2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S road test review

[Express]

My Usual C63 thread when a new review comes along.

It's a shame in my opinion that the exterior styling is so ordinary.

2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S road test review


The German brand follows up its acclaimed performance sedan with an even greater hot rod.


Stephen Ottley
October 30 2015



The new Mercedes-AMG C63 S improves on its predecessor in almost every regard. Photo: Supplied


There's no replacement for displacement - so goes the old adage.

But sadly for petrolheads, the days of the big capacity, naturally aspirated engines look numbered thanks to ever-stricter emissions standards that means car makers need to make new engines that use less fuel and emit less harmful gas into the atmosphere.

While that's a good thing, it generally means car makers turn to smaller capacity turbocharged engines that lack the response and aural appeal of large, non-turbo units.



Mercedes-AMG C63 S Wagon Photo: Supplied


But the boffins at Mercedes' AMG tuning division evidently didn't get that memo because the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 in the new AMG C63 is more potent, more fuel efficient and almost sounds as good as the awesome 6.2-litre V8 from the model it replaces.

That should help keep the C63 among Mercedes-Benz' best-selling performance cars, as thanks to our preference for the fast stuff the local operation has opted to only offer the more powerful version of the new model, the C63 S.

So does the C63 S live up to the all-round reputation of the old model?

What do you get?

Sitting at the top of the C-Class range the C63 comes well equipped for the $154,510 (plus on-road costs) asking price.

There's the obvious stuff - an AMG bodykit, 19-inch AMG alloy wheels, AMG performance exhaust, adjustable suspension - but there is also plenty of luxuries, including keyless entry and ignition, navigation and nappa leather upholstery.

Entertainment is taken care of by a 13-speaker Burmester surround sound system with 590-watt output with a single CD player, 10GB music hard drive, TV tuner, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, voice command, DAB+ digital radio run through an 8-inch tablet-style infotainment screen.


Safety includes nine airbags, a 360 degrees parking camera and parking sensors and Mercedes' Distronic Plus system that includes active cruise control, steering assist with lane keeping function and blind spot warning.

What's inside?

The interior was one of the biggest areas of improvement in the regular C-Class range. The new design, with the tablet-style screen, classic round airconditioning vents and premium materials lifts the C-Class to the head of this segment in terms of luxury appeal.

In the C63 it is a beautiful combination of luxury and sportiness.

Pampering touches include the previously mentioned nappa leather trim and something Mercedes calls 'Air Balance', which is an air filtering system that can also disperse one of four fragrances into the cabin.

On the sporty side there is an AMG instrument cluster with a Racetimer, AMG performance sports seats, AMG steering wheel in nappa leather and faux suede and AMG stainless steel pedals with rubber grip pads.

The only downside of the cabin is the rather tight rear space. It makes the C63 a less-than-ideal family choice.

Under the bonnet

The undisputed star of the show is the new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that sits underneath the AMG "powerdomes" on the bonnet.

The old C63 went out with bang with the Edition 507 which took the 6.2-litre V8 to the extreme with 373kW of power and 610Nm of torque.

The new engine, despite being smaller in size, pumps out 375kW and 700Nm in the C63 S. What's more it uses 8.6-litres per 100km compared to 12.0L/100km in the Edition 507.

Not surprisingly the C63 S packs serious punch with the 0-100km/h sprint handled in just 4.0-seconds.

The rolling acceleration is just as impressive, the seven-speed automatic is quick to respond on the move helping C63 pick up pace as soon as you squeeze the throttle.

However, the clutches at the front of the gearbox - rather than a traditional torque converter - can be a little jerky at low speed.

The engine itself also has the slightest hesitation when you first hit the accelerator. It's not much (with peak torque kicking-in at just 1750rpm) and it builds speed so quickly it becomes a non-issue, but for those familiar with the old naturally-aspirated engine they will notice the difference.

But performance isn't the whole story with the C63 because the visceral growl of the old 6.2-litre was a big part of the car's appeal.

Somehow the AMG engineers have managed to avoid the underwhelming engine note of many modern turbo engines and instead created a true V8 growl form this new unit. It sounds different from the old motor but still just as appealing.

On the road

The old C63 was a breakthrough model for AMG helping it ditch its reputation for building cars with loads of grunt but lacking the finesse of arch-rival, the BMW M3 as the previous generation C63 could hold it with the Beemer in the bends too.

AMG has made another step ahead with this latest model in every department. The electric steering is nicely weighted, responsive and provides meaningful feedback to the driver. It allows you to place the C63 with the accuracy you expect in from a sports car.

The adjustable suspension offers up noticeable difference between the Comfort and Sport, Sport+ and Race settings. The latter two are best left for racetracks or newly paved roads as they offer excellent grip and feel but tend to highlight every bump in the road.

The first Sport mode is the pick for spirited on-road driving, imbuing the C63 with the right blend of sportiness and compliance to get the best out of it.

But when you turn the dial to Comfort the C63 takes on a much more composed and refined character. The suspension is relatively compliant and the engine and transmission become docile to the point the C63 is as easy and relaxed to drive as a C200.

The 265mm-wide Michelin Sport tyres provide plenty of grip but on the downside can be noisy on certain road surfaces.

Verdict

It shouldn't really come as a surprise that AMG has built such a great car, after all the performance division has been churning out excellent hot rods for decades.

But after the old model was so beloved there was some hesitation that the company could match and even exceed that machine.

It has though, as the new C63 S is quicker, more powerful, has more torque, more responsive to drive and uses less fuel.

It will be a tough act to follow...


2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S pricing and specifications

Price: $154,510 plus on-road costs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo petrol

Power: 375kW at 5500-6250rpm

Torque: 700Nm at 1750-4500rpm

Transmission: Seven-speed auto, rear-wheel drive

Fuel use: 8.6L/100km

Pros

Excellent engine.

Improved driving dynamics.

Impressive cabin.

Cons

Small rear seat space.

Road noise.

Polarising styling.

Rating: 7/0


The Competitors


BMW M3

Price: From $139,900 plus on-road costs

Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol

Power: 317kW at 5390-7300rpm

Torque: 550Nm at 1850-5500rpm

Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch auto, RWD

Fuel use: 8.3L/100km

Our score: 6.7/10


Audi RS4 Avant

Price: From $151,010 plus on-road costs

Engine: 4.2-litre V8 petrol

Power: 331kW at 8250rpm

Torque: 430Nm at 4000-6000rpm

Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch auto, AWD

Fuel use: 10.7L/100km

Our score: Not yet rated


Maserati Ghibli S

Price: From $169,990 plus on-road costs

Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol

Power: 301kW at 5500rpm

Torque: 550Nm at 4500-5000rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto, RWD

Fuel use: 10.4L/100km

Our score: Not yet rated

http://www.drive.com.au/new-car-revi...26-gkid3v.html

[tranquilized]

Just an awesome car, and for the first time in my opinion the pick over an M3/M4 although the lack of manual transmission option would be an issue for me. I really like the exterior styling, looks like a small S Class.