The previous-gen Mercedes Benz C63 was a conundrum. Enthusiasts loved it for having the gruffest exhaust note on the planet and acceleration to roll your ear-lobes back, but purists tended to bemoan the fact that it could be a wayward beast. Also, it’s rock-hard suspension set-up rendering it somewhat schizophrenic on road surfaces anything less than smooth.

Enter the all-new Mercedes AMG C63 and note the name change. Based on the car (known internally as the W205 series) that scooped the World Car of the Year prize for 2014, much has been expected of the new Big Bad Wolf. And let us state from the start that the new car has an entirely different power-plant compared to the out-going car and a new set of table manners to go with the new body style.

Monster Powerplant

Replacing the massive naturally-aspirated 6.2-litre V8 that pumped out between 336 and 375 kW and 600 Nm of twist (depending on the hotness ordered) is the all new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that will form the bedrock of AMG engineering for the next few years, and used in the stunning new AMG GT sports car due for launch here in mid-year. The smaller engine is lighter and extremely compact, a significant packaging factor for the C 63 being that the turbochargers are located within the cylinder banks, which means better heat exchange and less pipework.

The compact twin-turbo produces 350 kW in “normal” C 63 form and 375 kW in the S model, these being the two cars that are being launched right now. No doubt there will be even more special versions available during the car’s life-cycle, as there has been with the previous-gen Mercedes cars using the big V8.

Significantly, torque on the new car is up to 650 Nm on the standard model and 700 Nm on the S, and it is available through a broad rev-spread of 1750 to 4500 rpm. Happily from a Mercedes-AMG company perspective, massive fuel economy gains have been achieved with the car, Merc claims a 32% reduction in overall consumption! Overall combined consumption tests rate the car at 8.2 to 8.4L/100, but of course you will get nowhere near that if you own one, and you probably won’t care!

Gearbox and Interior

The new engine is mated again to a seven-speed full automatic, fluid-drive electronic lock-up gearbox (rather than a double-clutch ‘box, which is so fashionable at the moment), known as the AMG Speedshift MCT-7. The gearbox has been substantially revised to interface with the new 4.0-litre turbo engine, and plenty of attention has been paid to achieving much faster up-shifts and, importantly, quicker down-shifts, complete with racing engine sounds. The gearbox offers a choice between Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual modes and “Race” for the S model only.

Similarly, the substantially up-graded suspension system has a revised Ride Control package with three settings adjustable via a console switch, or by digginginto the dash-mounted display screen and setting the car up exactly the way you want it.

The interior is beautifully trimmed, with perforated leather sports seats, tastefully contrasting panel colour changes and restrained use of metal brightwork, mainly on the sports steering wheel. It is easy to achieve a perfect driving position via full electric adjustability of both seat and steering wheel. The only thing you have to watch for, before you get used to the car, is that that right stalk on the steering column is for gear-selection. The left stalk controls all the major indication and wiping functions, and initially you may just knock the car into neutral as you approach your first left-hand turn at an intersection!

Optional is an exhaust system that adjusts the sound of the tailpipes, and we would recommend going for this, because, turbocharged or not, this AMG still has a killer tail-pipe bellow. It’s just so much more noticeable with the “loud pipe” button activated on the console.

It’s All About The Numbers

Okay, so how does this car go? Figure on doing zero to 100 kphsprints all day in the lower four-second region (4.0 for the S, 4.1 for the normal C 63) and running onto the top speed limiter in just a few hundred metres, at which point you’ll be travelling at 250kph. A special AMG Driver’s Package allows the top speed to be increased to 290kph on both models.

Interestingly, the Mercedes AMG C63 achieves its standard limited top speed of 250kph in fifth gear, and there are still two gears to go on the Speedshift ‘box! If AMG (or your friendly after-market tuning company) were to re-programme the main ECU without restraint, we have no doubt that you’d be seeing speeds in the 320-plus region on this monstermachine.

Is it over-powered? The simple answer is no.A sweet drive on open roads using various suspension modes showed the car now has vastly improved manners. In fact it is quite calmon bumpy fast open roads, allowing it to track straight and true with a very relaxed natural grip on the steering wheel.

The launch programme saw us doing laps on the Zwartkops Raceway and here again the Mercedes AMG C63 telegraphed all its intentions superbly. We were restricted to “traction control on” mode during our hot laps, but earlier I noticed a very pleasing tendency for the rear end to become just loose enough to help point the car into a fast sweep while being instantly controllable.

Overall it is an AMG that has found its niche – still ultra-muscular, more so in fact, but the suspension and gearbox now work with the driver in offering a relaxed, yet pleasantly communicative ride-handling package.

Pricing forMercedes AMG C 63

Prices are on the expensive side, but then this is a supercar for the family man! You’ll pay R1004700 for the basic Mercedes AMG C 63 and R1163800 for the more potent, flamboyant S model. Of course there are various options you can add, including a special Edition 1 pack available at launch with glossy spoilers, radiator grille detailing, cross-spoked alloys in 19-inch sizing and various interior trim stand-outs. This costs between R175000 for the S model and R212000 if you add it to the more basic edition.

It’s a great car now, one that inspires loads of confidence despite its massive power. The Big Bad Wolf has been house-trained!

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