Mercedes-Benz C63 S AMG Road Test Review

The car you see on these pages might look like any other Mercedes C-Class. But what nestles under the bonnet of this ordinary looking sedan, gives it the potential of gulping supercars for breakfast. This rapid version of the C-Class is powered by a 503bhp 4.0-litre V8 and is christened as the C63 AMG S. This new C63 is replacing an illustrious predecessor that was also a practical sedan that packed the rage of the Indian Bison when provoked. There is one crucial difference though - where the old car had a massive 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8, the new one sheds 2.2-litres in favour of turbo-charging. Mercedes also claims that the new car is 32 percent more efficient than its predecessor despite having much more power and torque to boot.

This car at Rs 1.3 crore is more expensive than even the S-Class. So this car is for people who are young and need something very exciting without compromising on comfort and everyday usability. Read on to know if you have your money's worth with this rocketship from the mad AMG division.

Unlike the old car which looked more aggressive and distinctive as compared to the standard model, the new one is more of a sleeper. You have to look closer to spot the bigger 19inch rims, the V8 Turbo badging on the front fenders, AMG logos and the signature AMG quad-pipes to tell the difference. This is where the C63 lags behind its main rival the BMW M3, which you can tell easily apart from the standard car thanks to its sharper lines and more pronounced exterior. But on the flip-side people might actually prefer C63’s subtle exteriors which are handsome in its own right.

The C63 is based on the same, albeit, modified C-Class chassis. It sits 25mm lower and the front track is 31mm wider than that of a normal C-Class. To help put the massive power down, AMG has employed new wheel bearings which allow for greater negative camber. Firmer springs and larger diameter anti-roll bars are included all round, as are stiffer adjustable dampers. As we get only the S variant it also comes standard with carbon fibre inserts on the front bumper, side sills and the rear diffuser. You also get high performance carbon ceramic brakes as standard which are 30 per cent lighter than the steel discs and provide minimum fade.

Despite weight savings, the C63 AMG S is nearly 200kg heavier than the normal C200 and even the BMW M3 is much lighter.

For all the talents the C63 AMG possesses, the interior design and ambience is one of its highlights. As the C63’s cabin is based on the standard C, you get the same dashboard which is tastefully designed and beautifully executed. The layered dash looks really attractive and the round air-vents are beautifully finished. You sit at a good height and the nicely crafted front seats are snug and well bolstered, and keep you in place even when you drive hard. Obviously, there are some additions to let you know you are not sitting in the standard C-Class. The steering wheel is a flat-bottomed that feels excellent in the hands and the centre console is finished in carbon fibre. Thankfully there is no sign of the Indian friendly beige in here and the overall ambience is dark and sporty. You also get loads of AMG badges on the seats, dashboard, door sills and steering wheel. What adds a bit of colour are the contrasting red seatbelts which look a bit quirky but special nevertheless.

There is loads of space at the rear too but the seat squab is a bit short and headroom is in short supply. But this won’t mark the C63 down as it will predominantly be a self-driven car. Despite having sporting pretentions, the C63 has a very practical cabin with loads of storage spaces for the front as well as rear passengers. The C63’s boot is quite big but the opening is quite narrow and the spare tyre that’s strapped to the boot floor eats up lots of space.

The C63, is loaded with high-tech features. Regular equipment apart you get the 590 watts Burmester surround sound system with 13 speakers, panoramic sunroof, COMAND system with a six DVD changer, parking assist with camera and head-up display.

The C63 AMG comes with loads of safety features such as Attention assist, Brake Assist, brake-pad wear warning, ESP, PRE-SAFE system, tyre pressure monitoring system, numerous airbags and adaptive brake lights.

Under the bonnet, you'll find a handmade 4.0-litre all-aluminium V8 artistry and as with all AMG powertrains, this one too is loaded with exotic technologies. The engine is made up of strong yet lightweight materials, right from the forged aluminium pistons to the high strength zirconium alloy cylinder heads. It has direct injection and it uses high-pressure piezo injectors for precise fuel feed. Like with the 4.4-litre V8 from the BMW M5, the two turbochargers are cramped in the middle of the cylinder banks for better response and to make the powertrain as compact as possible. This is the same engine which does duty on the recently launched AMG GT, but where the sports car uses a dry sump the C63 AMG has a wet sump lubrication system. This motor is coupled to a heavily revised 7-speed dual clutch gearbox and all the 500-plus horses are forced only through the rear wheels.

