We've finally got the full details and complete reveal of the stunning Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupé, which joins the saloon and Estate models in the line-up of 'Bonkers C-Class Cars'. The new version will make a debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
OK, so were any of your predictions about the car right?
Yes, but then none of them were particularly prescient; we just guessed it would share mechanicals with the existing C 63s. Which the Coupé does - the 4.0-litre biturbo V8 engine delivers either 476hp at 5,500- to 6,250rpm (and 650Nm from 1,750- to 4,500rpm), or 510hp and 700Nm spread across the same rev ranges. That latter trim carries the 'S' badging. The Coupé C 63 also has the seven-speed AMG Speedshift automatic transmission, active engine mounts and a similarly upmarket, AMG-logoed interior as the saloon/Estate versions.
So what's different?
The look of it, the performance and the handling. Starting with the first of these, just three bits of the C-Class Coupé's bodywork (only just revealed itself, of course) are carried over for the Mercedes-AMG C 63: the doors, roof and bootlid. The wings are flared, making the C 63 wider front and rear by 64- and 66mm respectively. The aluminium, double-straked bonnet is 60mm longer and, under the skin, the chassis has been reinforced to handle the extra grunt. Traditional AMG styling themes are all present and correct, including a front splitter, wide 'A-wing' air intake, the twin-bar grille, a subtle lower body kit, quad tailpipes and a discreet rear boot spoiler. The 476hp car gets 10-spoke, 18-inch alloys as standard, while the S has five-spoke 19s to sit on.
Is the Coupé quicker than the saloon C 63?
Yes, by around a tenth of a second for each variant. This is not because of weight or aerodynamics, though, according to Mercedes-AMG - it's because the Coupé has a shorter final drive ratio and wider rear tyres (up to 285mm). This means 0-62mph times of 4.0 and 3.9 seconds (476hp/S respectively) and a limited top speed of 155mph... that can be raised to 180mph with the AMG Driver's Package. Should you care one fig, the economy and emissions figures are rated at bests of 32.8mpg and 200g/km CO2.
Whatever. You said it was better for handling than the saloon C 63 - why?
Those fat arches are because the Coupé has a wider track, allowing for greater lateral acceleration, while it also benefits from a bespoke rear axle carrier and its own suspension settings. Like the existing C 63s, the Coupé models have limited-slip rear differentials; the 476hp car has a mechanical item, while the S has an electronic affair. Adjustable damping, various drive modes and exhausts, which have active flaps in them to make more noise when required, are all part of the package.
