Mercedes AMG S 63 E PERFORMANCE W223 vs BMW M5 CS F90: which is truly faster?

Off the line, the Bmw M5 CS hits 100 km/h in 3.03 s versus 3.27 s for the AMG S 63 E PERFORMANCE. Despite lacking instant torque, 635 hp of power compensates. At this point, the Bmw M5 CS leads by 0.25 s and sits roughly 1 m ahead.

At 200 metres, the Bmw M5 CS is doing 170 km/h against 165 km/h for the AMG S 63 E PERFORMANCE. The gap is 0.28 s. The gap remains stable from the start.

At 400 metres standing start, the Bmw M5 CS crosses the line in 10.81 s versus 11.12 s. The 0.31 s gap represents roughly 18 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The AMG S 63 E PERFORMANCE maxes out at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h while the Bmw M5 CS keeps accelerating towards 295 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap is down to 0.21 s from 0.31 s at 400 metres.

At 1,000 metres, the Bmw M5 CS finishes in 19.94 s versus 20.09 s, with just 0.15 s to spare. The AMG S 63 E PERFORMANCE fails to fully close the launch gap.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the AMG S 63 E PERFORMANCE is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the Bmw M5 CS at 305 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit - it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 4.89 seconds. The 0.25 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.