The new Mercedes-Benz C63 S AMG has a lot to live up to. After all, the outgoing C63 will go down in history as one of the most outstanding performance cars that didn't sport a turbocharger. But times have changed, and stricter regulations require the production of more efficient cars.
As such, the new super sedan features a downsized turbocharged engine. But in its desire to be better, faster and more efficient, has it lost some of its character?
Exterior
To the untrained eye, the new C63 S looks a lot like a regular C-Class. Despite a unique hood, quad exhaust tips, rear boot lid spoiler, rear diffuser and a swath of AMG badges, we can't fault someone for brushing the car off as the standard sedan.
Part of the blame lies with Mercedes-Benz. For years, the brand has allowed AMG accessories, including badging, to be equipped on lesser C-Class models, inherently muddying the waters.
But if you go into the details, the front track is wider than a normal C-Class and with the wider tyres, the fenders are a subtle 14mm wider.
And unless you park the standard car and the C63 S side by side, there's one thing you'd never notice. The latter is actually 54mm longer and that additional length is all in the car's nose, presumably to better fit the V8 engine and revised suspension.
While some may argue that it's all too tame and doesn't match its herculean on-road performance and aural antics quite so well as previous iterations, others may agree that the slightly less overt treatment offers the perfect blend of Mercedes-Benz luxury and visual prominence in line with the latest C-Class.
But either way, it's an undeniably svelte design that's bound to attract an even larger audience than the outgoing model.
Interior
It’s the same story inside. The new C-Class has already set a high standard of fit, finish and technological whizardry for what you find inside the cabin. Here, the C63 S takes all those features - the cool, track-pad-like mouse in the centre console, the beautiful touch screen - and adds to them lashings of expensive-looking carbon fibre.
The seats are the same sporting buckets found in the newer AMG models, which means they look great and add to an ambience of serious intent. In addition, the car benefits from a wide range of seat and steering wheel adjustment, making it easy to get comfortable.
It’s the same story inside. The new C-Class has already set a high standard of fit, finish and technological whizardry for what you find inside the cabin. Here, the C63 S takes all those features - the cool, track-pad-like mouse in the centre console, the beautiful touch screen - and adds to them lashings of expensive-looking carbon fibre.
The seats are the same sporting buckets found in the newer AMG models, which means they look great and add to an ambience of serious intent. In addition, the car benefits from a wide range of seat and steering wheel adjustment, making it easy to get comfortable.
Look past the racy bits and you'll discover that the super sedan is every bit as practical as a standard C-Class. As we have witnessed, it comes as no surprise to find the generosity of space inside the car. There's a decent amount of head and legroom in the back, and a well-shaped 480-litre boot will take care of the groceries or luggage.
Elsewhere, the interior is littered with handy storage space. There are decent sized door bins, a large glovebox and a deep-lidded cubby on the centre console. There are also a number of useful cupholders dotted around the cabin, further reinstating the car's purpose as a fast family hauler.
The Drive
There is one aspect that separates this car from all other C-Class models - the sound. Firing it up with a loud V8 burble, the C63 S is bound to attract a lot of second looks from people as they come to realise this subtle-looking Mercedes-Benz is actually the one making all that unholy noise.
The standard sports exhaust system with special flap technology is already rowdy enough but with an optional Performance exhaust system, it gets even more boisterous. A little exhaust button allows the driver to open up some amplifying flaps in those mean-looking quad pipes. And when you put it in Sport + or Race mode, the result is outrageously raucous.
It is in fact quite possible that this car will be too noisy for some people, because the racket that ensues when you lift the throttle may not win you any award for neighbourly relations.
So where does all the noise come from? Lurking under the bonnet is a hand-built 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 that is very similar to the one found in the AMG GT sports car. In the C63, the motor puts out 469bhp and 650Nm of torque, but in the more potent C63 S here, it blasts out a whopping 503bhp and 700Nm of torque.
And while it morphs from rumble to thunder the moment you start squeezing the throttle, it's the refinement of this drivetrain that's really impressive.
There is one aspect that separates this car from all other C-Class models - the sound. Firing it up with a loud V8 burble, the C63 S is bound to attract a lot of second looks from people as they come to realise this subtle-looking Mercedes-Benz is actually the one making all that unholy noise.
The standard sports exhaust system with special flap technology is already rowdy enough but with an optional Performance exhaust system, it gets even more boisterous. A little exhaust button allows the driver to open up some amplifying flaps in those mean-looking quad pipes. And when you put it in Sport + or Race mode, the result is outrageously raucous.
It is in fact quite possible that this car will be too noisy for some people, because the racket that ensues when you lift the throttle may not win you any award for neighbourly relations.
So where does all the noise come from? Lurking under the bonnet is a hand-built 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 that is very similar to the one found in the AMG GT sports car. In the C63, the motor puts out 469bhp and 650Nm of torque, but in the more potent C63 S here, it blasts out a whopping 503bhp and 700Nm of torque.
And while it morphs from rumble to thunder the moment you start squeezing the throttle, it's the refinement of this drivetrain that's really impressive.
It doesn't seem to matter how hard you accelerate or which drive setting you're in, there are no vibrations. Even in the super aggressive Race mode with the right pedal flat to the floor, it's smooth sailing despite the booming soundtrack.
This is made possible thanks to dynamic engine mounts - unique to the C63 S and borrowed from the AMG GT - which reduce engine vibration and provide the optimum balance between ride as well as handling by adapting their stiffness to the prevailing driving conditions.
So regardless of how hard you push the car in the twisty bits, the engine mounts along with the adaptive suspension combine to provide vast amounts of lateral grip, ensuring brilliant road holding abilities.
It's also a beautifully balanced chassis, inspiring tonnes of confidence under extreme loads despite its still hefty 1,730kg weight. Point to point; from corner to corner, this is an astonishingly quick car. In fact, it's hard not to think of it as a fully-fledged supercar when you're able to properly unleash it.
Conclusion
So the engine downsizing of the C63 is definitely not a loss of character. On the contrary, the whole package is a big step forward to secure the success of this German super sedan.
