Usually, when a “hot” Mercedes-Benz model comes out, it’s given the once over by their in-house performance division, Mercedes-AMG.
After Mercedes-AMG spices it up, the vehicle is usually equipped with a stonking great V8 or in recent times turbo-V8s. It seems though that times have changed, and the brand has adapted, especially with its newest creation the Mercedes-AMG C63.
Mercedes-AMG C63 now means 2.0-liter PHEV, not V8
It’s quite surprising that AMG has decided to ditch the V8, mainly because the brand has made some of the best V8 engines ever produced.
Gone is the 4.0-liter V8 and it has been replaced by the smaller 2.0-liter M139 turbocharged four-cylinder. However, before you mock it, the 2.0-liter packs quite the punch the engine alone makes an impressive 476 PS along with a whopping 545 Nm of torque.
As if 476 PS wasn’t enough, Mercedes-AMG decided to make the C63 a Plug-in Hybrid as well (PHEV). The rear-mounted electric motor produces an additional 204 PS and is coupled to an electronically-controlled limited-slip differential. All in all, the C63 S E-Performance makes a massive 680 PS and a staggering 1,020 Nm of torque.
The C63 also has all-wheel technology that’s paired to a 9-speed automatic transmission Mercedes-AMG claims the C63 S E-Performance can go from 0–100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds and can hit a top speed of 250-280kph (depending on customer preference). It gets rear-wheel steering, adaptive dampers, and an AMG Dynamics drive mode selector that allows for various drive and handling settings. There’s even a mode to allow for regenerative braking on all four wheels to help the battery recover energy, as well as allow for one-pedal driving to help the regeneration better.
There will be some who’ll dust off their pitchforks and take up arms at the fact that an AMG C63 lost the V8, but take time to appreciate the incredible engineering feat that is the 2.0L PHEV engine.
