For the reason that formal merging of Mercedes and AMG in 2005 to kind Mercedes-AMG GmbH the German efficiency subbrand has been on an fascinating trajectory, particularly with the comparatively current introduction of diet-AMG fashions just like the 43 and 53 automobiles. The place recognizing an AMG badge on the again of a Mercedes-Benz used to imply one thing severely particular, the model has develop into considerably diluted with the democratization of the AMG badge. However don’t get it twisted. The brand new 2024 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Efficiency is a full-fat AMG automobile with a handbuilt engine and eye-watering efficiency capabilities.
Gone is the previous C63’s V8, as the brand new technology makes use of essentially the most highly effective manufacturing four-cylinder on this planet paired with a plug-in hybrid element to provide a complete of 671 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque. The two.0-liter inline-4 makes use of System 1 expertise to sandwich a tiny electrical motor inside a gargantuan single turbocharger to get rid of the pure turbo lag that comes with slapping a mammoth turbo on a bit engine. By itself, the hand-built four-cylinder produces 469 hp, the identical quantity of energy because the previous C63 in base spec.AMG pairs this overachieving engine with a two-speed electrical motor on the rear axle and a 6.1-kWh battery pack that provides as much as 203 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque.
Full disclosure: Mercedes-AMG loaned me a beautiful CLE450 Cabriolet to drive out to Malibu so I may pattern it and the brand new C63 S E Efficiency. They put me up at a legendary Malibu resort and handled me like somebody vital for a day and it was a lot appreciated. CLE450 Cabriolet overview coming subsequent week!
Sure, the wonderful days of hulking V8s wedged below the hoods of compact C63s are behind us, and sure it’s a tragedy. Boo hoo, transferring on. The 2024 C63’s maniacal powertrain produces 168 extra horses and a half-second faster 0-to-60-mph time than the earlier C63 S regardless of the automobile gaining some weight. The brand new automobile’s 0-60 estimate is a dizzying 3.3 seconds, and I imply dizzying as a result of sitting within the passenger seat throughout a launch will make you are feeling dizzy. This automobile is depraved quick in the best drive mode, however that drive mode level is the kicker.
There are a complete of eight drive modes for the C63, with every mode allowing completely different ranges of energy manufacturing from the electrical motor, until the kickdown button is engaged by totally stomping the accelerator pedal down with drive. Tailoring the Particular person mode to your liking is extra vital than ever on this automobile, and over the course of a day, I didn’t really feel assured that I had discovered my Goldilocks configuration. Shuffling by all of the modes and settings utilizing the configurable dials on the steering wheel feels clunky, too, and I didn’t have sufficient time to really familiarize myself with the way it all labored. You’ll want no less than a full weekend to get acclimated to all of the settings and dial them in to your liking, however when you do, the C63 S E Efficiency is a blast to hustle down the highway. In the best configuration, this automobile comes alive, scares the crap out of you and your passengers, grips the highway with ferocity, activates a dime, and stops within the blink of an eye fixed.
That is the primary C63 to return customary with all-wheel drive, which allows the C-Class’ first drift mode, although my testing was restricted to public roads the place it’s frowned upon to go drifting so I can’t vouch for its tire-roasting prowess. In my quick time behind the wheel, the 4Matic+ system and digital restricted slip rear differential someway managed all 671 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque with aplomb, stopping the rear finish from ever feeling twitchy or risky. Some might name that unflappable composure boring, and it does really feel a bit scientific, however the C63’s functionality and grip ranges made me snort in disbelief, so all of it is determined by your persuasion.
