Mercedes-AMG knew its audience would be angry at the demise of the excellent bi-turbo V8 and gave the four-cylinder PHEV C63 S earth-shattering amounts of power.
Let’s get the full name of this new beast right first — Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance. Phew, now that’s out of the way, let’s get down to business.
The most important change is the new 2.0-liter inline-4 hybrid plug-in engine in place of its original V8. I know, it also irks me, but AMG thinks it can console us with more power.
How much more? The 2023 C63 S produces 671 hp and a massive 752 lb-ft (1,020 Nm) of torque. As a result, AMG’s weapon dwarfs its competition — the 2023 BMW M3 Competition only makes 503 hp in base form, while the 2023 Audi RS4 Avant produces 450 hp. Heck, even the Ferrari 296 GTS makes 659 hp, and that’s a full-blown supercar.
But this is not the first time Mercedes-AMG has made changes to the C63 S; the original featured the mythical 6.2-liter V8 that produced arguably the best noise of any V8 engine, only to be replaced by the smaller yet more powerful 4.0-liter bi-turbo unit. It still produced great noise because, you know, V8, but it will be interesting to see how the new four-cylinder sounds, particularly when paired with electric motors.
To add insult to injury, the 2023 C63 S is now a plug-in hybrid car. Fortunately, the plug-in part is here to assist with performance, as the 6.1-kWh battery can only provide up to 8 miles of range.
The powertrain is a technological tour-de-force, and it should be, considering it misses four cylinders. AMG used its F1-derived electric turbocharger here, providing an instantaneous response from low revs, just like in a naturally-aspirated sports car. As a result, the combustion unit produces 469 hp and 335 lb-ft, making it the world’s most powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.
For an added boost, the 2023 C63 S features an electric drive unit on the rear axle. The system includes an electric motor that produces 201 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, an electronic limited-slip differential, and a two-speed gearbox. The whole powertrain pairs with a 9-speed automatic gearbox, which sends the power to all four wheels. It sounds complicated because it is, but let’s hope it feels natural behind the wheel.
The result of all these changes is an impressive 0-60 mph sprint of just 3.3 seconds and a 174 mph (280 km/h) top speed (optional — the standard model goes to 155 mph).
The 2023 C63 S has much more to offer, including eight driving modes. There are also four additional modes for regenerative braking — you can tweak and turn many settings in the AMG to suit your driving style. The super-sedan has many other surprises, from the rear-axle steering to the new Master mode.
But here is the funny part — the 2023 C63 S replaces the thunderous V8 sound with artificial audio effects. Of course, it involves tricky technology — the system has a sensor installed in the exhaust. The sensor reads noise pressure and amplifies the sound through the stereo speakers. Mercedes assures us the sound isn’t altered — alas, it is merely amplified to make the effect more real. Let’s see how that works in practice, as current fake car noises are far from convincing.
With the change in powertrain comes the weight change — the 2024 AMG C63 S weighs a staggering 4,654 pounds (2,110 kg). Weight usually never works in a sports car, but AMG says it significantly improved the chassis to cope with that.
For instance, although directly related to the latest C-Class, the AMG model features a 0.4-inch longer wheelbase, and it’s 3-inch wider. It also features some aero improvements, like active front air outlets and a rear spoiler, which should give it more stability at higher speeds.
Mercedes-AMG still hasn’t announced the prices, but considering the cutting-edge technology, the 2023 C63 S could reach six digits for the first time in its history.
Gallery: 2023 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance
