Brutality in an elegant coupe

THE first paragraph of the press release from Mercedes-Benz states curtly: “The new C63 S Coupe is a dream car with a racing DNA”.

It’s hard to argue with that.

Here in the media industry, we often get press releases that beat around the bush, but there is nothing subtle about the literature that came with the C63 nor the car itself.

With an AMG V8 twin-turbo engine rated at 510hp stuffed in the bonnet, and massive wheel wheels with flared front and rear arches that house 20-inch rubber, the C63 has presence.

Parked in the pit lanes at the Sepang International Circuit, it looked ready to tear down Sepang’s long straight and leave long skid marks on the tarmac.

The gruff eight-cylinder engine rumbles at idle and roars at the slightest provocation of the throttle.

Its visual panache is exaggerated by the increased track width at the front as well as rear axle. The exterior design differs significantly from the standard Mercedes-Benz model, sharing only the same door, roof and boot lid. There is a redesigned front end, a model-specific rear assembly and new sides.

In typical sports car fashion, the rear view mirrors are mounted on the door, instead of mirror triangle.

The flared wheel arches make the AMG Coupe wider by 64mm at the front and 66mm at the rear.

Mercedes says the larger wheel arches allow the use of wider tyres.

The C63 S runs on 255/35 R19 tyres (front) and 285/30 R19 tyres (rear). The C63 S Edition 1 on the other hand runs on 255/35 R19 tyres (front) and 285/30 R20 tyres (rear).

Such wide tyres are necessary to The C63 S AMG coupe at the Sepang International Circuit. handle the lateral acceleration, and give better traction and agility to the C63.

The body structure has been reinforced in specific areas to transfer and compensate for the extreme longitudinal and lateral forces coming from the brutal V8 as well as the suspension.

Underneath the bodywork, extensive use of technology comes together to give the C63 its blistering performance.

The 3982cc AMG V8, which was previously installed in the C63 sedan gives the C63 a 0 to 100kph acceleration time of 3.9 seconds. Top speed is 290kph. The transmission is a slick and fast AMG Speedshift MCT 7-speed. Notably, the twin turbochargers are positioned in the nook of the ‘V’ in what is known as a ‘hot inside V’ layout. This set-up makes the engine more compact, improves response and lowers exhaust gas emissions. This is the same engine also used in the GT sports car, albeit in dry sump form.

So advanced is the coupe that its engine mounts are dynamic. Their rigidity varies according to driving conditions and style of driving to give the driver a more precise driving sensation.

So what is it like to drive?

Its sheer power makes it tail happy. It accelerates with such ferociousness that you get pinned in your seat everytime you press the throttle, and it makes a huge racket while doing it. Steering is sharp and precise. We took it for just half a lap of Sepang, so we can’t give a comprehensive review of this coupe on steroids. Suffice to say, its one handful of a beast.

Prices start at RM773,888 for the standard edition and RM795,888 for the Edition 1.