AMG’s rampaging 500kW four-cylinder super-sedan takes a quantum leap forward, but the V8 rumble will be missed…
- How much does the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance cost?
- What equipment comes with the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance?
- How safe is the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance?
- What technology does the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance feature?
- What powers the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance?
- How fuel efficient is the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance?
- What is the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance like to drive?
- What is the Mercedes-AMG C 63 SE Performance like inside?
- Should I buy a Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance?
The incoming 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance has polarised opinion like few cars before it, as allies and adversaries alike grieve the loss of its vociferous V8. But AMG’s best and brightest minds insist the new four-cylinder turbo-petrol powertrain backed up by an F1-inspired electric motor is a genuine game-changer. After testing the range-topping C-Class super-sedan on road and track, we’re loathe to disagree. The V8 may be gone, but its plug-in hybrid replacement is nothing short of extraordinary.
How much does the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance cost?
Looking at the cold, hard facts surrounding the price of admission into the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance doesn’t inspire jubilation.
A concrete price hasn’t yet been locked in, but it’s almost certain the intergalactic AMG will reach $200,000 plus on-road costs in Australia, with dealer sources telling carsales there’s already plenty of pre-orders for what could be a circa-$220,000 drive-away price.
That’s a whopping increase over the previous C 63 AMG sedan (from $168,176), and mildly insulting for a car that: A, has half the number of cylinders; B, weighs 350kg more than before; and C, loses its V8 war cry. But it is a bigger car with a lot more tech.
You could understand why some loyal AMG owners are furious with the turn of events, venting their frustrations via the carsales Facebook page in grand style.
The new plug-in hybrid C 63 is expected to be considerably more expensive than the 2022 BMW M3 Competition M xDrive sedan (from $169,500) and the just-upgraded Audi RS 4 Avant Competition Plus wagon, which will start at around $175,000 plus ORCs.
But after driving the car at all extremes of the dynamic spectrum in a variety of scenarios, we’re beginning to think the huge price hike may be justified.
That’s because the AMG C 63 S E Performance sedan not only exceeds expectation, it obliterates the sports sedan benchmark as we know it.
What equipment comes with the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance?
Australian-market specifications for the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance are still to be officially detailed, but it’s safe to say it will come with all the fruit.
Starting with the exterior, Aussie models will get the larger 20-inch alloy wheels (19s are standard with Euro-spec vehicles) shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres.
Quad exhaust outlets remain at the rear, and it’s likely one of the many exterior ‘packs’ will be standard fitment on Australian-spec scorchers, such as the AMG exterior carbon-fibre package, AMG night package or perhaps the AMG aerodynamics package.
Inside, you’ll find power-adjustable AMG sports seats which are form-fitting and beautifully finished with leather upholstery. But those front seats are identical to the ones found in the lower-series 300kW Mercedes-AMG C 43.
In fact, the overall cabin design is comparable to the C 43 and not hugely different to regular C-Class models that cost less than half as much, save for a smattering of carbon-fibre. It feels like an opportunity missed.
The sweat-absorbing Alcantara-shod steering wheel is a highlight, featuring twin backlit AMG digital ‘dials’ that offer quick access to different powertrain and chassis settings; you can set the suspension to Comfort mode and the engine to Race mode, for instance.
Regenerative braking levels can be adjusted from the steering wheel too.
Twin LCD displays dominate the cockpit – a central touch-screen and a large digital driver’s display – along with an excellent head-up display with unique AMG settings (extra-large tachometer, etc), while dual-zone climate control and satellite navigation will also be standard.
However, for all the niceties of the luxurious cabin, there were a few things missing in our test cars such as ventilated seats and adjustable side bolsters, both of which we hope are packaged in there when the car arrives locally.
For the record, there is a C 63 S E Performance wagon available overseas, but it won’t be offered in Australia due to a lack of customer demand.
Like all Mercedes-Benz cars sold in Australia, the plug-in hybrid C 63 AMG will be covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Service intervals are expected to be set at 12 months or 25,000km, whichever comes first. There’s no word yet on service pricing, but given the high-tech powertrain, braking and suspension systems, routine maintenance is likely to eclipse regular C-Class service plans, which are pegged at $2650 for three years, $3600 for four years and $5200 for five years.
How safe is the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance?
Based on the current-generation W206 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance is teeming with safety tech, including a full suite of autonomous driving assistants, such as auto steering, adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
It comes with 10 airbags, driver attention and blind spot monitoring, adaptive LED headlights and pretty much every other advanced safety assistant and gadget you can poke a solenoid at.
Like regular C-Class models, it carries a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating.
What technology does the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance feature?
AMG has festooned the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance with more high-tech gizmos than ever before, including its mind-numbingly complex plug-in hybrid powertrain, an adaptive suspension damping system borrowed from the AMG GT Black Series, and a fully variable AMG performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system with active rear-axle steering – but more on the hardware later.
The vertically-mounted 11.9-inch central touch-screen with its MBUX operating system has new AMG-specific menus and data sets but is otherwise identical to regular C-Class models, with wired and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.
