a 5.1-second 0-62mph time used to be an unoccupied segment of the car world's great Venn diagram of choices. From September, the Mercedes R63 AMG will fill it.

The ultimate sports version of the R-class starts a go-faster niche within a niche of luxury MPVs that think they're high-roof estates or maybe even SUVs. It will also top the R-class range, which launched in the UK in April with the R500 and R350 petrol units and the diesel 320CDI.

At £74,115, the AMG version of this 'Luxurious Touring SUV' is far from cheap. In fact, Mercedes is launching an entry-level R280CDI, only available in short wheelbase (4,922mm) that starts at half the price (£36,420) at the same time. But then again, until the likes of BMW and Audi get into gear with similar niche ranges - which are a few years away at least - the long-wheelbase-only R63 AMG simply has no direct rivals.

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I never knew the R63 would be so expensive, 75k for a car of this type is insane considering you could get a well specced S class for that money!

I'd loved to know how many of these they will sell, considering it's all they can do to shift the normal R class!

Pointless vehicle that doesn't look anywhere near as aggressive as the R63 Vision Concept.

M

Speaking from 8 years of sales with MB, I can say that dealers will be cringing when this pointless vehilce hits the lots.
Hi-performance, exotic vehilces defy logic and reason, but this vehicle defies the defiable. MB has just spiked the retarded meter.

Maybe if Danika Patrick has 4 kids.

If I had money to smoke, I'd take one. Although if I had money to smoke, there's probably another half-dozen crazy AMG models I'd take before this one.

Still, there'd be something insanely fun about taking the R63 out to Vegas with 5 of my friends.

Wow, this is simply amazing.
What a car. So full of luxury, so big inside, yet so incredibly fast!!!!

Osna, what you said is so true. I cannot even imagine how cool it would be with 5 friends in big lounge chairs on a road trip in an R63 AMG....that would be just the perfect car for Avis and Hertz

I can imagine this car being used by MB to ferry VIPs to GPs and special events, wonder if rap artists will take to it, and bling it up!

I don't know Marcus, I changed my view of it once I seen it in person. I know you missed it at the Chicago Auto Show this year, but if you had seen in up close, I think you would've changed your mind.
In terms of looks, it blows the ML63 away if you ask me. As for performance, picture the faces of some fools who would think it's just another R350/R500 when they get left in the dust. This is certainly "Unlike Any Other" .

What did you want from the concept to make it to the production version? I don't really see much difference between the two.

As for production, my guess is that they'll produce it in limited numbers for a year or two and then discontinue it. And yea, you better believe it - there will be buyers for it. Give me an R63 AMG anyday

I can't find the pics at the moment, but that R63 Vision Concept looked wicked in that killer grey paint and those striking wheels. It seems they toned it down some for production. Yeah I missed it at the Chicago Auto Show it was only there for press days.

M

Pointless as it is, it's not very costly for MB to make an R63 - after all, the 6.3L V8 is the staple engine for the AMG range - it would maybe make some sense after all.