2019 Mercedes-AMG C63, C63 S Bow Means C-Class Gang's All Here in NYC
Competes with: BMW M3 and M4, Audi RS 5, Cadillac ATS-V
Looks like: A C-Class vehicle rebelling against its elegant roots
Powertrain: Bi-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 making 469-horsepower and 479 pounds-feet of torque (C63) or 503 hp and 516 pounds-feet of torque (C63 S); nine-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive
Hits dealerships: Early 2019
Mercedes-Benz has spent much of 2018 introducing us to various members of the C-Class family, which is of utmost importance to the German automaker as it is Mercedes’ best-selling series of vehicles. The final C-Class variants to appear are the most exciting — the Mercedes-AMG C63 and AMG C63 S. Eventually, the C63 and C63 S will be offered in sedan, coupe and cabriolet body styles, however only the coupe and cabriolet will be making an appearance at the 2018 New York International Auto Show.
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Shop the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class near you
That means Mercedes will be showing for the first time the C300, AMG C43, AMG C63 and AMG C63 S variants of the coupe and cabriolet in New York. It’s going to be a crowded stage.
Exterior
Mercedes-AMG C63 models can be distinguished from the C43 by their more aggressive exterior. That means squared-off quad tailpipes, larger side skirts and a different grille with vertical slats instead of the horizontal bar found on the C43. S versions add a larger rear diffuser.
Mercedes also offers an AMG Aerodynamics Package for coupe models, which makes each of the lower trim pieces more prominent, finishes the rear diffuser in high-gloss black and adds flics to the rear bumper.
Interior
The Mercedes-AMG C63 will offer a wide range of interior colors and materials, along with a few unique features, including a new AMG steering wheel (optional on the C63, standard on the C63 S) finished in Nappa leather. The wheel comes with two touch control buttons, the one on the left for controlling the instrument cluster and the one on the right the multimedia system. Both buttons accept horizontal and vertical swiping motions. An AMG Drive Unit is optional; it adds a round controller with an LCD display below the right spoke of the steering wheel and two programmable buttons below the left spoke; the buttons can be programmed to modify AMG specific performance functions, so drivers can seamlessly switch between setting and modes without taking their hands off the wheel.
Performance seats are optional, as well, with added bolstering. Cabriolet models have standard Airscarf seat heating to keep front passengers’ necks warm with the roof lowered. The 12.3-inch instrument cluster display also features several different AMG performance screens to show various performance metrics to the driver.
Under the Hood
The Mercedes-AMG C63 and C63 S both feature a hand-built bi-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 and a nine-speed automatic transmission. The engine makes 469 horsepower and 479 pounds-feet of torque in the C63, and 503 hp and 516 pounds-feet of torque in the C63 S. The C63 variants are also differentiated from the C43 by their drivetrain setup; the C43 is rear-biased all-wheel drive, while the C63s are old-school rear-wheel drive with an electronic limited-slip differential.
Standard is an adaptive, electronically controlled damping system that can be tailored to provide comfort on longer drives or a more aggressive ride on the track or more interesting roads. An AMG sports exhaust system is standard.
Mercedes-AMG C63 S models also feature dynamic engine mounts; they are softer when cruising to reduce vibration and noise in the cabin, but stiffen up when driving dynamically to better control the weight moving around in the engine compartment.
Mercedes says all three body styles of the C63 will go on sale in early 2019; pricing information was not immediately available.
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