The MBUX system also includes track mapping that hooks directly into the powertrain to allow for an extra performance ‘boost’ feature, enabled when the driver pushes down past the detente on the accelerator.
We used it on the Ascari racetrack in Spain and it’s pretty cool, adding an F1-inspired KERS boost on specific areas of the track (longer straights mainly) that unleashes the full 500kW and 1020Nm of torque for body-pounding longitudinal g-forces.
It’s a bit computer gamey in some ways and it would be better if you could use it whenever you want, but credit to AMG for creating a unique feature that adds more driver engagement for track days.
AMG’s tech boffins confirmed to carsales that Sydney Motorsport Park track mapping is already programmed in; the Phillip Island circuit will be next, followed by Bathurst. Conrod Straight should be wild on full boost, testing the car’s 280km/h top speed.
A highly customisable 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster lives behind the steering wheel and is complemented by a large head-up display (HUD) with unique Race and Supersport settings that focus on vehicle and engine speed and are pretty useful on track.
However, the regular HUD settings can get so convoluted and animated with data we ended up turning it off when cruising through Malaga and its suburban surrounds because it was clouding vision and distracting.
Upcoming augmented reality windscreens could be as much a curse as a blessing if this is any indication.
What powers the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance?
An AMG-fettled V8 has been wob-wobbing under the bonnet of high-end Mercedes-Benz C-Class models since the AMG C 55 launched in 2005, and has been intrinsic to the performance cars’ legend.
But now it’s gone, with the previous 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 (375kW/700Nm) in the C 63 S replaced by an all-new plug-in hybrid powertrain in the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance.
At its heart is a 350kW/545Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder single-turbo engine that’s backed up by a 150kW/320Nm rear-mounted electric motor. The combined maximum output is a massive 500kW and 1020Nm.
And despite adding around 350kg of mass compared to its V8 predecessor, the C 63 S E still accelerates from 0-100km/h way quicker, now a claimed 3.4 seconds – down from 4.0sec.
We managed an unofficial 3.6 seconds on launch, but that’s with two humans and loads of luggage on board in conditions that were far from ideal. We’ll need to do more testing to get a proper read, but golly-gee the new C 63 quick.
Launch control is as easy as engaging Race mode via the steering wheel dials, then pushing both the brake and accelerator pedals simultaneously. Lift the brake and whack! It feels like you’ve been blasted into orbit, such is the incendiary pace. It’s breathtaking – quite literally – the pressure hitting your torso quite unlike anything else this correspondent has tested before.
You get the rising crescendo of the world’s most powerful four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine which adds a level of engagement – even satisfaction – you just don’t get with an EV, quicker though some may be to 100km/h.
But it’s not all sunshine and butterflies unfortunately… the four-cylinder exhaust sound is pretty wussy, especially from outside the vehicle.
Despite running an updated version of the Mercedes-AMG A 45 hot hatch’s banzai M139 2.0-litre four-cylinder, acoustic regulations in Europe have meant it’s lost pretty much all of its snapping, crackling and popping.
Emotionally nourishing it’s not.
There are microphones located in the exhaust system that amplify and transfer the engine note to the cabin in real time, and it does have a strong note inside the vehicle, but it’s not a patch on AMG’s legendary twin-turbo V8.
The hybrid powertrain’s petrol engine makes use of an electrically-assisted exhaust-driven turbocharger, augmented by an electric motor on the rear axle and a 6.1kWh battery pack that can be plugged in to recharge and enables a 13km electric range.
The e-motor develops 70kW of continuous power, with the 150kW peak available for short periods.
The hybrid system pumps through a nine-speed AMG MCT 9G transmission to all four wheels via a fully variable ‘4MATIC+’ all-wheel drive system. It can divert 100 per cent power and torque to the rear axle if need be – or if instructed via Drift mode.
The polarising shift in configuration from V8 to L4 hybrid has understandably created pushback, which we’ve seen via countless comments from readers on the official carsales Facebook and Instagram pages. But after drilling it on road and track we can report that it is one of the most powerful and addictive powertrains ever engineered.
It develops monstrous power, and unlike a conventional engine, acceleration doesn’t let up as you approach 100km/h or even 200km/h.
Many will lament the death of the C 63’s V8, but the four-cylinder hybrid has got enough muscle to pummel its BMW M3 and Audi RS 4 rivals into submission with casual ease.
We could write an essay on the herculean levels of thrust this vehicle generates and the euphoric sensations it produces in the human body and mind. But we’ll save that for a rant on our podcast.
How fuel efficient is the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance?
Despite its otherworldly straight-line performance and lardy 2.1-tonne kerb mass, the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance can be very efficient.
According to Mercedes-Benz, it’ll average 6.9L/100km on the WLTP combined cycle, and while we didn’t quite get that low during two days of road driving, sitting at around 13L/100km, that’s a remarkable feat given how much of a thrashing it copped (excluding racetrack driving).
If your daily commute was 10km and you never drove it hard, you could potentially get away with filling the 60-litre fuel tank a couple of times a year.
