For fans of speed, a trip to Affalterbach is a pilgrimage. This town is home to one of the world’s most coveted performance automobile brands. Mercedes-AMG is the high performance subsidiary of the German luxury car brand Mercedes- Benz.
Traditionally, AMG, which has had strong roots in racing, has customised and delivered performance improvements for regular road-going Mercs. But, since 2010, the AMG division has grown in stature and capability to be able to independently develop and manufacture its own super cars. The results are the SLS AMG and the AMG GT. But, like all the other models, which AMG picked out from Mercedes’s regular production range and souped-up for becoming worthy of its badge, the C63 S AMG too gets its largesse from this arrangement. Built on the regular C-Class, this model has been one of the bestselling ones for AMG. Mercedes-Benz India officially launched the new generation C63 AMG a few weeks ago.
The new C-Class has been a global phenomenon, nicknamed the baby S-Class, its design and package has set a new benchmark in the segment. It is not too surprising then that the engineers at Affalterbach haven’t tinkered with the overall design for the C63 S AMG.
But like all AMGs, the C63 S is instantly recognisable for its prowess. The power domes on the aluminium bonnet, the twin blade radiator grille, large airdams hinting at the powerful V8 engine under the hood, the two chrome-plated twin end pipes of the AMG sport exhaust system and the red-painted brake calipers come together to deliver a new level of refined performance aesthete.
In the unlikely event of your neighbour missing these not-so-subtle hints, there is a generous sprinkling of the AMG badging all around the car. This is certainly not the C-Class. The new C-Class’ interior has a highly upgraded feature-list and the C63 S takes that a notch higher with typical AMG panache. There are acres of carbon-fibre and double-stitched leather in the cabin. Get behind the flat-bottomed sports steering wheel of the C63 S, crank the engine, soak-in the plush interior and enjoy the high-end infotainment system with Burmester speakers. Sitting in the middle of the centre stack on the dashboard is another iconic accessory — the IWC Schaffhausen clock.
Handmade engine
The heart of every AMG is usually a V8 engine that has been entirely hand-assembled by one engineer at the Affalterbach facility. The tradition has been kept alive to date and can be verified by checking the signature of the engineer on the engine cover. The C63 S is powered by a four-litre V8 biturbo petrol engine. That is Merc speak for a double turbocharger boost which has enabled this smaller engine to deliver more power and torque than the larger, 6.2-litre engine of the predecessor.
The rated output for the AMG C 63 S is 510 hp; fed to the rear wheels. All those horses start to gallop a bit late from about 5,500 rpm, but with all of the rated torque of 700 Nm available from 1,750 rpm, the acceleration from standstill seems unrelenting. The car is capable of doing the 0-100 kmph run in four seconds — that puts it well within the super car league. Want more drama? Switch on the selectable flap control and the exhaust burbles with delight every time you shift up and down the AMG Speedshift MCT 7-speed gearbox.
The sports transmission is also offered with five modes — Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Individual and Race. The character of the engine, gearbox, suspension and steering change according to the mode selected, with customising possible in the individual mode. Mercedes-AMG claims that the C63 S is the most economical 8-cylinder high-performance car.
Should you get one?
It would be a shame if you are stuck in traffic while you are behind the wheel of this AMG. But, when you do find open tarmac or the race track, the C63 S’s abilities can surprise you. Point it to the very edge of the track and the precise steering obeys your every command. The suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers is typically sporty and rigid in keeping with the car’s and AMG’s focus. But, you’ll still be able to step out with your wig intact after a trip down the broken lane.
At ₹1.3 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi), the C63 S is priced almost on a par with the BMW M3, its natural rival. It is not a KO, but the AMG tilts the bout in its favour with more power, more speed and more in-cabin spec.