FINE DRIVING:
C-CLASS ROLLS ITS A-GAME
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. If this sounds familiar, well, it is — it is set to tackle BMW’s M Performance models.
The changes start with the styling. The C450 AMG is bolder from just about any angle. It features a more aggressive face with a dot-matrix grille (I could do without this touch) and finishes with a discreet carbon-fibre-like deck-lid spoiler. It all tells the observer 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. In the suspension’s case, the treatment brings a much crisper ride without forsaking comfort. As with its fire-breathing sibling, the C450 allows the driver to choose one of three damper settings. The comfort, sport and sport+ modes firm the ride gradually. On the drive route, comfort saw the C450 absorb road irregularities without causing 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+ dials everything up and sees the C450 hunker down when it is pushed into a corner. It was my preferred setting — rewardingly firm without feeling harsh.
The biggest change is found under the hood. The C450 now comes with a pumped-up version of M-B’s 3.0L twin-turbocharged V6. In this instance, the power jumps from the C400’s 329 horsepower to a much more rewarding 362 hp. Likewise the torque rises from 354 poundfeet to 383 lb.-ft. The increases bring a much livelier drive altogether. While no C63, the C450 does hustle from rest to 100 kilometres an hour in 4.9 seconds, which is a 0.3-second improvement compared with the outgoing C400. That’s a good time, but where the increased power really helps is the lower and midranges. This was readily apparent whenever the transmission kicked down a cog — the C450 sprinted forward with surprising alacrity.
If I were to pick a nit with the C450 it would be with the exhaust noise — it is not really AMG-like. Yes, it burbles gently and it pops on downshifts and when the throttle is lifted, but it’s rather tame. In fairness, I think I would say the same of any car having lived with the thunderous C63 S for the better part of the previous day.
The power is fired to the road through M-B’s 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission and 4Matic all-wheel-drive system (AWD). 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 between demand and delivery of power.
The 4Matic AWD has, again, been tweaked to suit AMG’s enthusiastic driving style. In this case, 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.
The engine and transmission can all 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 you are running on gasoline fumes. Ditto Comfort unless prowling a busy city. Sport is the right choice for just about all eventualities, while Sport+ brings the very best out of the C450. That said the throttle tip-in is too aggressive for an urban setting, so save it for a twisty country back road. Individual 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; it would be in Sport+.
Inside, the C450 is very nicely attired. In the case of the test car it featured the same chunky flatbottomed steering wheel and superbly supportive sport buckets as the C63. The combination serves to underscore the sportier character of the C450. The rest of it is all C-Class — nice materials, tasteful accents and a large central screen for the infotainment and navigation systems. The latter is still not touch-sensitive. Why?
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 is just not as highly strung. This makes it is an easier everyday driver. In the end, those looking for a speedier experience should drive the C450, but make sure it’s before testing the C63. That test drive will convince many potential customers the C450 AMG 4Matic is more than enough car. It’s entertaining and enjoys the advantages of all-wheel drive.