Originally Posted by Snake Vargas

As for everyone else, neither torque nor power are the whole story. Maybe the MB fans are just worried that their foundations are shifting under them - that now they've lost the mountainous torque, and will somehow have to make do with simply 'a lot'. Maybe they don't think the power was worth it.

IMO, what's more important than either figure is the time over which torque and power are produced - power and torque by themselves are merely two methods of measuring what is more or less the same thing. What you want is lots of torque throughout a large rev range, and the peak power will come somewhere in that rev range. If you can get a peak torque (or 90% of peak torque, or whatever) at a relatively low point in the rev band, and peak power at a relatively high point in the rev band, then all the space in between is useful rev range for you to drive in.

Importantly, this must all be seen in light of the transmission. Never forget the transmission - it's not just something that sits in between the engine and the wheels, it's a force multiplier. That way, if you can get a well coordinated set of gears with a wide useable rev range, then you'll get the best real life performance.

Well, all that is actually just armchair theorising. But IMHO, there is no possible way the new E63 won't comfortably beat the E55.