The new Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance taps into the company’s F1 know-how, and a limited-run special edition model really drives home the point.
Arriving alongside the regular C63 high-performance PHEV in the third quarter of 2023, the newly announced F1 Edition adds stylistic and aerodynamic upgrades.
But if you’re keen you’d better be ready to hustle: just 63 units, appropriately enough, will roll into local showrooms.
The Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance F1 Edition sedan (there’s a wagon but not for Australia) uses exclusive Manufaktur Alpine Grey paint finish combined with foiling on the flanks consisting of the AMG logo and a colour gradient from grey to black.
Red trim lines on the sides, and front and rear aprons, add further colour accents, while the 20-inch forged wheels in a five-twin-spoke design are painted matt black. The red rim flanges follow the colour scheme of the wheels of the FIA F1 medical car, a Mercedes-AMG.
Two AMG Night Packages bring glossy black trim for the enlarged front splitter, trim elements in the front wings, side-mirror housings, beltline trim strip, and window surrounds. The radiator grille louvres, trim strip in the rear apron, and tailpipe are black chrome.
A fuel filler cap in silver chrome with AMG lettering rounds out the design tweaks.
Also fitted is the AMG Aerodynamics Package, developed in the wind tunnel, which is billed as improving handling characteristics at high speeds.
The interior is characterised by the use of contrasting black and red. The seats use black Nappa leather with red decorative topstitching and embossed AMG emblems in the front head restraints, while there are also red belts and AMG carbon trim elements.
The steering wheel is trimmed with Nappa leather and Dinamica microfibre, and the door sill trims have red illuminated AMG lettering.
Each buyers will get a customised AMG indoor car cover with F1 logo, breathable outer panelling made of tear-resistant synthetic fibre fabric, and antistatic inner fabric made of flannel.
Background
The iconic Mercedes-AMG C63 muscle car is about to get a seismic makeover, with the new model ditching the famous V8 for a high-power plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain.
The new model, called Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance, will roll into Australian showrooms around the middle of 2023 in sedan form – at which point it’ll be sure to polarise.
Regular C63
It will be the most powerful C63 made, and be quicker than the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8-powered car it replaces and the 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8-powered C63 before that.
As ever, the latest C63 will go up against the BMW M3, Audi RS4, and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. But when it comes to powertrain technology, it’s quite a different beast.
For the full picture you should read our deep-dive by Angus MacKenzie here, but here are the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance cliff notes:
- System outputs of up to 500kW and 1020Nm
- 2.0-litre ‘M139’ four-cylinder engine
- 350kW and 545Nm, mounted longitudinally
- Electric turbocharger
- Nine-speed multi-clutch transmission
- Rear axle e-motor with 150kW
- Two-speed transmission and LSD unit
- 400V electrical architecture
- 6.1kWh battery, weighing 89km, 13km EV range
- Minimum 0-100km/h time of 3.4 seconds
- Top speed of 280km/h
- Fuel consumption of 6.9L/100km
- Kerb weight of 2111kg
- AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive
- Fully variable torque distribution
- Drift Mode
MORE: Mercedes-AMG C63 S: PHEV power will bring price rise
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MORE: 2023 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance review, prototype ride-along
