Mercedes unveils all-new C63 02 | 03 | 2011
SCOTS MERCEDES dealerships will be rubbing their hands in anticipation with news that the facelifted version of the four-year-old C63 AMG will go on sale in July.
Available in either saloon or estate form, the facelifted C63 AMG retains the older naturally-aspirated 6.2-litre V8, still good for 457bhp; opt for the AMG Performance Package and output leaps to 487bhp.
The new model though ditches the beefed up version of Mercedes-Benz’s 7-GTronic seven speed automatic gearbox which the outgoing C63 used to channel the power to the rear wheels. Instead the newcomer gets AMG’s own in-house developed MCT (multi-clutch transmission).
This system does away with the torque converter for a series of wet clutches to provide the driver with four distinct modes C (comfort), S (sport), S+ (sport plus) and m (manual). Just for good measure, the system also includes a launch control system called Race Start.
Times? AMG quotes a 0-62mph time of 4.4sec for the saloon (4.5s for the estate), an improvement of 0.1s for each bodystyle over the previous model. Not surprisingly, top speed is electronically restricted to 155mph.
Fuel consumption? Sure, it's not the most frugal car on the roads, but you wouldn't expect that, would you. But what you do get is 23.5mpg for the saloon (23.0mpg for the estate), that's an improvement from the previous 21.1mpg and 20.6mpg.
As you would expect, there's a host of detailed styling changes, both inside and out. As with other C-class models, exterior tweaks are mild and extend to new headlamps with altered internal graphics, new multi-spoke alloys shod with 235/40 (front) and 255/35 (rear) tyres, restyled grille, a rear bumper that incorporates a black diffuser element and an edgier looking front bumper.
The new car also gets a new aluminium bonnet resplendent with more prominent power domes than those on the car it replaces.
Inside the new C63 AMG's cabin, there’s a newly designed dashboard together with the same three spoke steering wheel as housed in the new CLS63 AMG.
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Jim McGill