FORMULA 1 TECH, EVERYDAY CRUISING

The 2024 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance will change the way you think about executive cars

-  SUFFIAN HAKIM

IT’S FASCINATING TO SEE how brands roll out yearly updates to their most iconic products. Most times, the changes are incremental, a slight tweak – not too much that it alienates fans who want the familiar, but enough so the marketers have something to shout about.

But in rare cases, a brand might feel intrepid, tearing up the playbook for a bold, completely unexpected overhaul.

The 2024 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance is one such case. On the outside, it’s the sleek and sturdy chassis of a Mercedes-AMG luxury vehicle, with subtly more muscular proportions than its 2023 predecessor. But underneath the hood, the changes are extensive to the point of being audacious.

It does away with 2023’s four-litre twin-turbo V8 and rear-wheel drive and replaces it with a dual engine system, with the four-cylinder, handcrafted M139I engine in the front and an electric motor on the rear axle. This also means that the aforementioned rear-wheel drive gives way to the return of the AMG Performance 4Matic+ all-wheel drive and active rear-axle steering. This makes the car more dynamic, yet easier to master for new drivers.