NEW YORK MOTOR SHOW: Mercedes-AMG upgrades C 63

We saw the facelifted Mercedes-Benz C-Class at the Geneva motor show earlier this month, and now it’s time for the upgraded C 63 AMG line-up to debut at this week’s New York motor show.

Combined with the 2018 C 43 sedan, wagon, coupe and convertible, which were revealed last week, Mercedes-AMG now offers no fewer than 12 versions of its volume-selling C-Class.

However, Australians will continue to have access to only the high-output ‘S’ version of the rear-wheel drive C 63, which continues to deliver 375kW/700Nm, when the revised C 63 line-up arrives Down Under in August.

Instead of more power, the 2018 C 63’s headline act is the upgrade from a seven-speed automatic transmission to Mercedes-AMG’s latest nine-speed SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9G transmission with wet start-off clutch instead of torque converter.

Hooked up to the same twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8, it doesn’t make the C 63 S Coupe any quicker (claimed 0-100km/h acceleration is still a rapid 3.9 seconds), but AMG does say it delivers quicker shifts and the ability to ask for multiple downshifts when the left-side paddle is held in.

Oh, and the standard 350kW/650Nm C 63 now runs the same electronically-controlled limited-slip rear differential as the C 63 S, rather than a mechanical LSD.

However, only the C 63 S offers dynamic engine mounts and six drive programs (Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, RACE and Individual), which are selected via the ‘AMG DYNAMICS’ function on the console shifter.

Confusingly, within these modes are the agility functions ‘Basic’, ‘Advanced’, ‘Pro’ and ‘Master’, which are automatically selected by the respective drive program and alter everything from throttle, transmission and ESC mapping, to steering and suspension tune.

However, all of them can be separately selected in Individual mode, and dedicated console buttons remain for damping, exhaust and manual-shift modes.

AMG says the expanded drive programs combine with “completely redeveloped” ESC and “elaborately retuned” AMG RIDE CONTROL steel suspension with adaptive damping adjustment to offer everything from extreme safety to maximum dynamics.

For example, the Master mode, which is included in the RACE drive program, allows higher yaw rates and the fastest accelerator, gearshift and LSD response.

Cosmetically, the MY18 changes are minimal, apart from an AMG Panamericana grille with high-gloss chrome slats, new transverse fins around the lower air intakes, a revised rear diffuser, new exhaust outlets and new wheel designs.

While the standard C 63 gets 18-inch 10-spoke aero-wheels in tantalite grey with a high-sheen finish, S models get a new 19-inch design with five twin spokes in the same colour.

The C 63 Coupe’s optional AMG Aerodynamics package offers a more aggressive front splitter and rear diffuser insert, plus a spoiler lip with integral Gurney flap, broader side skirt inserts and flics in the rear bumper – all finished in high-gloss black.

Likewise, interior changes are limited to a new flat-bottom steering wheel, new analogue instrument dials that can be replaced with an optional 12.3-inch digital display. The AMG TRACK PACE data-logger of the C 63 S is now optional for the base C 63s, in which a range of racetracks are programmed into the sat-nav, allowing drivers to hone their lap times.

New C 63 interior trim options across all four body styles include anthracite open-pore oak wood, open-pore walnut, carbon-fibre/light longitudinal-grain aluminium and matt silver fibreglass, plus the combination of longitudinal-grain aluminium for the doors and black open-pore ash wood for the centre console.

Upholstery choices include black nappa leather with grey accents, red pepper/black, platinum white pearl/black, a new magma grey/black with yellow contrast topstitching and, for sedans and Estates, design diamond quilting in saddle brown/black and platinum white pearl/black.

All colours apply to the optional AMG Performance seats with heating and adjustable side bolstering.

"The AMG C-Class is our best-selling model series and therefore a key cornerstone of our company's success of recent years,” said AMG chief Tobias Moers.

“We have therefore increasingly expanded our C-Class offer. Customers can now choose between 12 models from the C-Class family. As part of the latest facelift, we have upgraded all variants of the model series even more substantially.”