Mercedes-AMG has unveiled the all-new C-Class 63 S E Performance, a hybrid that channels motorsport technologies and thinking into a truly potent, high-performance monster.

No longer boasting the twin-turbo V8 that powered its predecessor, the new C63 S E Performance pairs a 2-litre turbo engine with a two-speed electric motor on the rear axle and a high-performance battery system. Add a sprinkling of Formula One-inspired engineering magic, an electric exhaust gas turbocharger that all but eliminates lag, and fully variable all-wheel-drive, and the result is a car pumping out a blockbuster 500kW and 1020Nm and which can sprint to 100km/h in 3.4 seconds on to a top speed of 280 km/h.

The 150kW electric motor is integrated with an electrically shifted two-speed gearbox and the electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential in a compact electric drive unit (EDU). The lightweight, 6.1kWh high-performance battery – which is designed for fast power delivery and draw rather than range – is located in the rear above the rear axle. While it is aimed at aiding performance, the battery can deliver 13km of electric-only range.

A belt-driven starter generator (RSG) combines an alternator and starter in one component. The RSG starts the combustion engine and ensures the basic supply of the ancillary components such as air conditioning or driving lights. This also applies when the vehicle is at a traffic light and the charge level of the high-voltage battery is no longer sufficient to support the low-voltage on-board electrical system. The RSG is integrated into a 400-volt high-voltage network.

Eight drive modes – Electric, Comfort, Battery Hold, Sport, Sport+, Race, Slippery, and Individual – are available to control the hybrid system and its performance.

AMG Ride Control steel-spring suspension with Adaptive Damping System is standard and there is AMG parameter steering – that adapts to a selected drive program, increasing or decreasing power assistance – and standard rear-axle steering.

The standard rear axle steering operates with a maximum steering angle of 2.5 degrees in the opposite direction to the front wheels at speeds of up to 100 km/h. At speeds above 100 km/h, the rear wheels turn in parallel to the front wheels – up to a maximum of 0.7 degrees.

The integrated AMG dynamic control system is also part of the standard specification. It influences the control strategies of ESP (Electronic Stability Program), the all-wheel drive, and the electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential.

The braking set-up is an AMG high-performance composite brake system with 6-piston fixed callipers at the front and 1-piston floating callipers at the rear as standard. A ceramic high-performance composite braking system is available as an option.

The C 63 S rolls on 19-inch AMG light-alloy wheels. Optional wheel/tyre combinations are available in 20-inch size, likewise with mixed tyres, among them a new forged wheel.

Numerous paint finishes and equipment items are also available, with the AMG matt paint finish graphite grey magno available exclusively for the C 63 S. The exterior design can be accentuated with the AMG Exterior Carbon Fibre packages I and II, the AMG Night packages I and II or the AMG Aerodynamics Package.

On the inside, there are AMG sports seats, while a second-generation AMG Performance seat is available as an option. The MBUX infotainment system includes various AMG- and hybrid-specific displays and functions. These include special displays in the instrument cluster, on the multimedia central display in the centre console and on the optional head-up display.

The appearance of the instrument cluster can be personalised with different display styles and individually selectable main views, including an AMG-specific Supersport style. The head-up display also offers AMG-specific display styles such as Race and Supersport. Accessible is AMG TRACK PACE, the data logger for use on the racetrack and which records more than 80 vehicle-specific data such as speed, acceleration, steering angle and brake pedal actuation ten times per second while driving around a racetrack. In addition, the lap and sector times are displayed.

Standard is the AMG Performance steering wheel, enabling plenty of features to be controlled without the driver having to remove their hands from the wheel. It is possible to select the regeneration levels of the hybrid drive via the steering wheel buttons.

The Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance is expected in Australia in mid-2023.

Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (October 2022)

24 October 2022