2016 Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG: The New Super Sedan

The turbo V8 powerhouse that is the Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG, born out of precision German engineering, turns up the heat in the sports sedan segment

AMG are notorious for stuffing tame family sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz with monster engines, and that tradition continues with the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG. But this time, they are doing things a little differently - they've adopted forced-induction motors in place of the large-displacement naturally aspirated engines.
This, of course, comes as no surprise, considering this is the age of the 'turbo'. And like the carburettor and pop-up headlamps, the naturally aspirated engines truly are on their way out. It's about time, too, considering the whole concept of turbocharging was patented over 100 years ago in 1905!

DESIGN & AESTHETICS
The current-generation C-Class is a handsome looking compact family sedan. Naysayers always have their opinions, but the general consensus is that the C-Class is a very likeable car, even in the company of established rivals like the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4. Even if you purchase a non-performance version, you can't go wrong.
This, however, is the AMG version - the steroid-injected muscle bound junkie in a suit. And to endow that visual sense of power, AMG has placed two distinctive power domes or pronounced creases on the bonnet. An additional 14mm added to the wings gives it an even flatter stance. Positioned between the very characteristic S-class LED lights is the "twin blade" radiator grille with AMG lettering; again, to remind you that this no ordinary family car. Sharp creases that flow lengthwise at the belt line and the door bottoms create the svelte, yet muscular body.