But if you did that you’d be missing the point of this miraculous vehicle.
What is the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance like to drive?
We’ve already ascertained that the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance sounds pretty dull, so the next question most readers will want answered is whether its 2111kg kerb weight (some 350kg more than the previous V8 version) blunts handling performance.
Long story short, no.
On the Ascari racetrack there were moments of front-end understeer heading into some of the tighter corners once familiarity with the circuit was achieved (and caution was thrown to the wind). But the new rear-axle steering combines with a savvy all-wheel drive system and a brilliant suspension rig borrowed from the AMG GT Black Series to deliver an unexpectedly agile vehicle.
Body control is very good for such a portly performance sedan, the adaptive dampers and well-sorted suspension allowing the driver to focus on their lines and apexes rather than fretting about a lack of grip.
Aluminium double-wishbone suspension, next-gen adaptive dampers with anti-squat and anti-dive control, lightweight coil springs and stabiliser bars adorn front and rear axles and do an impressive job of hiding the German road rocket’s significant mass and generating impressive traction from the tyres.
At full tilt, using the entertaining boost feature – which typically needed a few laps to charge up via brake regeneration – the C 63 was blisteringly quick but also incredibly surefooted. ‘Addictively resolute’ is what was written in my notes, but it’s surprisingly forgiving at the limit as well.
Despite its brain-meltingly complex chassis and powertrain, the car exhibited a remarkably natural and predictable feel when flooring the throttle exiting corners. The fact that the powertrain weight is no longer focused on the front-end but spread to the rear axle benefits the car’s balance.
Indeed, this is a genuine racetrack tool and although maybe not as scalpel-sharp as some European rivals at full tilt (we can’t wait to run some comparisons with the BMW M3 and Audi RS 4), it’s still an incredibly adept apex predator.
Stability control was seamless when flashing on to get the Mercedes-AMG back on the straight and narrow, and when flicked to ‘ESP sport’ mode one can wag the tail with confidence, the vehicle well aware of its racetrack location and thus favouring the rear axle with colossal amounts of torque.
After a hard day of thrashings and continual abuse by journalists on the Spanish racetrack, the brakes and tyres started to feel a little ragged. But when all was said and done, they held up far better than expected.
But here’s the kicker: As good as the new C 63 is on the racetrack, it’s a better road car.
It’s tremendously quick point to point on a winding ribbon of mountainous road and has better rough-road compliance than its C 63 S predecessor on run-flat tyres, where ride comfort could be described as harsh and unforgiving on anything but billiard-table-smooth roads.
The adaptive dampers pilfered from the AMG GT Black Series have three settings – Comfort, Sport and Sport+ – and the difference between the softest and the stiffest setting is considerable, to the point where the new C 63 is a far better daily driver than previously.
The AMG’s composure on average road surfaces is made all the more impressive given its sporty high-performance tyres shod to 20-inch alloy wheels.
It feels more well-rounded than the V8-powered C 63 across a wider range of situations and its ballistic acceleration adds a compelling and addictive element.
What is the Mercedes-AMG C 63 SE Performance like inside?
There’s nothing wrong with the cabin of the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance, which blends luxury and sportiness to great effect, particularly with its alloy pedals, flat-bottom AMG steering wheel and gorgeous bucket seats.
Unique AMG data readouts on the head-up display, driver display and even the central screen add a little more drama when you engage one of the many attack modes, but for all the cool interactive upgrades the cabin lacks a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’.
The sports seats are identical to C 43 AMG’s while the overall dashboard design is no different to the regular C-Class, save for a few splashes of carbon-fibre.
We were hoping for more bespoke features unique to the C 63, especially given its expected $200,000-plus price.
Most likely is that AMG blew the budget on the complicated powertrain, leaving the interior designers twiddling their thumbs.
Should I buy a Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance?
What AMG has created with the new 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance is nothing short of astonishing.
The new C 63 is, of course, based on a luxury family sedan, yet offers the sort of mind-melting performance usually only found in exotic vehicles.
It represents a paradigm shift not only for the brand but the car industry more broadly, a change that has, and will continue to, draw contempt given the global shift away from traditional tub-thumping, gas-guzzling performance engines.
Yes, the C 63’s V8 is gone, and with it a good portion of the emotional involvement between car and driver. The car is also significantly heavier and more expensive.
But it’s impossible to dislike.
On balance, the gains made in powertrain performance, the advanced suspension that helps offset its weight gain and its breadth of capability across a wider range of scenarios make this a very worthy successor to one of AMG’s best-selling and most-loved vehicles.
2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance at a glance:
Price: $200,000 approx (plus on-road costs)
Available: July 2023
Powertrain: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol-electric
Output: 350kW/545Nm (electric motor: 150kW/320Nm)
Combined output: 500kW/1020Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Battery: 6.1kWh lithium-ion
Range: 13km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 11.7kWh/100km (WLTP)
Fuel: 6.9L/100km (WLTP)
CO2: 156g/km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2022)
Keyword: Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance 2023 Review