New Mercedes-AMG C 63 S in hot demand

The new-generation 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S super sedan represents a paradigm shift for the German brand’s most famous performance car and, despite ditching its predecessor’s thundering V8, buyers are already lining up for it with cash in hand.

Sources have told carsales the price of the new C 63 will be around $220,000 once on-roads costs are added – and considerably more for a limited launch or first edition – which is considerably more than the model it replaces ($168,176) and would make it only about $50,000 cheaper than the E 63 (the gap was previously around $100K).

But Mercedes-Benz dealerships are already taking internal deposits from customers eager to beat the rush when first examples of the ballistic new C 63 S land Down Under in the first half of 2023.

Due to arrive hot on the heels of its baby brother, the Mercedes-AMG C 43, which hits local showrooms in February 2023 with a similar four-cylinder hybrid powertrain outputting ‘only’ 300kW, the all-new C 63 S delivers a massive 500kW and 1020Nm sucker punch.

It combines a 350kW version of the Mercedes-AMG A 45 hot hatch’s banzai M139 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder augmented by a plug-in hybrid system comprising a 150kW electric motor on the rear axle and a 6.1kWh battery pack.

While the V8 has been ditched and the new C-Class hero model is now 350kg heavier than its hallowed forebear, tipping the scales at an obese 2.1 tonnes, it’s still got enough muscle to pummel its BMW M3 and Audi RS 4 rivals into submission.

We’ve already experienced a shotgun passenger ride in the new Mercedes-AMG C 63 S and we’ll get behind the wheel in early December as the hype train nears full speed… and customers are responding.

Roughly six months ahead of its local launch, buyers are already putting down cash deposits at dealerships and Mercedes-Benz Australia’s head of media relations, Jerry Stamoulis, told carsales the new model won’t just see current V8-powered C 63 owners upgrading.

“There will definitely be new customers coming,” he said.

“I don't know what the percentage [of conquest sales] is just yet but an AMG customer is looking for the ultimate in performance that's available. And the new C 63 is a technical masterpiece that will impress everyone, not only in the power and torque numbers, but the way it drives,” he said.

The Australian Benz exec said there’s a huge amount of interest around the electrified super sedan and customer response has been pleasing.

But it’s not yet clear what longer-term customer demand for the new plug-in hybrid Mercedes-AMG C 63 S will look like, given its downsized four-cylinder engine and tubby mass, nor whether the luxury car brand will secure enough supply to meet initial demand.

“People should talk to their dealer to keep on top of when the vehicles will arrive and when pricing is announced,” said Stamoulis.

“But it's no different to any other AMG. Normally, when a new AMG comes out with impressive numbers or rave reviews, whatever it may be, everyone wants one in the first week. And that’s just something we’ve always had to deal with.”

Asked if he was confident the brand could secure sufficient supply from AMG, Stamoulis responded “Yes”.

“It's still very early to say if there'll be supply issues. We haven't always got what we want. Yes, we've got a very good relationship with AMG but so do a lot of other markets and we are right-hand drive.

“There’s production start and then there’s right-hand drive production start – so there’s a delay there – and that’s what occurs with every single model. So it depends how that production cycle works,” he said.

Stay tuned for our first drive of the all-new Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance review later in the year.

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