Stuttgart, Germany - The all-new Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, revealed to the world on Wednesday 24 September and expected in South Africa in the first quarter of 2015, will be available in four variants.
It will be offered in sedan or estate format, each sharing its all-new M177 four-litre biturbo V8 with the recently announced AMG GT two-seater, with the two turbochargers neatly packaged in the 'V' of the cylinder banks and cooled via a special duct in the bonnet.
In the C63, however, you'll have a choice of standard trim (350kW from 5500-6250rpm and 650Nm from 1750-4500rpm) or C63 S tuning, quoted at 375kW and 700Nm at the same revs.
That makes it the fastest C-Class AMG yet - the C63 S sedan will hit 100km/h in four seconds flat; the estate takes a tenth or two longer depending on which engine spec you chose.
In either case it drives via a heavily revised version of the seven-speed AMG Speedshift MCT-7 transmission, tweaked for significantly quicker shift times, and a mechanical limited-slip differential on standard models while S variants get a electronic locking unit.
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
The C63 is based on the mixed aluminium and steel architecture of the new W205 C-Class, with special three-way adjustable dampers and a bespoke steering setup to make it as agile as the model it replaces (which was AMG's biggest seller to date) while retaining sufficient suppleness for everyday driveability.
And that took some out-of-the-box thinking: the special AMG four-link front suspension uses independent steering knuckles and a wider track to improve stability, while at the rear the multilink system has independent mounts and more negative camber than the vanilla-flavour C-Class.
Electronically-controlled three-stage dampers are linked to a Ride Control system with Comfort, Sport and Track settings.
Even the dynamic engine mounts soften during normal driving, to reduce felt vibration from the engine and gearbox - but dial in Sport or Track mode and they stiffen up to tighten the response of the speed-sensitive electromechanical power steering and limit unwanted movement in the drivetrain.
A new braking system uses 390mm discs at the front and 360mm at the rear with the extra-cost option of carbon-ceramic discs available for track-orientated driving.
The standard C 63 runs on 18" alloys with 245/40 front and 265/40 rear rubber, while the S comes with 19-inchers wearing 245/35 front and 265/35 rear takkies.
SHE'S GOT THE LOOK
A new front bumper with deep airdams to feed the intercoolers underlines a special AMG grille and a new bonnet with subtle power bulges; special wider front wings (necessary to clear the wider front track) feature 'V8 biturbo' badges above understated side skirts.
The rear bumper is also new, housing four tailpipes below a small wing mounted on the bootlid of the sedan and above the tailgate glass on the estate.
Inside, deep contoured seats are set behind a small AMG steering wheel and recalibrated dials. AMG sports seats are available as extra-cost options, as are a range of different leather and trim finishes, from piano black to carbon-fibre and aluminium.
The buttons for the AMG ride control, the optional active exhaust system and the three-stage gearbox modes are grouped around the standard Touchpad controller, above which is an AMG badge and a special IWC clock.