The 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe arrives bearing more than the usual degree of expectation. And not without a reason. The C63 AMG sedan, with which it shares its weapons-grade engine and the rest of its mechanical package, is one of AMG's finest pieces of work. So when we saw the new C63 coupe for the first time at last month's New York auto show, we got the feeling it was going to be something special.
It does not disappoint. In fact, there's little doubt that the BMW M3 finally has some serious competition from Stuttgart. This is after a four-hour test-drive that included high-speed blasts on the autobahn and twisty runs through the hills behind AMG's engineering headquarters.
The bottom line? The new C63 AMG coupe is significantly faster in a straight line, offers more accessible performance and provides the driver with greater levels of confidence at the limit than the 4-year-old M3 coupe. Best of all, though, it is just great fun to drive all of the time.
No Turbos? No Problem
Despite widespread rumors suggesting it would receive a version of AMG's new 5.5-liter V8 engine, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe sticks with the same 6.2-liter V8 power plant as the C63 AMG sedan. It is a logical step that helped to speed development while keeping costs down.
In standard guise, the big V8 kicks out 451 horsepower. But as is now common across the AMG lineup, there's a Performance package option that adds the same pistons, connecting rods and crankshaft from the engine used in the SLS AMG. The new parts bump its output up to a haughty 480 hp at 6,800 rpm — or some 66 hp more than the M3's 4.0-liter V8.
This a tremendously gutsy engine with immediate throttle response, explosive performance in lower gears, a linear delivery across a wide band of revs and, perhaps best of all, a howling exhaust note that even those good 'ol NASCAR boys would appreciate.
But even more impressive than the engine's serious level of power is the accessibility of its torque. At virtually any speed short of white-knuckled autobahn velocities, a determined stab of full throttle introduces a heady rate of acceleration. Mercedes-Benz's official figures are a good guide. No fewer than 370 pound-feet of the C63 AMG coupe's entire 443 lb-ft can be tapped between 2,000 and 6,250 rpm, giving it monumental rolling performance and effortless high-speed cruising attributes.
The naturally aspirated V8 is quite happy to work hard. But there is no great need to go exploring the 7,200-rpm redline to extract its best. Not when its midrange offers such heavyweight punch. You simply run it up to 5,000 rpm, the point where that peak torque is delivered in full, and revel in the vast amount of shove lurking under your right foot.
If there is any lingering doubt about the C63 AMG coupe engine's overall effectiveness, consider Mercedes-Benz's official performance claims. Equipped with the AMG Performance package, it is claimed to hit 62 mph from a standstill in just 4.3 seconds — a full 0.6 second inside the time BMW quotes for the M3. There are no standing quarter-mile times yet, but we'd be surprised if it didn't dip into the low 12s. Top speed, as with the C63 AMG sedan, is limited to 155 mph. We have no doubt it could push to well over 175 mph without the computer looking on.
It's More Than Just a Big Engine
What really makes the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe feel so quick in a straight line is its gearbox. It's the latest version of the seven-speed 7G-Tronic unit that forgoes the standard torque converter for an automatically operating clutch. The so-called MCT (multiclutch transmission) works beautifully, offering fast changes and intuitively holding gears all the way to the redline before changing up on a wide-open throttle so as to take full advantage of the engine's performance in any one of the three automatic modes.
It's hard to step out of the C63 AMG coupe after a furious thrash and not want another go.
Switch into Manual mode and there is a clear change in character, the shifts becoming more aggressive and even faster, especially on downshifts. It also holds onto gears at the limiter, rather than selecting the next ratio — exactly as it should be in a car of such unbridled sporting pretensions. The only real complaint is the speed of upshifts, which are delayed by the software under full load to ensure the engine's torque doesn't blow the differential to pieces.
The Chassis Isn't Too Shabby Either
In addition to the monster engine and quick-shifting gearbox, the C63 is also blessed with the sort of handling finesse and overall grip that make it a true contender on challenging back roads. Although the curb weight is the same as the sedan at 3,814 pounds, the chassis tuning is unique to the coupe.
