Preview: 2012 Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe

Seville, Spain • Fire up Mercedes’ new C63 AMG Coupe and it’s the sound of its 6.2-litre V8 engine that will get your blood flowing every time. It’s a very close cousin of the powerplant residing under the hood of the SLS AMG supercar, but here you get the kind of power and that deep rumbling sound in a car that will cost roughly a third of the SLS’s price tag. As Mercedes-Benz introduces the new C-Class Coupes, which share the same basic powertrains, underpinnings and specs as the recently launched sedans, the engineers at the AMG division found a new project for themselves — creating a car that will now compete head-to-head with the two-door BMW M3 and the Audi RS5 (previous AMG C-Class models always came in the guise of four-door sedans).

According to the engineers, the choice of the normally aspirated 6.2L V8 over the new 5.5L turbo V8 recently developed by AMG is due to the fact that the turbo V8 simply would not fit under the hood of the C-Class Coupe. There is also a very good chance the choice of the 6.2L motor was made in the interest of cost efficiency. The downside, however, is that the C63 AMG Coupe is not as fuel-efficient compared with the M3 or even the all-wheel-drive RS5. But, if you’re in the market for a coupe with mega-power, chances are fuel economy ratings are not at the top of your priorities. In this segment, power is where it’s at and the 6.2L V8 develops 451 horsepower. Spec the optional Performance Package PLUS and the V8 gets the forged pistons, connecting rods and crankshaft borrowed from the SLS AMG that enable it to crank out 481 hp, with AMG also throwing in a limited-slip differential, red brake calipers and a carbon-fibre trunklid spoiler. The Coupe’s maximum speed is also raised to 280 kilometres an hour.

On the Circuito Monteblanco, near Seville, the Performance Package-equipped C63 AMG Coupe was a more-than-willing performer. With a rigid chassis and a balance that feels right, it was possible to dive into corners, thanks to a wide front track and a very precise steering system that, unfortunately, could provide more feedback. The seats were firm, very supportive and featured large bolsters, so speeding around corners was not a problem as you are essentially bolted into a car that was always stable and very quick to respond to driver inputs.

Coming out of corners, the V8 hit full song with effortless ease on its way to a 7,200-rpm redline, and the Speedshift MCT seven-speed automatic transmission, which uses a wet startup clutch instead of a torque converter, responded immediately to the inputs from the steering wheel-mounted shift paddles. It also blipped the throttle to match engine revs to the road speed of the car on downshifts. With the electronic stability control set to the Sport-plus mode, it was possible to hang the tail out when accelerating hard on corner exits, knowing that the system would intervene to prevent a mishap.

On public roads, the transmission will, by default, upshift as early as possible in order to optimize fuel consumption, but the driver can select alternative settings by way of the AMG drive unit controller to tailor the car’s behaviour to suit. As expected, the ride was very firm and got punishing on some sections of less-than-smooth tarmac.

The C63 AMG Coupe gets a colour gauge cluster and a newly designed steering wheel with flat top and bottom sections. Unfortunately, the dashboard and centre console are nearly identical to those found in run-of-the-mill C-Class sedans, which takes a little away from the upscale experience of the car.

The C63 AMG Coupe will arrive in showrooms in September as a 2012 model, along with the new four-cylinder turbocharged C250 and V6-powered C350 Coupes, which will both sport AMG styling cues as standard equipment and compete with coupes such as the BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G37 and Audi A5. Pricing will be announced shortly before launch. Mercedes Canada will also offer 40 Edition 1 C63 AMG Coupes outfitted with all optional packages and sporting Magno Night Black paint as well as 50 Edition 1 C350 Coupes equipped with the Premium package and upgraded interior trim.