Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 Coupe Edition 1, 476 CV of extraordinary irrationality

In a vehicle market where emissions and fuel consumption matter most, where new electric and hybrid models are emerging that aim for an increasingly rational car, fortunately there are still completely irrational cars that manage to stir up emotions. This time we are not testing a frugal car, nor an eco one, nor even a quiet one, but it would be sacrilege to demand such qualities from any AMG.

The Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 Coupe turns these qualities into something extraordinary: it makes you feel, it makes you enjoy, and it turns every journey into a full experience, even a trip to buy the newspaper. In fact, you will want to drive to buy the newspaper even when the shop is only a few metres away. Its styling, in this Edition 1 version, leaves no one indifferent; “eye-catching” hardly does justice to its exterior appearance, which is the centre of attention from the moment it leaves the garage until the moment it returns.

Exterior design: this is no ordinary AMG

If you like to go unnoticed, skip this test, because this Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 Coupe is not your car, and even less so in this Edition 1 version. It takes as its reference the model that competes in the German Touring Car Championship and gives the exterior styling of this AMG a more sporting touch.

Its aggressive front end stands out thanks to the matt graphite grey stripes (it is not black, although it may look like it) running across the bonnet, sides, roof and boot, which define this special Edition 1 version. The front bumper incorporates several black elements for contrast, highlighting its large dimensions and how low it sits (you must take great care with kerbs, pavements, steep slopes…), all in pursuit of the greatest possible aerodynamics with sportiness as the banner. In the grille, where the star takes centre stage, the AMG badge is hidden, warning us that under the bonnet there is no conventional powerplant. Finally, there are the headlights with Full-LED technology for all lighting functions, which are adaptive and greet us with a blue LED line when we open the car.

From the side, the stars are the 20-inch AMG forged alloy wheels, with a crossed-spoke design in black and tyre sizes of 255/35 at the front and 285/30 at the rear. They have a completely sporting character and will make us suffer when driving on our battered motorways. The black door mirrors are part of the AMG Night Package (together with the darkened rear windows), and once again the grey matt stripes of the Edition 1 can be seen on the sills. For those who are sceptical about this AMG’s potential, the V8 Biturbo badge on the wings dispels all doubts.

At the rear, the eyes of any motoring enthusiast inevitably drift to the lower section, where four chrome exhaust outlets are on display. The enormous black spoiler and its sporty bumpers put the finishing touch on the design of this Clase C Coupe AMG. Hidden behind the star is the rear-view camera, which has a decent resolution.

Interior design, where sportiness and quality meet

Details such as the huge carbon-fibre centre console and the yellow stitching set this special edition apartThe overall interior design of this Mercedes-Benz AMG is no different from any other C-Class, although there are some nuances that set it apart from the rest of its siblings in the range. The enormous centre console (which is usually covered in a rather unfortunate gloss black) is now carbon fibre, while the upper part of the dashboard is trimmed in leather with yellow stitching typical of this special edition.

The yellow stitching can also be seen in various parts of the leather finish and especially on the sports seats (bucket-type), which adapt to the body perfectly, keeping us well held in all kinds of situations thanks to their design and the multiple electric adjustments that allow us to increase lateral support or precisely adjust the steering wheel position. The driving position is low, snug, and with a sporty perforated-leather steering wheel that conceals two metal paddle shifters on its rear. The AMG logo on the centre console and in the instrument cluster (also with yellow accents) reminds us of the horses that accompany us.

The rear seats, for two people only as is typical of a coupé, are less comfortable than the front ones. Access is difficult, the exterior design takes away headroom, and the small rear windows do not provide much light inside. Even so, there is enough legroom, at least for someone up to 1.75 metres tall to be comfortable. It has rear air vents and several storage spaces for our belongings, with the rear side door pockets being especially large.

The blue glow that greets us from outside when we open the car at night continues inside in the form of ambient lighting. As a curiosity, however, the rear reading lights can only be switched on from the front. The boot has a capacity of 355 litres, although the loading aperture is small and the floor is not completely flat. Compared with a BMW M4 (455 litres) or a Audi RS5 (465 litres), though, it is somewhat tight.

Engine and performance: 476 CV V8 Biturbo

I remember perfectly the first time I started this C 63 AMG, in the brand’s own garage. I pressed the start button and the engine suddenly revved up, producing a spectacular sound. I even thought the garage’s acoustics were enhancing that battle cry, but over the following days I realised it makes no difference whether you start it in a closed garage or out in the open street: the sound that greets you is always a true spectacle.

In the first few kilometres the smoothness of its powerplant is surprising, a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 476 CV, which, when it needs to be courteous, does not disappoint and behaves in a noble, smooth way, regardless of the fact that all its power is sent to the rear wheels. However, if we press the accelerator pedal down slightly (and I stress slightly), the 476 CV begin to wake up and the 650 Nm of torque, available from just 1,750 rpm, pins us back in our seats.

It offers several driving modes – Individual, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ and several ESP settings – connected, Sport (handling mode) and switched off – all so that nothing holds us back when extracting the maximum from the car. As a curiosity, it is also equipped with Start&Stop. The engine sound varies depending on the driving mode: it is especially deep in Comfort mode, while in Sport/Sport+ mode, or when the needle passes 4,000 rpm, it simply turns heads.

