Tuesday 14th May 2013

E63 AMG Coupe - denied

"Next time we won't make the same mistake" says Mercedes of its failure to build an E63 Coupe

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Mercedes has admitted to PistonHeads that it was a mistake not to create an AMG version of the E-Class coupe and convertible, the facelifted versions of which go on sale in June without a flagship performance version.

C coupe and E saloon both got V8s

“Seen from now, yes it was a mistake,” product manager Gerd Junginger told us. He said the decision was made seven years ago when the current generation was in planning. “At that time, AMG had a different strategy. Now they offer an AMG version in almost all the range.”

For example the C-Class coupe and E-Class saloon both get one of AMG’s famed V8s along with the handling and styling overhaul, but the E-Class coupe has no answer for the Audi RS5 and forthcoming BMW M4.

One reason for the regret is the runaway sales performance of AMG in the UK. At the end of April, sales were up 71 per cent and had already passed 1,000 for the year, led by the C63 AMG Coupe and the C-Class saloon version. A spokesman said good finance deals were playing a big part, with the C63 AMG four-door available on a PCP deal for £599 a month with £6,000 down.

C63 coupe wears AMG accoutrements well

The absence is more odd given that the E-Class’s predecessor, the CLK, wore an AMG badge. That car is now in sight of humbler budgets with this 2003 example showing just 70,000 miles and selling in the PistonHeads classifieds for £8,995.

The nearest you can get to that is the new E400 twin-turbo V6 we drove on the launch, which replaces the E500 V8 and puts out 333hp. That’s less than the 367hp for the CLK AMG, but at least acceleration is the same at 5.2 seconds to 62mph. And it does come with the AMG Sport styling pack.

Junginger sounded almost despondent looking at the new car, the facelift giving it a fair bit more presence than before.

"The perfect car to be an AMG" - but not.

“It’s the perfect car to be an AMG,” he said. “It almost looks like an AMG version as it is now.”

He told us it was too late in the model cycle for AMG to change its mind on this car. “Next time we won’t make the same mistake.”

[TNH]

Why would the E-class be competing with the M4 and RS5? Thats what the C63 does?

An AMG E would be up against the M5/M6 RS6?

[Tuvra]

Why there is no 4 seater AMG cabrio I will never know, C63 Cabrio anyone?:

[CYMR0]

TNH said:

Why would the E-class be competing with the M4 and RS5? Thats what the C63 does?

An AMG E would be up against the M5/M6 RS6?

But the E-Class coupe is based on the architecture of the C-Class anyway. So the E-Class coupe is already neither fish nor fowl and its biggest competitor is already the C-Class coupe. That said, I do prefer the looks of the E and if I had £60k+ to spend I'd go for the slightly softer version.

In theory the C63 covers the competitive market well but the E would let Mercedes get more money out of me if I was in that market.

[kambites]

Is it? I thought the E-class coupe was based on this E-class time time 'round?

[wemorgan]

Shared platform is something only engineers should be excited about.
Consumers should worry about the finished product. In that respect the E-class coupe AMG would compete against the M5/6 and RS6

[Hellbound]

Time for Brabus to step in and save the day....


...and for MB dealers to offer them on PCP!

[keiran]

I don't think they need to worry too much, it's not like the m4 or the rs5 cabro are ready for production I mean the 4 series isn't even out yet... And wouldn't an e class coupe amg with 580 odd horsepower steal sales/interest from the c63 black anyway?

Edited by keiran on Tuesday 14th May 12:39

[Lostprophet]

I would say the C class coupe would be on par with an Audi A4 coupe.. if they did it.

The A5 is defo a E-class rival and so it would be RS5 vs E-class AMG.

Sort it out Merc!

[Bear Phils]

Mercedes need to bump up their ideas if they're to keep up with the other two and their ridiculous niches.

[keiran]

I always got the impression that Audi ditching the A4 cab was to replace it with the a5 cab

[Oddball RS]

CYMR0 said:

TNH said:

Why would the E-class be competing with the M4 and RS5? Thats what the C63 does?

An AMG E would be up against the M5/M6 RS6?

But the E-Class coupe is based on the architecture of the C-Class anyway. So the E-Class coupe is already neither fish nor fowl and its biggest competitor is already the C-Class coupe. That said, I do prefer the looks of the E and if I had £60k+ to spend I'd go for the slightly softer version.

In theory the C63 covers the competitive market well but the E would let Mercedes get more money out of me if I was in that market.

I think your shared architecture with a C class is a mute point, the C class and E class share many features, components and layouts in truth often it is only dimensional differences, as it is with the Coupe / Saloon etc, The point is they could easily make an AMG version if they wanted too. They don't.

[RicksAlfas]

Gerd Junginger sounds like one of the Sniff Petrol interviewees.

[Wills2]

Lostprophet said:

I would say the C class coupe would be on par with an Audi A4 coupe.. if they did it.

The A5 is defo a E-class rival and so it would be RS5 vs E-class AMG.

Sort it out Merc!

The A5 is an A4 coupe in all but name, same everything just a different dress and is a rival for the 3 series coupe and c class coupe.

But Audi have been so successful at fooling people, BMW has decided to do the same with the upcoming 4 series.

The e92M3/RS5 and C63 coupe couldn't be more direct rivals if they tried 55k-59k. 420hp-457hp

Edited by Wills2 on Tuesday 14th May 16:56

[g3org3y]

Bear Phils said:

Mercedes need to bump up their ideas if they're to keep up with the other two and their ridiculous niches.

If anything, I'd say Mercedes have been on form in the last few years. Some of the AMG models have been absolutely brilliant, properly mental and reportedly very good steers. Doing a decent job of shaking off the 'old man' image.

[Sport Coupe]

The C class' cabin is the biggest let down, where as the E-class coupe goes some way to address that with far more inviting and tactile materials. I agree that AMG made a mistake here, but at least they can admit that and move forward.

[loudlashadjuster]

Sport Coupe said:

The C class' cabin is the biggest let down, where as the E-class coupe goes some way to address that with far more inviting and tactile materials. I agree that AMG made a mistake here, but at least they can admit that and move forward.

Not sure I'm with you there. I agree the original and even initial facelift interior was a bit lacking, but since the 2011 refresh the C-Class interior is on a par with the larger models in terms of appearance and premium materials. In fact, unless you're a regular driver it can be hard to spot the differences between them, the wider centre console being perhaps the biggest giveaways.

Original W204


Facelifted W204


W212

[Lostprophet]

Wills2 said:

Lostprophet said:

I would say the C class coupe would be on par with an Audi A4 coupe.. if they did it.

The A5 is defo a E-class rival and so it would be RS5 vs E-class AMG.

Sort it out Merc!

The A5 is an A4 coupe in all but name, same everything just a different dress and is a rival for the 3 series coupe and c class coupe.

But Audi have been so successful at fooling people, BMW has decided to do the same with the upcoming 4 series.

The e92M3/RS5 and C63 coupe couldn't be more direct rivals if they tried 55k-59k. 420hp-457hp

Edited by Wills2 on Tuesday 14th May 16:56

lol. You're right!