Turn-in is urgent and genuinely communicative through a nicely proportioned flat-bottom steering wheel geared at a quick 2.5 turns lock-to-lock. Superb damping also contributes to very low levels of roll and inertia once you've committed to a corner.
Despite running what appears like fairly ordinary performance car rubber — Continental Sport Contact tires sized 235/40ZR18 up front and 255/35ZR18 at the rear — you can confidently load the front end up without premature breakaway. The balance and grip are so good, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG coupe encourages you to push harder at the sort of speeds where you might otherwise consider backing away from the throttle. It feels tremendously well planted, allowing you to get the power down early without the stability control cutting in at critical moments. A locking differential comes as part of the Performance package.
In tighter corners with a low gear dialed up, it will progressively kick its tail out as long as you dial back the stability control. The speed at which the breakaway occurs is so high, though, that you really need a track to get the best of it. The brakes, substantial 14.2-inch composite discs grabbed by six-piston Brembo calipers up front and 13-inch discs with four-pot calipers at the rear, are hugely effective, providing big levels of bite and remaining strong even when worked hard. They're clearly better than the M3's brakes which, while offering similar levels of feel, don't cope with repeated hammerings with quite the same authority.
The only real criticism that can be leveled at the dynamic properties is the ride. In a bid to provide it with such outstanding body control, the C63 AMG coupe gets ultra-stiff springs, thicker stabilizer bars and very aggressive damper settings. Sure, they work great when you're running hard, but around town the C63 delivers some nasty thuds when you hit an average-size pothole. Such is the price of performance at this level.
Familiar Styling Upgrades
Sitting at the very top of Mercedes-Benz's new C-Class coupe lineup, the C63 AMG coupe is differentiated from its more sedate two-door siblings by a series of traditional AMG styling changes — the majority of which have already been seen on the similarly styled C63 AMG sedan.
The visual cues to its added performance potential include a deeper front bumper, LED daytime running lights, a more heavily contoured aluminum hood, signature five-spoke AMG alloy wheels, bespoke door sills and a modified rear bumper complete with a blacked-out diffuser element and twin chrome tailpipes. With the Performance package come Brembo brake calipers and a carbon-fiber lip spoiler on the trunk.
It's an aggressive-looking car, full of intent and purpose when seen up close in the metal. But perhaps more than the changes to its styling, it is the work that has gone into modifying its chassis that really sets the C63 AMG coupe apart. It includes tracks that are widened by a little less than an inch up front but reduced just over an inch at the rear. It also features significantly altered camber rates and a 1-inch reduction in ride height.
The AMG Coupe We've Been Waiting For
In the end, it is hard to step out of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe after a furious thrash and not want another go. Its straight-line performance is captivating, but it is the precision of its handling that really leaves you in awe. It's easy to forget that the C63 coupe is a comprehensively equipped luxury car that weighs nearly 2 tons. In practice, though, it feels like a much lighter performance machine.
Various coupes have tried to dethrone the mighty BMW M3 coupe over the years and most haven't even come close. Mercedes has always had a good excuse to dismiss the issue since it didn't have a coupe of similar size. Now that it does, AMG has stepped up to the plate and built a proper contender. For now the M3 is still the king. We'll see for how long.
Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.
Price and Build Your Own 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe at Edmunds.com
Add A Comment »
vm6670 says:
11:42 AM, 05/26/2011
Very impressive
PS: sodiezl350 & lions208487 = f_cktards
sodiezl350 says:
12:37 PM, 05/25/2011
@ tonkatoytruck
In an attempt to limit how many arguments I involve myself with on the internet I have simply chosen to highlight what we agree on, what we disagree on, and what is not factual in your post.
Firstly I agree that German cars feel vastly different from American cars. This is in fact true for any nationality and I can assure you that having owned sports cars from Germany, Japan, Italy and now the USA, they all have their pluses and minuses. I also agree that the Corvette has terrible seats. Unfortunately that is the limit of which we agree on.
I have found the steering in European sports cars is generally quite a bit sharper and provides better feel than what comes out of the other 2 continents. European design has generally also been superior to its competitors. Unfortunately, this is somewhat less true now than it used to be because both BMW and Mercedes have been making some akward looking cars as of late. Audi seems to be getting it right though.