Looking at all the tech and power on offer we expected the Mercedes C63 S to possess a great deal of performance. We just weren’t quite prepared for the incredible reality of its accelerative potential. 4.0 litres of twin-turbo Affalterbach tech gets you 503bhp and it has the ability to drag this 1.8-tonne car to 100kph in 4.1 seconds and 200kph in 13.59 seconds, which is super quick by even supercar standards. The peak torque of 700Nm kicks in at a low 1750rpm, and when it does, there’s one long, delicious, throaty roar as you reach for the horizon. It’s a ferociously quick sedan and you have to be super alert as less-endowed traffic tries to close in rapidly. Comfort mode works very well in town and the mellowed down engine responses help you make smooth progress. Throttle response sharpens as soon as you put the car in Sport, Sport+ or Race mode and these modes are best used when you have an open piece of tarmac in front of you. Another highlight of this engine is the soundtrack it produces. In comfort or Eco mode it sounds restrained and in faster modes it makes a thunderous sound at part-throttle, and it emits a refined howl as it closes in on its near 7000rpm redline. Although you can hear the engine, it never gets too loud to give old people heart attacks and its vocal range makes driving through tunnels a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

If we had to nit-pick then we feel the 7-speed dual clutch gearbox could have been faster responding. It is obedient enough but it feels marginally slower than the BMW’s dual clutch, especially on downshifts. You can use the gearbox in manual mode too where the gears shift up only when you pull the right paddle.

Although the C63 doesn’t feel as precise or composed as the BMW M3, it does feel more thrilling thanks to its playful chassis and ludicrous power output. Like with the old car, AMG has worked hard to give the C63 a unique personality and due to this very reason it stamps a lasting grin on your face.

The steering feels crisp and gives you loads of confidence when you are pushing on and the smooth way in which the chassis loads up makes you feel at one with the car. We’re also genuinely impressed with the way the car puts its 503bhp power down so neatly with minimum fuss.

If you’re an amateur it is best to drive the C63 in race mode which allows you to oversteer fairly shallowly while also keeping your speed up. Of course, if you are brave you can turn off all the electronic aids. Doing so will allow you to pull off the kind of wild oversteer-induced drifts which hover at the border of being called lunacy. It is surprisingly easy to do, though thanks to the abundance of torque available under your right foot.

The ride quality, especially in comfort mode is quite decent and dynamic mode is best left for silky smooth roads or racetracks. The suspension does a decent job of absorbing road undulation with ease. The chink in the armour though is the suspension that is on the noisier side, especially over sharp bumps or expansion joints. For us the Individual setting felt the best, as we could keep the engine, gearbox and exhaust in angry mode and the suspension in comfort mode for a better ride. The carbon ceramic brakes though are phenomenal – despite hard use they remained fade free and pedal feel is good too.

The C63 is available only in the S version in India and its costs a whopping Rs 1.3 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi). This makes it Rs 13 lakh more expensive than the BMW M3 and it costs slightly more than the Mercedes E63 AMG as well. In terms of fuel efficiency the C63’s fuel gauge drops with the same ferocity as it gathers pace. We managed to get 5kmpl in the city and a more respectable 7.1kmpl on the highway.

Final Rating: 4.11/5

The C63 ticks all the boxes you expect from a sports sedan. It is outrageously fast, is fun around bends, has a high-quality cabin, looks handsome, is practical as an everyday car, fuel efficiency is in single digits and is absurdly expensive. The C63 is without a doubt one of the finest cars to come with an AMG badge.

The thing is, it is not only quick and beautifully made, it gives you an experience which we look for in cars of this kind - right from the addictive engine note to the great chassis balance. There are not-so-good elements like the noisy suspension and the subtle exterior. Priced at Rs 1.3 crore the C63 S is extremely expensive, but if you can afford one, there are very few cars that can match its wide range of abilities.