Australian details: 2019 Mercedes-AMG C 63 range

Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific has confirmed first local details of the 2019 Mercedes-AMG C 63 sedan, wagon, coupe and convertible line-up that arrives Down Under in December.

Launched in Europe this week, the upgraded C 63 family continues to comprise sedan, wagon, coupe and cabriolet models.

Including the top-selling C 63 sedan, all models will remain available here exclusively in high-output S form, powered by a carryover 375kW/700Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that continues to drive the rear wheels via an electronic limited-slip differential.

However, the big mechanical change – as with the mainstream 2019 C-Class range that arrives here in August – is the move from a seven-speed automatic transmission to Daimler’s latest nine-speed.

In this the case, though, the 2019 C 63 AMGs ditch a torque converter for a wet multi-plate clutch pack to make gearshifts faster, more positive and more like an automated manual gearbox.

Equipped with six drive programs, the upgraded C 63s hit 100km/h no faster than before – 3.9 seconds for the coupe, 4.0sec for the sedan (0.8sec quicker than the all-wheel drive C 43 AMG sedan) and 4.1 for the wagon and cabriolet.

While the 2019 C 63 sedan and coupe – which account for 70 per cent of the Australian C 63 sales between them – are electronically speed limited to 290km/h, the C 63 wagon and cabriolet are restricted to 280km/h.

Exterior cosmetic changes are limited to a new Panamericana front grille, multi-beam LED headlights with adaptive high-beam, LED tail-lights and a revised rear diffuser with updated exhaust finishers.

Inside, though, the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S scores the same style upgrade as core C-Class models, meaning about 80 per cent of the electronic architecture has been updated, allowing it to adopt the fully digital instrument cluster of the larger E-Class and S-Class, even if it lacks their double-width screens (which even the new A-Class gets).

Instead there’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.25-inch central infotainment system operated not by touch but a new AMG steering wheel, central scroller or voice, plus Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Mercedes-Benz Australia has replaced the stock Performance seats in the C 63 S for Sports seats because too many of us found the aggressive side bolstering made getting in and out too tiresome. Performance seats will now therefore be optional.

Equipment upgrades include nappa leather-look dashboard trim, active lane-change assist, route-based speed adaptation, updated cruise control with improved traffic jam function, and a new LED ambient lighting system with 64 colour options.

Carryover features include 19-inch alloy wheels, active parking assistant, the AMG Night package with black exterior highlights, heated folding wing mirrors and an automatic tailgate (Estate only).

Expect price hikes, which could see the volume-selling C 63 S sedan priced up to $165,000. Currently, the 2018 C 63 costs $157,211 (sedan), $159,711 (Estate), $163,611 (Coupe) and $181,611 (Cabriolet).