AMG unleashes 500kW/1020Nm plug-in monster

GOODBYE THUMPING V8; HELLO ELECTRIFIED FOUR POT. IT'S THE C63 AS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE...

- ALEX INWOOD

HERE IT IS: the biggest personality shift the Mercedes-AMG C63 has undergone in, well, ever. Finally revealed after years of rumours, teasers and spy shots, our first official look at the all-new C63 S E Performance confirms what we all knew was coming: the V8 is no more. Cue outrage, waggling fingers and fighting in the streets.

A C63 without a V8!? It’s like the Beatles without McCartney. The Stones with no Jagger. But let’s not focus on what we’re losing; let’s drink in what we’re gaining. And that’s a colossal step forward in performance. And weight, but more on that one soon…

We’ll start with the outputs. Powering the new C63 is the combination of AMG’s frenzied M139 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo and a single electric motor mounted on the rear axle. Together they produce 500kW and 1020Nm.

Need some context? That’s 125kW and 320Nm more than the current V8 C63 S, a car in which we’ve never thought, “Oh this could use more grunt”, and a healthy jump over the C63’s longstanding rivals in the Audi RS4 and BMW M3.

It also helps to make this the quickest C63 yet. Combine the newfound grunt with fully variable all-wheel drive and AMG says the new C63 will rocket from 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds, which is a 0.6sec improvement over the outgoing rear-drive model. Mind you, that’s only a tenth quicker than a current M3 Competition xDrive despite the Beemer’s inline six producing ‘only’ 375kW/650Nm.