What I can't stand about European cars is the terrible quality control and cost of repairs. If you want to compare American vs German, then either compare the new Jetta vs something like a Fusion, or compare the new 3 Series against let's say the Lexus IS. In either case I personally feel that the German car is significantly overpriced and of lower quality. With BMWs latest adoption of electric power steering, the steering feel that has always set them apart from the rest is also lost. If you want to compare sports cars, it becomes much harder. In terms of performance numbers, the American cars are actually on top at the moment. The CTSV is the fastest sedan around the Nurburgring, the ZR1 is the fastest coupe. That being said if I had the choice of a 911 or a Vette I would take the 911 without question. I would simply have to live with the fact that my car is slower and yet more enjoyable.
Moving on from opinion to fact:
First of all the CTSV does not ride anything like the Corvette. It weighs 1000lbs more and it's suspension is completely different. The only Cadillac that resembles the Corvette is the old XLR. The suspension of the CTSV is actually much closer to that of the M3. Coil springs front and back for the Caddy and Bimmer while the Vette rides on composite leafs. Despite any similarities or differences, I find it very hard comparing the M3 to any of these cars. I find the closest car to the CTS-V really is the C63 or the ISF. In each of those cases I feel the CTS-V is superior. The M3 is unique in that it's either an underweight(and underpowered) freeway cruiser or a really overweight sports car. It really does do everything well although it can doesn't claim any titles doing so.
Even the Vette for my tastes is too big(wheel base too long), but it hides it pretty well(50/50 weight ratio). I feel Porsche really got the sports car thing right with the Cayman. Nissan's 370Z is also a step in the right direction.
To summarize, your hatred for American cars is understandable. They certainly aren't as polished as the Germans or as well executed as the Japanese. You blatantly ignoring the flaws of the others however either means that you either have a serious inferiority complex or you have never owned anything else.
tonkatoytruck says:
08:05 AM, 05/21/2011
I find it comical when people try to compare a German car to an American car (M3 vs. C63 vs. CTS-V) based solely on performance numbers.
The Cadillac is a great improvement over its predecessors but it is still a Corvette with a Cadillac body. It rides like a Corvette, it has terrible seats like a Corvette, it has no where near the options and accessories of the German competition, and rides like a Corvette, with all its rude jostling, jumping, and bouncing along the road. I could probably name 30 or so options on a German car that Cadillac has not even attempted to address. I think Cadillac counts on those people who have no clue what the differences are between a German car and an American car to maximize profits. So, for all those CTS-V fans, I suggest you relish in its performance but do not fool yourself into thinking Cadillac has anything on its German counterparts. If GM added all the accessories that a German car provides, the CTS-V would probably weigh over 5000 lbs and handle accordingly, cost US$90K, and be about as popular as the new wagon.
And lastly, the manual transmission is on its way out. And even if it wasn't, only 5% of car owners would even care because that is the percentage of buyers of manual vs. automatics. The automatics get better gas mileage, shift faster, and provide better performance with reduced ETs. Yes, I like a manual transmission in my sports car. But, these are luxury sport coupes that cater to a different crowd (read as older and more affluent) who would rather drink their bottled water in one hand, talk to their bff with the other, and steer with their knee.
carworship says:
10:49 PM, 05/20/2011
Politics. Marketing. Mercedes can't have its top of the line e-class sporting the same engine as the c class. I'm sure remapping the ecu could change that. But anyway, its hot on the m3's trail. Cts-v is pretty good too
willewers says:
07:39 AM, 05/20/2011
Forgive my ignorance, but why is it necessary to "de-tune" this engine to 480hp for the smaller C63? Is it a torque conversion issue? My E63 has the same engine and is rated at 507hp. Someone enlighten me?
