Forget questions like which one is a better daily driver or which one can travel you in comfort flat out on the Autobahn; the following video is filled with smoke, burnt silica and lots of opposite lock.
That’s because cars like the BMW M5 and the Mercedes-AMG E63 S have built their reputation on being among most capable drift monsters available in the market, and since both companies opted for a configurable all-wheel drive system in their latest iterations, we have to see them both in action.
In the name of science, Auto Express took the two super saloons in a race track to explore just how good the M5 and E63 S are when the rear tires start to spin at a higher speed than the front ones.
The latest M5 is powered by a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 producing 592hp (600 PS) and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) of torque. Paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission, the twin-turbo V8 sends the M5 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 3.4 seconds.
The Mercedes-AMG E63 S, on the other hand, uses a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with 604 hp (612 PS) and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm) of torque paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The official 0-62mph (100km/h) time is the same, at 3.4 seconds.
Can you guess which one is better at destroying its rear tires while putting a huge grin on the driver’s face? Well, you can try, but you’ll have to watch the video to find out whether you’re right.