THE NEXT AMG C63

AMG’S MOST-LOVED MODEL SCORES AN F1-INSPIRED MEGA FOUR-POT. THE GOAL: WORLD’S FASTEST FOUR-DOOR

-  DYLAN CAMPBELL

THE V8 C63 is dead. Long live the V8. Mercedes-AMG has all but confirmed the next iteration of its much-adored super-sedan will be powered by a four-cylinder turbo, but one packing a monstrous 480kW working in conjunction with a powerful new high-tech rear-axle electric motor.

For the first time, the C63 will also be equipped with tarmac-tearing all-wheel drive, with 0-100km/h times expected to dip into the low three-second range.

This, of course, represents an enormous philosophical shift away from the current brooding 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 375kW/700Nm rear-drive model. But it will also mean an enormous increase in outright performance potential: the new C63 will make the current one look slow, blasting the claimed 3.9sec time to 100km/h into the weeds, not to mention our own measured 12.4sec over 400m.

And, of course, it will put the frighteners on AMG’s old foe, the new, big-nostrilled BMW M3 and M4, as well as making them look decidedly low-tech.

The four-cylinder engine destined for C63 duty is the A45’s new M139 2.0-litre inline-4 – fitted north-south in the C-Class engine bay – but with power as high as 350kW.

That’s thanks to a new F1-inspired turbocharger with an in-built 6kW electric motor promising next to zero turbo lag despite producing an incredible 40psi (2.8 bar) of maximum boost pressure (see breakout, opposite page). AMG says it’s the same kind of turbo fitted to its forthcoming ONE hypercar.

The high-tech turbo four-cylinder will work with a new and compact rear-mounted electric motor supplying a constant 70kW, but with as much as 150kW available in 10-second bursts. Maximum electric motor torque is 320Nm, while engine torque is expected to exceed the A45’s 500Nm.