bestjinjo says:
02:40 PM, 05/18/2011
cmnott,
I have to agree with you. I had driven a 2010 C63 AMG with the 480hp performance package and it's basically a luxurious muscle car of the 21st century. When you press the gas, the engine/exhaust roars like an American muscle card. You get more room than in the M3 and the materials quality are better in the Benz. The other major beauty was that I could kick the back out on any corner I desired. Since the BMW is a much more able cornering machine, it simply grips to a corner (ironically this made the C63 a lot more fun to drive in the city). The M3 is a knife on a racetrack but in the real world, it has none of the luxurious appointments of the C63, nor its charisma/glorious V8 note. And well, when you want to throw 3 of your friends to go out on the town, the M3 fails miserably with its 2 doors (the 4 door version is just plain unattractive). On that account, I would take the sedan C63 over the coupe.
cmnott says:
04:23 PM, 05/17/2011
I think it looks too much like A Honda Accord from the rear panel but the rest of it I like. I like the front of my C63 better, but that is just personal preference, I find the new version more feminized.
After 20+ years, this is my first automatic and I don't think I need to justify or prove to anybody who or what a real driver is. Pretty silly and amateurish I think, like saying a real boater uses oars instead of a motor. Guys that usually make those comments reek of jealousy and envy, because obviously that poster has all the time in the world to drive a dream machine and hammer that clutch for three hours. Just try it though first!
The BMW M3 is a fantastic automobile. Thre CTS-V is a fantastic automobile. The C63...etc... you get my drift, there are no losers here. What is better? To each their own. If i lived near a racetrack or owned a track well then, yes, I suppose the M3 is better. Street light to street light and in real world driving, C63 and CTS-V have it all over the M3. Those are just the facts. The CTS-V doesn't have the aural ferocity of the AMG. For those who want a track car on the street, like driving a caged animal or keeping a rottweiler in a 1 bedroom apartment...enjoy. I'll take the bloated C63 and enjoy the glorious V8 while looking at the M3 in my rearview mirror.
rod_stewart says:
04:46 PM, 05/16/2011
@roscoe
Your support for fluff journalism is charming but next time, if your going to take that tone with me, please read my specific points and respond to them.
While you are at it, answer this, is Andreas Stahl really one of the "IL test drivers"....?
Looks to me like he is a random guy in Europe that they buy stories (I.E. fluff pieces from manufacturer events) from. Good strategy apparently because it sure worked on you!
-Rod
P.S. I test drove the old C63 and ended up going with an E92 M3. Not everyone on the internet is a high school kid with a Cavalier.
kevm14 says:
03:38 PM, 05/16/2011
"your real competition may come soon enough with the naturallu aspirated ATS-V at 470 hp port fuel injected next gen LSA engine. "
So far it appears to be coming in too heavy to really ruin the M3's day. And an engine correction based on current intel: 470hp comes from what I'll refer to as an LS3 with direct injection.
bestjinjo says:
01:33 PM, 05/16/2011
@ dmpete
4.1-4.3s? That's some wishful thinking right there! The current M3 is at best a 4.5-4.7 sec 0-60 car without a roll-out; adn the former it only gets with a dual clutch transmission. To get it at 4.6-4.7 sec in a manual requires a very good driver. With a passenger in the vehicles, I still have creamed every M3 encountered from the stop light in a 2010 BMW X6M. So there is no way an M3 is a 4.3 sec car in stock form, and certainly not in manual form (unless tested by C&D - thanks for the laugh!)
@ ferrari4me
Did you mean they can run rings around exotics from 10-15 years ago? While M3 and C63 are fine automobiles, ANY modern exotic made in the last 10 years will lay waste to them in no time (unless you are talking about a 1999 Porsche 911 stock). Not even the most UBER version of the M3 (M3 GTS) can keep up with a modern Porsche GT3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gijhyT9YA9c
So a stock M3 will be just be embarrassed even if it raced against a last generation GT3.
Even a 1999 Ferrari 360 Modena goes 0-60 ~ 4.3sec, but weighs only 3064 lbs. This means on a track it will obliterate a stock M3 or this C63. And pretty much the same can be said of the 2004 Gallardos, 2005 F430, 2008 Z06, etc. All of those "a couple year old exotics" will run rings around these cars. So I am not sure what exotics you were talking about......