New C450 zips, zigs, zags with vigour
Mercedes’ AMG tweaks makes AWD sedan sporty — only when needed
FARO, PORTUGAL Anything you can do, I can do better, or so goes the refrain. The Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG 4Matic is the first of AMG’s new “Sports” models. It takes the C-Class and gives it the AMG touch. As such, it slots in above the C300 and below the “Performance” C63.
The changes start with the styling. The C450 AMG is bolder, featuring a more aggressive face with a dot-matrix grille and finishing with a discreet carbon fibre-like deck-lid spoiler. It all signals the C450 is more than a mortal C-Class. It will, in fact, replace the current C400 in the lineup when it hits Canadian showrooms in September.
The AMG-ing continues with the steering and suspension; both come from the C63. The suspension treatment brings a much crisper ride without forsaking comfort. The C450 also allows the driver to choose one of three damper settings. The Comfort, Sport and Sport+ modes firm the ride gradually.
On the drive, Comfort saw the C450 absorb road irregularities without head toss, but it was too cushy for me. Sport mode firms things to the point where body roll is minimal, yet there is still plenty of comfort. Sport+ — my preference — dials everything up and sees the C450 hunker down when it is pushed into a corner.
The biggest change is under the hood. The C450 now comes with a pumped-up version of M-B’s 3.0-L twin-turbocharged V6 — jumping it from the C400’s 329 horsepower to a more rewarding 362 hp. Likewise, torque rises from 354 to 383 pound-feet.
While no C63, the C450 does hustle from rest to 100 kilometres an hour in 4.9 seconds, 0.3-seconds quicker than the outgoing C400. But where the increased power really helps is in the lower- and mid-ranges delivering sprightly passing power.
If I were to pick a nit with the C450, it would be with the exhaust noise. Yes, it burbles gently and it pops on downshifts and when the throttle is lifted, but it’s rather tame.
The power is fired to the road through M-B’s 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission and 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. The former is ideally matched to the turbo’s quick ramp up of power, and simply because the shifts are fast enough, there is no lag time in power delivery.
The 4Matic AWD has been tweaked to suit AMG’s enthusiastic driving style. Here, 33 per cent of the power is sent to the front wheels and 67 per cent to the rear. On the drive, its action was conspicuous by the absence of any wheelspin, even on a sandy surface. It also means the rear torque bias lends itself very nicely to a sportier driving style.
And its brake-based torque vectoring system dabs the inside rear wheel’s brake, which tucks the nose into a corner.
The engine and transmission can also be tailored to suit the driver’s taste. AMG Dynamic Select offers Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ along with an Individual mode. To keep things simple, forget Eco unless the tank is dry. Ditto Comfort, unless prowling a busy city. Sport is the right choice for nearly all situations, while Sport+ brings out the very best. That said, throttle tip-in is too aggressive for an urban setting, so save it for a twisty country road. The Individual mode allows the driver to select the settings for the powertrain, steering and suspension and store them. I would put everything in sport, except the suspension, which would be in Sport+.
Inside, the sporty C450 tester featured the same chunky flat-bottomed steering wheel and superbly supportive sport buckets as the C63. The rest of it is all C-Class — quality materials, tasteful accents and a large central screen for the infotainment and navigation systems.
While the C63 is the undisputed champ of the C-Class lineup, the new C450 AMG 4Matic sure drives and feels like the boss — it’s just not as highly strung. This makes the C450 an easier everyday driver.
In the end, those looking for a speedier experience should test drive the C450, but make sure you do it before testing the C63. It’ll convince many potential customers the C450 AMG 4Matic is more than enough car.