The brand new powertrain is fairly characterful too, with energy accessible in any respect factors within the rev vary because of its electrical propulsion and electrified turbo. The little turbo 4 sounds surprisingly good at excessive revs in the best drive mode, however can nonetheless sound like a grumbly little demon at low revs. Consolation and Battery Maintain modes restrict the electrical motor to solely 25 % energy, so the automobile doesn’t really feel as brawny because it may, however different modes reveal extra energy and extra thrilling sounds. Sport mode allows entry to 65 % of the electrical motor’s energy whereas Sport+ and Race allow entry to 80 % of the electrical motor’s energy, with one hundred pc of the electrical energy accessible when the Enhance operate is chosen from the steering wheel dial. These might seem to be incremental adjustments, however the completely different outputs are clearly palpable from contained in the automobile. As soon as you are feeling the utmost energy, you’ll have a tough time settling for Consolation.
It’s a plug-in hybrid, although the automobile is barely able to an EPA-rated 8-mile EV-only vary. Mercedes-AMG estimates the gas financial system might be fairly good, although, at 41 mpg within the metropolis and 39 on the freeway, however driving aggressively throughout my time with it resulted in numbers within the high-teens. It may be pushed in EV-only mode and it feels nice for the quick time frame that you’re working below battery energy alone. Brilliantly, like AMG’s V8 PHEVs the system won’t ever enable the battery to empty too low to offer a brief interval of max energy irrespective of the drive mode or circumstances, which exhibits a pleasant devotion to most efficiency. The C63 affords three ranges of braking regeneration, none of that are full one-pedal driving, however they have been an fascinating contact on a hybrid efficiency sedan.
The C63’s adaptive steel-sprung suspension by no means actually supplies a clean journey. It’s taut in Consolation mode, agency in Sport mode, and unreasonably stiff past that. You count on a sports activities sedan to be agency, however in Sport+ on public roads, the automobile feels prefer it’s getting bucked across the highway. The steering doesn’t talk a lot of what’s taking place on the entrance tires and the automobile reveals a really slight tendency to understeer on the restrict, which may be chalked as much as the claimed weight of 4,817 kilos, over 850 kilos heavier than the earlier C63. Regardless of the heft, the brakes didn’t even break a sweat throughout my sizzling afternoon hustling by the sharp curves of the Malibu canyons, which impressed tons of confidence.
The usual rear-wheel steering has a most angle of two.5 levels, making the C63 really feel extra agile and compact, however the automobile has grown a bit in comparison with a normal C-Class. AMG lengthened the C63’s wheelbase by 0.4 inches, its nostril is 2 inches longer, and it’s 3.1 inches wider up entrance. Missing matching bulged fenders, the rear finish is narrower than the entrance and appears extra pedestrian than the rippling nostril, giving a little bit of a “man who skips leg day” vibe. The brand new C63 was the primary automobile to have the AMG emblem on the hood as a substitute of the basic Mercedes laurel wreath, although it retains the first big three-pointed star within the grille. The C63 additionally will get quad exhaust ideas, bigger intakes, distinctive wheel designs and different styling tweaks.
After I did my greatest impression of a sane individual and drove the C63 S E Efficiency on regular roads at a traditional tempo, it was fantastic. Consolation mode shields you from the total onslaught of immediate electrical energy, and the automobile feels considerably extra mundane than you’d count on given its heroic capabilities. It comes with all the identical options and inside styling as the remainder of the C-Class lineup, together with the massive MBUX touchscreen interface. The non-compulsory AMG Efficiency bucket seats look nice and are wonderful at conserving your keister glued the place it belongs, however sacrifice long-term consolation regardless of that includes adjustable lumbar assist and heating.
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Efficiency is an advanced car with an advanced title. In the best drive mode in the best circumstances, it’s an absolute beast in the easiest way. It can be a comparatively environment friendly PHEV, (briefly) an electrical car, a gutsy compact luxurious sedan with a bumpy journey, or an aggressive and prohibitively stiff efficiency machine.
It’s a mesmerizing feat of engineering, so if that’s your schtick it must be proper up your alley. Perhaps I’ve an outdated perspective, however I discovered it to be a bit overcomplicated — I need to hop in and simply have enjoyable, not spend 4 hours sifting by menus and toggling by completely different changes to make the automobile gratifying.
