New AMG C63 revealed
Midlife facelift results in new nine- speed auto and higher top speed
WHILE THE MERCEDES- AMG C43 SHOWED of f its 2018 upgrades at the Geneva motor show in early March, its big ger brothers, the C63 and C63 S, had to wait until the New York show a few weeks later for their moment in the spotlight.
The entr y- point C63 models – in coupe, saloon, estate and cabriolet forms – now have the same electronically controlled limited- slip dif ferential that previously only came with the S specific ation cars, while both the non- S and S are the recipients of a new gearbox. Gone is the previous C63’ s seven- speed MCT auto, in its place Mercedes’ nine- speed transmission, a s found in the C43 and many more of the company’s models. It still features a pack of wet clutches rather than a torque conver ter, despite this more power ful integration, while it also promises fa ster gearchanges thanks to better- defined engine ignition control. There’s also a multiple downshif t function – hold the lef thand shif t paddle and the ’ box shif ts directly to the lowest possible gear.
There’s no ex tra power for the 4- litre ‘ hot- V’ twin- turbo V8 in either C63 derivative, and 0- 62mph times remain the same: 4.0 and 3.9sec respectively for the non- S and S coupes, or add a tenth to each figure for the saloons, or two - tenths for the estates and cabriolets. However, the 503bhp S variants will now sail pa st their previous 155mph top speed limit and go on to 180mph if you opt for a coupe or saloon, or 174mph for the estate and cab – these are the same ma ximums a s the previous models when fitted with the optional AMG Drivers’ Packa ge. The 469bhp non- S models are still limited to 155mph.
The C63’ s attitude can now be even fur ther tailored to the driver’s style or whim with a new layer of driving modes. As well a s the six ba sic modes ( Slipper y, Comfor t, Spor t, Spor t+, Race and Individual), there are four fur ther settings ( Ba sic, Advanced, Pro and Ma ster) that alter the throttle map, cha ssis settings and the ESP threshold. You can also now specif y an ‘ AMG Track Pace’ option on the non- S C63s ( it comes standard on the S), which adds sof tware that allows you to record data when driving on a circuit. There are multiple tracks already programmed into the system but it can use the car’s GPS to log new ones.
As with the revised C43, the new 63s have a subtly dif ferent look, too. There are two new wheel designs, which have been windtunnel tested to optimise brake cooling and aerodynamic ef ficiency. The C63s also get a ‘ Panameric ana’- style grille, a s first seen on the AMG GT R supercar, complemented by slightly more a g gressive bumpers.
Inside, there’s a new flat- bottomed AMG steering wheel, while the TF T instrument cluster of fers even more personalisation options than before.
AMG ha s yet to confirm prices for the revised C63 line- up, but the order book is open now, with first deliveries expected in October 2018.