The upcoming updates to the Mercedes E-Class sedan are still a few months from an official review, but spy photos of the new car — most notably the new 2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 — are creeping into the public eye. Expected to debut in January as a 2018 model, the new high-performance E-Class shows off updated style and substance.

Prototypes have been spotted wearing a heavy layer of dazzle camouflage, but the general shape of the new sedan looks to be close to that of the current car, but with more slope to the front and rear fascias. Taped-off quad headlamps and a large single-bar grille are also visible. The massive lower air intakes that have become an AMG signature are also visible through the camouflage. We don’t yet have any good hints as to what the redesigned interior will look like. The new E-Class is moving to a smaller, lighter platform, so some refinement of the interior style to match the latest C-Class and S-Class is likely.

Under the hood, the smart prediction is on a new twin-turbo 4.0 liter V-8 with 600 horsepower, with an adapted eight-speed transmission and 4Matic all-wheel drive. The 4.0 currently produces 503 horsepower, but Mercedes has some catching up to do in the horsepower war and AMG is no doubt hard at work on it. Sedan and wagon versions will be offered.

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