Track drive: C63 Coupe is a Badass-Benz

Published Jul 28, 2016

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By: Jesse Adams

Zwartkops - Mercedes-AMG’s twin-turbo V8-powered C63 Coupé has arrived in South Africa to give the BMW M4 something to think about.

On paper the newcomer has the segment waxed, and then some. Just like the previously introduced C63 sedan, its 4-litre engine comes in two outputs – the normal 63 gets 350kW and 650Nm, and the 63S comes with 375kW and 700Nm – both enough to put the rest of the super-sports coupé segment to shame in the pure grunt department.

The ever so slightly lighter Coupé outsprints the four-door sedan (by a tenth of a second in each case) with claimed 0-100km/h sprint times of 3.9 and 4 seconds for the S and non-S respectively, while governed top speeds of either 250km/h or 290 (with optional AMG Driver’s Package) are identical. It’s also a tenth quicker, on paper, than the M4 and M4 competition pack, although we’ll find out for sure when we road test the new 63 in coming weeks.

Aesthetic thuggery

Park the new AMG side-by-side with a garden variety C-Class Coupé and it’s plain to see how stylists have gone to town making this a much angrier machine. Most of the aesthetic thuggery is functional too – its wide-mouthed front bumper is designed for air flow through multiple radiators and intercoolers; a chin spoiler actually reduces front axle lift at high speed, and its wheelarches are flared by 64mm at the front and 66 at the back in order to contain meatier 19-inch wheel/tyre combos and widened suspension systems.

Completely redesigned suspension

It’s worth mentioning the suspension work, because for the latest C63 Coupé engineers wanted to genuinely challenge competitors in handling, and not just blow them away down unrestricted stretches of straight autobahn.

At the front is a revised four-link setup with beefier steering knuckles and brake calliper mounts, and at the back is a completely redesigned multi-link layout without a single shared part from a regular C-Class. Included as standard are three-way adjustable shocks, and limited-slip differentials of both mechanical (63) and electronic (63S) types.

Let’s hit the track

At the car’s media launch earlier this week I got the chance to sample both versions of the C63 Coupé, although my time with them was limited to hot laps around the Zwartkops racetrack so I can’t yet comment on how the badass Benz feels on the road. On the circuit the new AMG is mighty fine performer with loads of grip in corners and impressive brakes, which incidentally, were standard 360mm steel and not optional 402mm carbon ceramic types (these are available on the 63S only).

I do get the feeling though, that the C63 Coupé is still more about straight-line speed than its crisp-handling rival from Munich. The AMG gives a slightly top-heavy impression in corners, and its steering feel is a little vague when compared to BMW M cars. But, it is easy to forgive some of its shortcomings with so much firepower underfoot.

Beware - it’s tail-happy!

Don’t get me wrong, the Coupé’s trick suspension is effective in keeping contact patches glued to the road, but when both turbos are at full boost the 285mm rear tyres will fight for freedom in any of the multi-clutch autobox’s seven gears. Coming out of Zwartkops’ tight turn two hairpin is a long straight with a slight right hander, and here the 63’s brutal power delivery most certainly tests driver bravery. With traction-control systems switched off (not advisable) it’s impossible to apply full throttle in even the most modest of bends – that is unless you’re comfortable with high speed drifts, in this case at almost 200km/h.

Officially, this is the fastest C-Class ever made by the speed scientists in Affalterbach. Unofficially, it’s also the tail-happiest. Beware the ESP button. Trust me.

PRICES:

C63 Coupé - 350kW/650Nm – R1 278 846

C63 S Coupé - 375kW/700Nm – R1 392 146

ALTERNATIVES

Audi RS5 Coupe quattro - 331kW/430Nm - R1 141 000

BMW M4 Coupe Competition - 331kW/550Nm - R1 288 876

Porsche 911 Carrera S Coupe - 309kW/500Nm - R1 509 000

Nissan GT-R Premium Edition - 397kW/628Nm - R1 620 000 

Star Motoring

Motoring.co.za

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