COUPE DE GRACE
Mercedes- AMG shows its sporty side
The represents all-new a Mercedes-AMGbig challenge to C63the likes Coupe of the FollowingBMW M4, on Audi from RS5 the and recently Lexus intro-RC F. duced C63 saloon and estate, it eschews its predecessor’s highly rated, naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 engine for a smaller and more efficient twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 — essentially the same unit used by the company’s GT performance flagship.
Unveiled at the Frankfurt show in September, the powered-up two- door will be available in right- hand-drive next March with the choice of two power outputs. In standard C63 Coupe guise its hand-assembled engine produces 476hp and 650Nm.
In the headlining S Coupe model driven here, though, the 90-degree V8 receives additional boost pressure as well as detailed changes to the inlet manifold and dynamic engine mounts that vary in stiffness depending on revs. The result is a further 34hp and 50Nm, endowing the range-topping model with a sturdy 510hp at 5,500rpm and 700Nm on a band of revs between 1,750 and 4,500rpm — exactly the same power but 50Nm more torque than that offered by the Mercedes- AMG GT S. It also betters the M4 by 79hp, the RS5 by 90hp and the RC F by 33hp. The reserves are fed through the latest incarnation of AMG’s seven-speed Speedshift MCT dual- clutch automatic gearbox, which operates in combination with a mechanical locking differential in the C63 Coupe. But in the C63 S Coupe, it comes allied to an even faster reacting electronic locking differential.
drivingThe driver modes can on choosethe C63 betweenCoupe and four up differentto five on the S model, while the switchable electronic stability control system offers three settings: On, Sport and Off.
The styling of the latest C63 Coupe is significantly differentiated from standard versions of the new second-generation C-class Coupe. The only exterior elements shared between the two cars are the frameless doors, roof and boot lid. The remainder is unique.
The wider body has been developed to house a largely bespoke chassis featuring tracks that are increased in width by 73mm at the front and 46mm at the rear over the standard C- class Coupe at 1,636mm and 1,592mm respectively. Wheel sizes vary according to model, with the new C63 receiving 18-inch rims and the C63 S running on 19-inchers.
Overall, the new car is 45mm longer, 107mm wider and 12mm higher than before. Crucially, it also rides on a wheelbase extended by 75mm over that of its predecessor, endowing it with added exterior space if not a larger boot, which at 355 litres in capacity is 95 litres less than before. The C63 S Coupe is a different proposition to its predecessor, but no less exhilarating on the right road. The big bore brawn of its old naturally aspirated engine has been confined to histor y, replaced by the more frenetic fervour of its new turbocharged powerplant.
Despite giving away more than 2.0 litres in capacity to the car it replaces and bringing an extra 70kg in kerb weight due to the increase in overall dimensions, it is still ferociously fast.
Mercedes’ figures suggest the new C63 S Coupe will accelerate from 0-100kph in only 3.9sec, making it faster than any of its rivals by some margin. With the optional AMG driver’s package, it’ll also run to a limited 280kph.
With a big lift in torque, the new engine brings added flexibility and performance. Its stout 700Nm endows it with both greater speed out of the blocks on a loaded throttle and a more relaxed demeanour when cruising on lighter loads.
The delivery is extraordinarily linear for a forced-induction engine, giving it genuine character. Work it hard and it will spin to 7,000rpm before the onset of the limiter. AMG has also exceeded in providing the C63 S Coupe with a wonderfully hard-core exhaust note.
While the engine continues to dominate the driving experience, the gearbox now provides more enthusiastic support than ever before. In Comfort, there’s added smoothness and a crisper action on part load when used as an automatic. In Sport Plus the upshifts are wonderfully determined on a wide open throttle in manual mode, and crucially there’s added subtlety in the way it goes about its business when you’re hauling big revs.
The biggest difference, though, is the ability of the gearbox to provide more accommodating downshifts than in the past. Pull the left-hand paddle and it’ll now drop up to four ratios to within 1,000rpm of the redline.
In combination with the dynamic engine mounts, the improvements brought to the operation of the gearbox help reduce driveline weight transfer, making this latest AMG model more stable on entry to corners as you drop down the gears and get on the brakes.
There is a lot to like about the car’s dynamic characteristic, although its ultimate ability is determined by the driving mode you engage. In Sport Plus, the steering is both weighty and feelsome, instilling confidence the moment you set off. It is also very direct and consistent, which allows you to place the new two-door with real conviction.
Out on the open road, the latest AMG model proves alluringly fluid when pushed hard, offering up truly determined turn-in traits and exemplary body control. Superb balance and an abundance of grip allow you to carry big speeds into corners before exploiting the sheer explosiveness of its engine with a dose of throttle on the exit. It is extremely trustworthy and sufficiently alert in its actions to instantly communicate any breech of adhesion.
If you leave the stability control in its normal setting, you’re ultimately treated to a touch of understeer when grip is exhausted, making it wonderfully forgiving when you overstep its dynamic boundaries.
By switching the electronic safety net off completely you can enliven the tail in the best of C63 traditions — and with tremendous confidence, because the new model is superbly controllable on the throttle. The efforts of the electronic differential also provide terrific drive out of corners, allowing you to get on the gas early and without the need to be overly subtle in your actions.
But while the C63 is now more communicative and controllable than ever, it’s also a good deal firmer at the extremity of its suspension settings. In Comfort, there’s sufficient compliance to allow it to soak up broken or patchworked bitumen. However, the ride becomes quite harsh in Sport Plus, with aggressive rebound properties sometimes leading to unsettling vertical movement.
It is fine on a racetrack, but the rawness can become issue on undulating back roads, where it tends to hop around more than the driver would like. Moreover, the chassis is extremely sensitive and channels a great deal of road noise into the cabin on coarse surfaces.
The underlying firmness and sensitivity is at the centre of efforts to endow the C63 Coupe with more consistent and controlled on-limit traits.
There is no doubt that it operates on a higher level and is a more engaging car than the one it replaces. But the constant road shock that enters the cabin in Sport Plus mode can make it draining over extended distances.
Which makes it a relief to know you can simply switch it back to Comfort and enjoy the subtlety of less aggressive suspension settings when you wish. With this broadness of ability, AMG has covered just about every base.
It may have abandoned its highly regarded naturally aspirated engine for a contemporary new turbocharged powerplant, but the C63 Coupe is now a more exciting car to drive than ever before — at least in range-topping S guise, as tested here.
With a largely bespoke chassis, it also offers a more visceral driving experience than its predecessor. The progress is perceptible in just about every area of its dynamic ability. In short, it is now less of an old-school muscle car and more of an out-and-out sports car.
The aggressively styled two-door also provides a broader dynamic repertoire than before, making it both a more amenable proposition in town and more enjoyable out on the open road.
Added to this, the new Mercedes-AMG offers improved accommodation and a level of perceived cabin quality to shame some competitors. If you cherish your driving, it should definitely be on your shortlist.