Mercedes-AMG C63 S first drive review

[Express]

Mercedes-AMG C63 S first drive review

July 17 2015
Sam Hall


Mercedes' hot-rod division has concurrently re-mastered and revolutionised the V8 with its new twin-turbocharged engine.


This isn't the first time a fresh upstart has made a mark at Bathurst's legendary Mount Panorama circuit. And it certainly won't be the last.

Mercedes-AMG's new C63 S sedan, with its 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, saunters out of the pits during its Australian preview on the closed-off circuit this week. With occupants cocooned in plush leather seats, the engine and transmission gently sequence through the seven ratios on offer and the soft suspension soaks up subtle road imperfections in a way the previous C63 – a hard-edged muscle car with a classic European veneer – couldn't.

Then, I press the five-mode drive button and the new model exhibits versatility few other road cars can match. The electrically-assisted steering stiffens to offer excellent precision, good on-centre feel and an uncanny turn-in response, the same adaptive suspension tautens and an electronic charge thickens the fluid running through the engine mounts for a more stable ride at speed.


The Mercedes-AMG C63 S taking on Mount Panorama.

Confronted with tightening emissions and renewed competition from German and Japanese rivals, Mercedes' has responded with a vehicle which not only drives better at the limit, but is softer, more refined and better resolved as a daily road car as well. On a circuit like Mount Panorama, the result is compelling.

Even the engine, the subject of much conjecture when Mercedes' confirmed it was replacing the venerable 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8 of the old C63 last year, enlightens the senses with its immense take-up from anywhere on the tacho. Offering maximum outputs of 375kW and 700Nm, the new 4.0-litre drivetrain is will accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 4.0 seconds, and on a closed Mount Panorama, it lacks for nothing.

The broad surge of torque – peaking from just 1750rpm – is instantly accessible out of challenging corners including The Cutting and Forrest's Elbow. The immediacy is thanks in part to turbochargers mounted inside the engine's cylinder banks instead of outside to minimise lag and increase throttle response, a feature shared with the new AMG GT. Even encroaching 250km/h down Conrod Straight, the engine shows no sign of abating…

An enriched exhaust note – which can be switched on or off using a flap in the standard Performance Exhaust system – offers a ferocious bark. Pressing the Sport or Sport + modes activates the full orchestra; the driver is the conductor, playing its sonorous tune with varying throttle applications and eliciting a sharp crack between gear changes.

The sporty engine relishes the chance to work with the accompanying seven-speed automatic. In regular driving it is smooth and well-timed in its shifts, plying for the vehicle's 8.6L/100km fuel economy thanks to a new coasting mode. Snappy, decisive changes take precedence when the driver select dial is wound to its most hyperactive setting.

An electronic limited slip differential, widened front axle and 265mm-wide 19-inch Michelin Sport tyres ensure utmost confidence in laying down the power and help provide excellent lateral grip despite a 1730kg kerb weight. Even when successive laps begin asking questions of the tyres, the C63's electronic aids flatter the driver by intuitively stepping in.

There is a real sense of occasion about the C63. A flat-bottomed steering wheel wrapped in alcantara, meticulously-crafted centre fascia and excellent workmanship throughout play on the strength of the regular C-Class on which the AMG version is based. Limited rear seat space and a narrow drive foot well are about the only gripes from an interior packaging point of view.

Priced from $154,900 in sedan guise, the new model represents a $15,000 saving over the C63 Edition 507 that it replaces. A top-end Burmester audio system with digital TV tuner, sat nav and internet connectivity, 19-inch alloy wheels and a panoramic sunroof are all standard inclusions, as is a five-star safety rating.

In developing the new model, Mercedes' has both re-mastered and revolutionised V8 sports sedan performance. The Aussie-built muscle car might be on limited time, but if this is the future, prospects are very bright indeed.

Mercedes-AMG C63 S pricing and specifications

On-sale: August 2015

Price: $154,900 (sedan), $157,400 (estate) – plus on-road costs

Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol

Power: 375kW at 5500-6250rpm

Torque: 700Nm at 1750-4500rpm

Transmission: 7-spd automatic, RWD

Consumption: 8.6L/100km (sedan), 8.7L/100km (estate)

http://www.drive.com.au/new-car-revi...16-gicqwg.html