PARIS MOTOR SHOW: Mercedes-AMG C63 S outed

The new twin-turbo Mercedes-AMG C63 has broken cover – half a day ahead of its embargo and a week ahead of its formal debut at the Paris Motor Show. And as confirmed last week the new hotshoe four-door has the heart of a GT. Literally…

Although the launch drives of the critical new AMG GT coupe
haven't even started yet, AMG has already shoehorned its brand-spanking 4.0-litre, bi-turbo V8 into the C-Class. And mating the (slightly) detuned version of the GT's V8 into a car with the most critically acclaimed cabin design of its generation in the small premium class should be yet another masterstroke from Mercedes-Benz's Affalterbach go-faster shop.

With up to 375kW thumping out of the M177 V8, the rear-drive C63 will smash past 100km/h in four seconds flat, yet uses just 8.2L/100km on the NEDC combined cycle.

Instead of the old Performance Pack to give AMG's models a go-faster power figure, the C63 ushers in the C63 S to sit atop the standard C63 -- and don't expect to see the base car in Australia. More than 90 per cent of the take up of the current C63 was for the Performance Pack, so Mercedes-Benz Australia has simply decided to dump the base version.

The C63 S will raise the power from the standard C63's 350kW to 375 and it will also lift its torque from 650Nm to a crunching 700Nm. The power and torque peaks remain the same for both cars with the 3982cc V8 delivering its best torque from 1750-4500rpm and its power hits its heights from 5500-6250rpm.

Even in its standard trim, the W205 C63 S will have 2kW more than the limited edition powerhouse that sat atop the outgoing body style, the C63 AMG Edition 507, with its naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8.

But it's not all about the engine, with AMG fitting the C63 with AMG Ride Control suspension, including active, electronically controlled dampers and a mechanical limited slip differential as standard equipment. The C63 S gets an even more capable electronically controlled limited-slip diff, just like in the GT S.

AMG boss Tobias Moers insisted the C63 will stretch the longitudinal and lateral envelope of the C-Class donor car like never before, which is a bold claim given the improvements Mercedes-Benz has made to its W205.

AMG will work its magic on both sedan and wagon variants.

There is a coupe in the works, too, but Mercedes-Benz won't be releasing its version until late next year (2015), so expect the AMG C63 Coupe sometime early in 2016.

The C63 sedan and wagon, meanwhile, will make their debuts at next week's Paris Motor Show, though the official drive program has been pushed back until early next year to give the GT coupe as much press attention and exposure as possible.

"At 40,000 units, the 204 C 63 AMG was the bestselling AMG model in history," Mercedes-AMG CEO, Tobias Moers, said.

"Be it in drive, handling or equipment, the Mercedes-AMG C 63 sets new benchmarks and will further strengthen our brand promise 'Driving Performance'. AMG customers can look forward to an exceptionally dynamic driving experience," he promised.

To help with the driving experience, the C63 S will weigh 1655kg, and though the wagon version is 70kg heavier, it loses just a tenth of a second in the sprint to 100km/h.

That's thanks largely to an engine, dubbed M177, that is a close relative of the GT's M178 motor. Both engines are extremely close relations of the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder powerplant in the A 45 AMG and CLA 45 AMG models.

They use a sand-cast block as the basis of their strength, but adopt Mercedes-Benz external dimensions largely for ease of manufacturing and production engineering.

With the two turbochargers located inside the V8's vee, it's a relatively compact V8 that uses spray-guided direct fuel-injection and variable valve timing and lift, and meets the Euro VI emissions legislation comfortably.

While the sheer power and torque output of the V8 will be the focus of many, AMG is also proud of its slashed fuel consumption numbers, which represent a cut of almost a third compared to the outgoing C63.

"Naturally, the new Mercedes-AMG C 63 is powered by an eight-cylinder engine," Christian Enderle, Head of Development Engine and Drivetrain at Mercedes-AMG GmbH, said.

"The highly emotional sound of our 4.0-litre V8 biturbo is truly compelling. At the same time, we are maintaining our leading role in the core issue of efficiency. No other high- performance V8 automobile is more fuel efficient than the new C 63."

As noted above, the sedan uses 8.2L/100km on the NEDC combined cycle, while the wagon uses 8.4L/100km, equating to CO2 emissions of 192 grams and 196 grams.

If the AMG GT's rumbling presence is any guide, turbocharging the C63 S won't hurt its traditional emotionally stirring oratory, with an infinitely variable exhaust flap now sited at the front third of the exhaust.

Coupled with the standard Dynamic Select system, it changes the engine's tone depending on whether it's in Comfort, Sport, Sport+ or Race modes, the last of which delivers its loudest, richest and most evocative note, complete with overrun pops and crackles, AMG insists.

In a busy engine bay, though, the addition of the GT's active engine mounts stands out, being able to adapt their stiffness to try to overcome the traditional priority battle between comfortable NVH and accuracy and agility.

The engine will be mated to the latest development of Benz's now-venerable seven-speed automatic transmission, though AMG fits it with a tougher, faster computer controlled clutch pack.

The latest generation has faster shift times than the outgoing C63, though Benz isn't saying by how much. It can be left in automatic or shifted via steering wheel-mounted paddles and AMG says it has worked to make it more responsive in its Sport+ mode.

The new C63 rides on a four-link front suspension and a five-link rear end, complete with three-stage adjustable damping as standard equipment.

It has more negative camber at both ends than its predecessor and it rides on 245/35 R19 front tyres and 265/35 R19 rear tyres as standard equipment.

AMG has given the new C electromechanical speed-sensitive power steering, which changes its weighting depending on the driving mode the car is in, and carbon ceramic brakes are optional for the first time.

Mercedes-AMG C 63 S spec check
Engine: Biturbo 3982cc V8
Power: 375kW @ 5500-6250rpm
Torque:700Nm @ 1750-4500rpm
Consumption: 8.2L/100km
CO2: 192 grams/km
Weight: 1655kg
0-100km/h: 4.0sec
Top speed: 250km/h (limited)