Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde

Two twin-Turbo german two-doors with polar opposite personalities face off for bragging rights

- Scott Newman

YIN VS YANG, light vs dark, perhaps even good versus evil. The Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe and Audi RS5 Coupe aim for the same goal but their methods of kicking it are almost diametrically opposed. The radical differences in mechanical philosophies of our two test cars could be seen as a neat metaphor for their equally divergent personalities.

In the white corner is the C63 ‘Aero Edition 63’, an Australia-New Zealand exclusive model limited, as the name suggests, to just 63 units in either Iridium Silver or the Polar White seen here. Sprucing up the exterior is a number of “wind tunnel tested aerodynamic extras” including a bigger rear spoiler, larger front lip and chunky diffuser. The spoiler, mirror caps, and inserts in the front apron, side skirts and diffuser become carbon fibre, which is also liberally applied to the interior.

AMG Performance seats are standard, trimmed in the Aero-exclusive combination of Magma Grey Nappa leather with yellow stripes, the flashes of colour also appearing on the centre console, dash and door trims. The only mechanical upgrade is the inclusion of carbon-ceramic brakes, giant 402mm composite front discs with the gold six-piston front calipers that identify AMGs so equipped. All told you’re looking at $188,236.