To suck in large volumes of air - crucial for a force-fed engine - there are two gaping air intakes that send oxygen to the fiery centres of the 8-cylinder motor, which are underlined by a front splitter.
The body is set on black painted large 19" wheels with as many spokes as on a traditional touring bicycle wheel. It's a beautiful, mature design that goes well on this executive sedan, but with the asymmetrically sized tyres, you can't switch between them if the need arises. You will also notice that with the long bonnet and short boot deck, this car leans towards a 4-door coupe design that many manufacturers seem to have a fascination for these days.
The rear cluster of tail lamps is plastered aesthetically around the rear edges of car, merging well with the overall design. Again, these S-class-inspired rear LED lights are as eye-catching as those on the flagship. Of course, AMG being AMG has left their signature on everything, even on the tips of the quad exhaust pipes and on the three-fin diffuser. The C 63 AMG may not draw a crowd, but the styling is something people with finer tastes will appreciate.
Click open the door or use the smart access key fob to enter one of the best interiors you will see in an automobile. It is part racecar, part luxury sedan and is far more impressive than the sterile Beemer and borderline-bland Audi cabins, despite how high quality they may seem. There is a necessary complexity of design in every part and panel in the C 63. For eg, the three-spoke leather wrapped steering has a flat bottom - as you'd expect - with alcantara in places where your fingers grip and the thumbs rest. The cowls on the instruments keep the light away while exposing the speedometer that has been marked to a speedy 320km/h!
The freestanding iPad-like infotainment system is a good departure from the usual. Then, you have exquisitely finished perforated speakers in aluminium, manufactured by master audio manufacturers Burmester, on the door panels. Adding a touch of class is the analogue IWC clock. Add to that some contrast stitching in red on the seat and a dashboard covered in Artico leather, and you begin to see why this cabin is a magical place for those who have never been entertained in a Merc before.
The Recaro sports seats - with slots for the 4-point harness - are brilliant sculp-tures of leather and microfibre with a hard bound casing borrowed directly from a racecar. The support it provides is exemplary, especially when you are swinging around a corner or going side-ways where it is deemed legal.
Unfortunately, it lacks shoulder
room and broader frames can tell the difference right off the line. Perhaps you could opt for the regular sports seats. The front seats are accommodating even for tall frames, but for those above 5'10" will have to manage with the limited headroom in the rear; and thigh support isn't the best either.
There are plenty of buttons, knobs and electronic gimmickry to play with, like the COMMAND system's rotary control, a touch-panel that understands gestures, buttons for exhaust note amplification and much more.
POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE
A note on nomenclature: sure this is a C 63, but this doesn't have a 6.3L V8 as the name suggests. Even the last two predecessors didn't - one was 6.2L and the other a 5.5L bi-turbo. The good news is that this one borrows the same 4L V8 from their latest super car offering - the AMG GT. Tagging along is a redesigned and quicker AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sport transmission.
The C 63 in 'S' trim makes a supercar-equalling 503bhp, which peaks not just at a point in the tachometer, but is unselfishly spread from 5,500-6,250 rpm. Also aiding power delivery is a torque figure that outnumbers the Lamborghini Aventador hypercar by 10Nm, totalling 700Nm. Again, this is available not only over a point, but from as low down as 1,750rpm all the way to 4,500rpm, which is enough twisting power to set a planet into rotation!
What is the result of such biblical numbers? Blistering performance! With its complex launch programme, which takes about 5-10 seconds to engage, the car thrusts forward with the tenacity of something shot out of a cannon - clocking 0-100km/h in 4 seconds. Surprisingly, even the non-S model, which is 35bhp less, is only slower by 0.1 second. So even with a rear-wheel drive train that doesn't match the traction of a 4WD car, the C 63 is a winner on drag strips.
But where AMG engines shines most is its mid-range grunt. Spare your criticism for turbo lag - in the C 63, it is virtually non-existent. Floor the pedal and it will blast past any stretch of tarmac. Quarter miles are clocked in the early 12-second range, while top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h. The 500 horses here are obedient, unlike the supercars of old, and the bevy of electronic chaperones like limited slip differentials, traction control, etc, keep power in check and you safely between the lanes. The electromechanical speed-sensitive sport steering wheel has a good connected feel to the road with about 80 per cent accuracy and feedback.
Blown engines usually sound like hairdryers on hyper drive, but thanks to the V8 and some strategically placed flaps in the exhaust manifold, the AMG sounds as mechanically musical as can be. It starts with a burble on idle and climbs to an emphatic throaty growl as the revs climb, with a crackling effect on the overrun and between shifts. That said, this is not the most comfort-oriented car to ride. You will hear complaints from passengers and your own spine after a couple of hours of driving - the vibrations from the cracks in the road make their way through the tyres and into the seats.
The C 63 is equipped with the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT that alters the ego of the car, varying engine sound, dynamic mounts, gearing and ignition mapping with the press of a button. Everything except for the ride shows a big difference.
If you go by manufacturer claims, this thing drinks as little as 8.2L/100km, but in reality, when your lead foot and driving antics come into play, the fuel gauge goes South as soon as the speedo goes North. But if you drive like your granny, you emit only 195-192g/100km of C02. Helping achieve this efficiency is a coasting function that allows the engine to be de-coupled from the drivetrain as soon as your foot is off the throttle.
FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY
The 480L trunk is plenty spacious for a compact car and a regular family, but the BMW 3-Series has a slightly larger opening, making it easier to place things. Also, the space-saving spare tyre eats up a few litres of space.
Along with the S-Class mimicking interiors, you get a Burmester 13-speaker 9-channel DSP amplifier with a total output of 590W. The perforated metallic speakers have the look of pure luxury and produce a wonderfully amplified noise. The Thermatic dual zone climate control works well to keep the cabin cool even in the worst of summers. It is also accompanied by a segment-first air ioniser that perfumes the car.
The Garmin navigation unit is good - legible and easy to navigate between menus, etc. The newly introduced touchpad above the rotary knob also permits letters, numbers and special characters to be entered in handwriting. There's also plenty on offer in terms of safety, including seven airbags, blind spot monitoring, a parking package with active parking assist, birds eye view, collision prevention assist, and, for the first time, a heads-up display. It also comes with a drowsiness warning system, attention assist and collision prevention assist plus, which helps to avoid rear-end collisions.
VERDICT
We are of the opinion that sports sedans should be of the civilised kind for everyday use and drivability, with heaps of horsepower and an inspiring exhaust soundtrack you can turn on at will - and that is exactly what the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG is. Except that when provoked, it goes from being a slightly edgy performance sedan to being a full-blown super car! It's the new super sedan.

• On The Road