The gearbox is not conventional either: it is a 7-speed SPEEDSHIFT MCT AMG dual-clutch transmission, with outstanding speed of operation.

Handling

Our first stretch was on the motorway, along the route between Madrid and Vigo, and that is where the German character of this AMG comes out, since the condition of Spanish motorway surfaces does not suit it (at least several sections of the A-52). The car’s stiffness means you feel absolutely everything, and in some areas you have to brake sharply to reduce speed because the vibration runs through the entire cabin. This is obviously not the car’s fault, because when the road surface is as it should be, it is very comfortable, even pleasant, with a smooth cruising character typical of its V8 engine, accompanied by its gentle growl, with the engine turning at 2,000 rpm at 120 km/h.

It does not only excel on the autobahn . As soon as we are on country roads, the more bends there are, the better. Its engine, the growl, the car’s response, all together make us feel every corner, and despite being rear-wheel drive, it has surprised us with a faithful and noble response to steering inputs. What is more, even when we try to test it and put this rear-driven car under pressure, it always finds a way to keep its composure, remaining predictable in its reactions and very well mannered, something the precision of the steering helps with.

When the needle of the rev counter climbs above 4,000 rpm, the sound is like heavenly music to engine lovers, and the force pinning us to the seat increases progressively until we pass 6,000 rpm, where the seat and the driver become one, if you will allow me that expression, because the acceleration of this Mercedes-Benz AMG is genuinely astonishing.

As the icing on the cake, it has launch control, a system that lets us leave from a standstill at maximum power and thrust in order to achieve those 4 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h. To activate it you have to perform a sequence of inputs (like a video game cheat code), and you must make sure you have a safe, straight place to use it, because the response is aggressive, to the point that the tyres leave marks on the tarmac.

If our driving is more relaxed, the responsiveness at low revs stands out, as well as a distinctive throaty sound when driving in Comfort mode. It is a car suitable for everyday use despite its sportiness and the large number of horses hidden under the bonnet.

Fuel consumption

Analysing fuel consumption in an AMG is somewhat pointless in itself, but for the sake of rigour, we must talk about the consumption of this Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 in different scenarios. It is not a frugal car, although on country roads and motorways it struck us as restrained. On the Madrid > Vigo > Madrid route, average consumption was 10.5 litres per 100 km (always driving at the legal speed limit).

On country roads, driving calmly, average consumption hovers around 11 litres per 100 km, a figure that rises to 14 litres per 100 km if traffic gets heavier or our driving becomes somewhat more dynamic, reaching 18 litres per 100 km in fully dynamic or sporty driving. In town, during the test, consumption was around 15 litres per 100 km.

Equipment

When reviewing the equipment, we always start with the standard safety features and the EuroNCAP tests. As standard, this C 63 AMG includes front, side and curtain airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, stability control, drowsiness alert, collision warning with emergency braking, among other features. As for the EuroNCAP tests, this generation of the Mercedes C-Class Coupé has not been assessed by EuroNCAP, but the saloon version was, achieving five stars with 92% adult occupant protection.

On top of the standard safety systems, there are optional ones, such as blind-spot warning, an unintentional lane-change assistant (which even steers to help keep us in our lane) and even the Mercedes Pre-Safe system, which goes a step further in automatic braking in the event of a collision, preparing the car’s various safety systems for impact when it is imminent in order to minimise injury to occupants (it closes the sunroof, tightens the seatbelts, acts on the brakes…).

It is also worth highlighting the full-LED lights (standard), with a mechanically adjustable beam and automatic high-beam control, providing outstanding illumination on bends and always seeking the most powerful beam without dazzling other road users. A 360-degree camera system is also available as an option, with outstanding resolution that helps with parking manoeuvres.

The sound system is by Burmester, the same one fitted to the Mercedes S-Class, with a total of 13 speakers, a 9-channel amplifier and a final output of 590 W. It has no subwoofer, but the clarity and quality of the sound are outstanding. The navigation system, however, is starting to show its age, as it has been on the market for years and is somewhat behind its premium rivals.

Personal opinion and price of the Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 Coupe Edition 1

You can enjoy this coupé for shopping trips around a big city, or press the accelerator down and enjoy a winding road with a grin like a child. I should say, before giving my opinion on this AMG, that I have always preferred 4x4s to sports cars, but without a doubt this AMG is not just another car, not just another sports car. We can enjoy the smoothness and presence of this coupé on shopping trips around a big city, or push the accelerator down and enjoy a winding road with a grin like a child. Sportiness is not incompatible with everyday use. In fact, the smooth engine note in “Comfort” mode will tell anyone we pass that they are looking at an AMG, without the need for sporty driving. Even on long journeys it is a comfortable car, with consumption that is more than reasonable on motorways.

In short, this Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 Coupe is one of those sports cars that stir the emotions, extraordinarily irrational, but hard to get out of. Finally, there is the price, which starts at 99,000 euros for this Edition 1 version.

Photos | Highmotor team