NEW MERCEDES-AMG C63 S E PERFORMANCE PHEV REVEALED

With every sad goodbye, there’s an exciting hello. Mercedes recently revealed their new C63 S E Performance – available as either a saloon or an estate – which sees the German automaker move away from their established V8 engine.

The C63 leaves behind the V8 engine that we are all so familiar with and is home to a new piece of engineering brilliance: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine coupled with a permanently excited synchronous electric motor. Whilst purists may wince, Mercedes’ new baby does boast impressive numbers; the system is capable of outputting 500kW (680hp), with a maximum system torque of 1020Nm. This ultimately allows the C63 to go from 0 to 100km/hour in just 3.4 seconds. The electric motor – itself 150kW (204hp) – sits at the rear axle, a design choice that means the motor can act specifically on the rear axle and is thus able to convert its power more directly into propulsion. This results in an extra boost for drivers when accelerating or overtaking. Maybe that goodbye we all feared won’t be as hard as we once thought?

Visually, the C63 makes an immediate impression with its strong shape and sleek design intricacies. The saloon and the estate models are based on a modified AMG bodyshell, which ultimately sees the C63’s exterior dimensions deviate from those of the C-Class. The vehicle’s length is increased by 83mm, with the elongated front end specifically checking-in at 50mm longer. At the front, the width is increased by 76mm whilst the wheelbase has grown by 10mm. These collective sizing increases play a key role in establishing the C63’s powerful presence.

Building upon this, the wide front wheel arches and bulging power dome paint a commanding picture that is only further complemented by the radiator grille’s unperturbed prominence. At the rear, you’ll find either a lip or roof spoiler (depending on whether you opt for the saloon or estate model) alongside a rear apron and ribbed dual tailpipe trims to finish off the design.

The interior rocks a set of striking AMG sports seats, built to hug you on those tighter bends. The snug bucket seats also feature a unique stitching pattern, upholding the vehicle’s polished appearance whilst radiating an air of luxurious warmth. Mercedes is keen to cater to all tastes, with various colours on offer and the option for leather upholstery; if one opts in for the latter, their upholstery will benefit from a contrasting colour highlight.

The new C63 also makes use of Mercedes’ MBUX multimedia system. The infotainment screen is the same as that of the C-class, though now offers a selection of AMG-specific displays and functions. Amongst these high-performance-centred tech benefits is the Supersport display ‘style’, which allows your screen to adopt a vertical menu structure. This new configuration will then display a range of content and infographics, from the drive system power flow to the current vehicle suspension and transmission setup.

Mercedes is yet to reveal full pricing information for the C63, though we can expect to begin seeing the vehicle pop up in showrooms from early 2023.

Images: https://mercedes-benz-media.co.uk/en-gb/releases/1492#Images