Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 W205. Lighter, more agile and even more powerful than its predecessor, AMG’s C-Class is back with a bang. An athlete, that’s what Mercedes-AMG (note the lack of ‘Benz’) is calling its new C63, which follows in the footsteps of the GT and uses a four-litre V8 biturbo, albeit tweaked, and given the name M177.
In ‘base’ form, the new C63 produces 469bhp at 5,500 to 6,250rpm, with 479lb ft torque from 1,750 to 4,500rpm, outputs that are good enough for a 4.1-second sprint to 62mph in saloon form (estate 4.2 seconds).
The 1,640kg saloon hits 34.5mpg on the combined cycle, with 192g/km CO2 emissions (the 1,710kg estate achieves 33.6mpgwith 196g/kmC02).
The Mercedes-AMG C63 S turns things up a notch, with 503bhp from 5,500 to 6,250rpm, and 516lb ft torque between 1,750 and 4,500rpm, meaning the 1,655kg C63 S saloon fires from 0-62mph in four seconds dead (the 1,725kg C63 S Estate takes a tenth of a second longer to hit 62mph). All top speeds are electronically limited to 155mph.
And despite the model’s leap in performance, the C63 S saloon manages between 33.6 and 34.5mpg on the combined cycle, with 192 to 195g/km CO2 emissions (estate 32.8 to 33.6mpg, with 196 to 200g/km C02).
Putting all that into perspective, when the 204-series C63 AMG saloon was launched in late 2007, its 6.2-litre, naturally aspirated V8 produced 451bhp with 442lb ft torque, propelling the car to 62mph in 4.5 seconds. Weighing 1,730kg, it could only manage 21.1 mpg on the combined cycle, and emitted 319g/km CO2.
Based on the W205-series C-Class’s lightweight aluminium and steel chassis, the new C63 has heavily reworked AMG ride control sports suspension with electronically controlled dampers, plus speed sensitive, electro-mechanical steering. The base C63 runs on 10-spoke, 18-inch forged wheels, while the C63 S uses five twin-spoke 19s.
Like the GT and GT S, the base C63 W205 employs a mechanical limited-slip differential, while the C63 S uses a more precise, electronically controlled diff. However, unlike on the two-seat sports car, dynamic engine mounts are standard on the C63, and a performance exhaust system is available as an option.
A key ingredient of the new C63 is the revised AMG Speedshift MCT seven-speed gearbox, with noticeably faster gearshifts in manual mode. Bringing things to a halt are ceramic composite brakes – available as an option on the C63 S.
The UK order book opens this month, with deliveries of the saloon beginning in early 2015 and the estate a few months later.
