Mercedes C63 AMG
Mercedes believes the C63 AMG is a serious contender to the BMW M3 and Audi RS4. Nick Hall finds out if it has got what it takes...
There is more than enough mechanical help though, as the car we took on track was fitted with the optional £4000 Performance Pack that includes a Limited Slip Diff with 40% locking, as well as firmed-up suspension, thicker anti-roll bars and a top-end speed of 174mph compared to the standard 155mph limit. With this in place the car pitched into bends far less and understeer was easier to counter with a dose of power. The downside is it makes the Mercedes even stiffer than the M3 and isn’t perfectly suited to the public road. Even without the Performance Pack the C63 is a proper driver’s car that will put the fear of God into the M3 and RS4. Priced to head straight into battle with the pair of them this is the first Mercedes since the legendary Cosworth-engined 190 2.5. The C63 comfortably wins the power war with the BMW and Audi. The M3 has 420bhp, leaving behind the 414bhp RS4, but Mercedes has raised the bar way above them now, with its 6.2-litre, 457bhp V8.
For a Mercedes it revs hard too, topping out at 7200, with peak power railing through the road just 400rpm below that redline. But torque has always been the secret of these big, rumbling engines that sound of an old-school fighter plane on a hard charge. And despite the capacity, it weighs in at 199kg, compared to the 202kg M3’s four-litre. Magnesium intake manifolds, aluminium crank case and other high tech materials help, and the engine also comes with coated cylinders and can regulate its own fuel pressure from 3.8 to 5 bar, which sounds pretty impressive on its own. As does the 443lb/ft of torque, which comes in at 5000rpm.
With the seven-speed box never short of a sweet spot, there’s no break in the linear acceleration but it lacks the urgency of a manual change M3. It’s no less impressive though and has a Sports Auto mode, which lets the engine eat the final revs before shifting faster and smoother than we could ever hope to. The standard mode is the one for the Autobahn, with short shifts and low revs giving it a cruising attitude. In full Manual mode, controlled with a familiar paddle-shift system, it will actually run right into the limiter, refusing to change without the order, and slap the throttle, more than blip it, on the downshift. It doesn’t boast the full adjustability or outright speed of BMW’s SMG, but then that ‘box is fatally flawed by its total lack of a comfort setting. Mercedes’ three available modes each do the job to near perfection.
The C63 still feels nose heavy and the meaty square-bottom steering wheel takes muscle to throw deep into the bends, but the adjustability on the throttle is stunning and the car can be guided through the bend with the right foot. Opposite lock is purely optional, but once pushed into a slide it’s easily held with a deft twist on the wheel and not much else. It’s an easy car to drive beyond the limit and AMG expect owners to take it to a track to find out. Before the trip to the test track we were granted access to the kind of coast road that dreams are made of. Sweeping fast corners and switchback hairpins gave us a chance to explore the limits of the car. It felt like a different animal, rolling into the bends but on the mountain road the pitch and natural, gentle understeer made it an easy machine to lean on. It will give you all the fun you can handle on most roads and despite its kerbweight of 1730kg it’s more than agile enough for the wealthy free spirit who’ll drive them.
AMG borrowed a front axle from the CLK63 AMG Black Series so the front is 35mm wider than standard and is apparently firmed up by no less than 100% as a result. There is a 12mm wider rear, revised multi-link rear suspension, and bigger driveshafts and joints. It doesn’t have quite the razor sharp handling of the M3 but it makes up for that with ride quality and smoothness. It looks the part as well. The mean-looking front grille sits below power bulges on the bonnet that might as well be horns. A new rear apron to accommodate four polished exhausts and a vacuous diffuser joins up with a lip spoiler to sharpen the rear and side skirts. Again it’s more conservative than the M3, but only just, bringing it down on the right side of the class/crass divide. It’s a bit spartan inside for a car that costs more than £52,000. The plastics are too similar to the base C Class, although the aluminium trim does lift the cabin slightly. But the C63 is all about function and form has taken a back seat in the hot seat at least.
The C63 may not quite have the handling to slay the M3 or the RS4 but it’s close enough and as an all-round package the Mercedes is a much better bet. The brute force of that V8 engine and rear-wheel drive that can be finally controlled with the right foot rather than by computer is enough to swing my vote. This is the best real driver’s car from Mercedes since the 190 Cosworth and overall AMG has shown the competition a fading trail of tyre smoke. Who knows where the power war will head next, but right now this is just about as extreme as a daily driver needs to be.
Don't think people realise how much quicker the M3 is compared to this 'thing', around the lap on top gear this week in was 5 SECONDS A LAP QUICKER!, and this wasn't the nurbergring (spell check), it was a 2.45mins circuit.
I understand it has a good suspension but just too much power to drive properly. Note that Clarkson did turn stability control off, hence the sideways action.
I would take this car over the other two because it would give me the most thrills. I don't care about quick lap times. It's about fun.
I understand it has a good suspension but just too much power to drive properly. Note that Clarkson did turn stability control off, hence the sideways action.
I would take this car over the other two because it would give me the most thrills. I don't care about quick lap times. It's about fun.
Don't think people realise how much quicker the M3 is compared to this 'thing', around the lap on top gear this week in was 5 SECONDS A LAP QUICKER!, and this wasn't the nurbergring (spell check), it was a 2.45mins circuit.
Don't think people realise how much quicker the M3 is compared to this 'thing', around the lap on top gear this week in was 5 SECONDS A LAP QUICKER!, and this wasn't the nurbergring (spell check), it was a 2.45mins circuit.
Don't think people realise how much quicker the M3 is compared to this 'thing', around the lap on top gear this week in was 5 SECONDS A LAP QUICKER!, and this wasn't the nurbergring (spell check), it was a 2.45mins circuit.
I think the average person who buys the C63 wont head for the nearest track so wont feel to concerned that at 100 mph they're car isn't going to corner as well as the M3. What they will care about is styling, feel/build inside and the noise it makes which is all personal opinion.
I saw a white one in Berlin and it looked really good and stood out from the dark/dull 911 cabs that seem to litter Berlin. I thought is was a bit too bling and in ya face for me but the sound was amazing. Saw a CL63 AMG in southampton a while ago and that really does look like a monster!
Don't think people realise how much quicker the M3 is compared to this 'thing', around the lap on top gear this week in was 5 SECONDS A LAP QUICKER!, and this wasn't the nurbergring (spell check), it was a 2.45mins circuit.
Personally I think it's a brilliant thing - it's taken them a long time to replace the sublime 16 valve 190Es of the Eighties, the older C-AMG cars more akin to Alpinas in the 90s than M3s.
Shame it's not a CSL style homologation special really, but it does spur the thought - perhaps an Evolution or DTM Edition version is in the wings with more power, less weight, etc?
It does leave the performance saloon enthusiast with the biggest choice for a long time once the M3 Saloon arrives doesn't it?
If you want to scare the kids on the school run before smoking off to your next meeting, you can have a C63 AMG, an RS4/RS6, M3 Saloon, Alpina B3 Bi-Turbo, Lexus IS-F, and the VXR8.
top work motor manufacturing fellas!
Don't think people realise how much quicker the M3 is compared to this 'thing', around the lap on top gear this week in was 5 SECONDS A LAP QUICKER!, and this wasn't the nurbergring (spell check), it was a 2.45mins circuit.
As I don't drive on tracks, and because the new M3 isn't too my taste, I wouldn't consider one of them.
of course, all of this is pointless as I don't have enough cash to pay for a set of tyres for any of these cars let alone contemplate the finance!
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