Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance Review: A Different Sort of Engagement

What we like:

Technology is intriguing and you'd enjoy discovering the layers

Looks the part

Goes fast and handles well

What we dislike:

Lost a little magic of the V8 C63

I’m of the camp that AMGs are synonymous with V8s. I had a R231 SL63 AMG with the 5.5-litre bi-turbo V8 as my wedding car. I have a project CLK63 AMG with the M156 6.2-litre V8.

But the CLA 45 S tested a few days prior made me think twice about this assumption. AMGs could exist top-of-class even with a 4-cylinder engine, as the CLA 45 S showed.

Can the C63 S E Performance do the same? It is an even further deviation from a traditional formula. Instead of just a 2.0-litre I4 engine, AMG mated it with an electric-gas turbo powered by a 400V AMG battery, as well as an electric motor powering the rear axle mated to a 2-speed gearbox. In essence, it’s now a plug-in hybrid whose technology is derived from Formula 1.

The numbers are compelling. Combined output is 680 hp and 1020 Nm, with 0-100 km/h accomplished in just 3.4 seconds - thanks also to all-wheel drive that can send up to 100% of power to the rear wheels. This is despite a 2,165 kg kerb weight.

The C63 S E Performance is definitely extremely sorted when it comes to the fundamental elements of what makes a sports car. It handles nothing like a 2.2 ton car, and more like a bona fide roadster. Its speed - in the right conditions - is shocking, especially when you launch it. The steering is accurate although it does not give much feel from the road. It even rides pretty decently, showing a depth of engineering that’s beneath all of that aggressive matte black paint.

The PHEV system is unique, because from my experience, it behaves more like a self-charging hybrid. It’s the first time I’ve seen a PHEV system that recharges itself so quickly. Granted, the official EV range is only around 13 km, but you’d find yourself easily juicing up the battery in no time if you’re driving in Race mode. It’ll take like 10 minutes of hard driving, give or take. Practically speaking, I don’t foresee an owner charging the car much, if at all, even if there is the ability to do so. This is one tangible real-life effect of Formula 1 technology.

When the torque from the PHEV system hits, it can make the car pivot around its axis and demonstrate a flash of utter brilliance. But the electrical assistance also comes with its quirks. Due to its instant power delivery, it doesn’t always sync up with the ICE power. Sometimes, there is a bit too much electrical boost when you don’t really want it, or not quite enough when you desire the response. This also means that the headline 680 hp / 1020 Nm figures don’t seem all that repeatable. There were times when the car actually felt more sluggish than usual, as if its performance was curtailed somehow, even with ample charge left to its PHEV battery. Also, the gear changes seem to be more slurred as compared to a pure ICE setup, as if to show it’s hard at work trying to juggle many things at once. It needs a bit more fine-tuning.

And yes, we come to the sound. Given the past few generations have been V8s, it’s easy to be overly critical when it comes to assessing the aural pleasure of the new C63 S E Performance. Honestly, I think it sounds decent if you don’t consider all of the baggage that comes with the 63 nameplate. It sounds a bit like a highly-tuned hot hatch, if I were to make a close comparison. If you haven’t savoured the V8 before, this may be engaging enough especially with the pops and bangs in Sport+ and Race modes. However, it’s indeed a bit awkward to be starting off the car each time in EV mode. It’s completely silent when we have been conditioned to a goosebumps-inducing exhaust note, especially on a cold start. This takes some getting used to. I suppose neighbours would very much support this quieter, more restrained approach. For me, I’d always switch to at least Sport mode whenever I can. My favourite setting is the aggressive setup of the drivetrain in Race with the suspension set to Comfort, and you can set that up via the Individual mode.

You know, with the speed at which the world is changing, I am not at all surprised that the consensus taste for a C63 could very well be this PHEV formula that AMG has pursued, instead of the 6-cylinder options of the BMW M3 or Audi RS4. It’s intriguing at the very least, a powerhouse of engineering and technology that at least should be admired, if not adored.

Reports abound of Mercedes bringing back the V8 in the C63. Until we see the successor, we can’t be absolutely sure. But I’d say - why not keep both? Rebadge the PHEV as a C55 E Performance, and let the C63 have its V8 back. Best of both worlds, I reckon!

Photos by James Wong

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