Guest
Thanks: MW MOTORS 2024 Mercedes-AMG C63 $–$ HIGHS Poised handling, rocket-like acceleration, shockingly civil when cruising. LOWS Short electric driving range, heavier than the previous generation, we miss the V-8 rumble. VERDICT The new C63 is a high-tech powerhouse sports sedan with the reputation of Mercedes's F1 racing team behind it. Overview The high-performance variant of Mercedes’s entry-luxury C-class sedan returns as the 2024 C63, but this time it will get a radically different engine. The previous generation was powered by a twin-turbo V-8 with either 469 or 503 horsepower, but this new-generation C63 is motivated by a gasoline engine half that size: a turbocharged four-cylinder that combines with an electric motor to make a whopping 671 horsepower in total. The new plug-in hybrid setup promises to improve upon the previous C63’s great performance, though the engine’s character has no doubt changed radically. To help mitigate turbo lag, the downsized engine uses an electrically powered turbocharger system related to the one found in Mercedes-AMG’s Formula 1 race car. Running in full-electric mode, a fully-charged battery should provide about 6 miles of driving range. The rest of the package is heavily based on the new C-class that debuted for the 2022 model year but with racier styling and a spruced-up interior. Mercedes-AMG has also confirmed that the junior C43 model will also return to the lineup, but we review that model separately. What's New for 2024? The C63 is all new for the 2024 model year and, unlike last year, it will be offered solely as a sedan. We expect to see the 2024 C63 roll into Mercedes dealerships in the middle of 2023. Pricing and Which One to Buy The price of the 2024 Mercedes-AMG C63 starts at $ and goes up to $ depending on the trim and options. When it comes to choosing between the C63's two trims, we'd stick with the standard version that comes with everything we want. For an extra $2050, though, others can opt for the Pinnacle that adds navigation with augmented video, a head-up display, and Mercedes's “Digital Light“ setup. Engine, Transmission, and Performance Gone is the old twin-turbo V-8 engine from the last-generation C63 and in its place is a turbocharged four-cylinder. But before you get disappointed at an engine half the size of the old one, you should know that this inline-four will be augmented by a 201-hp electric motor and uses an electric turbocharger to reduce turbo lag. The new high-performance plug-in hybrid propulsion system will pump out a massive 671 horsepower, giving it an edge over rival performance sedans such as the BMW M3 and the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, at least on paper. This setup allows for some limited all-electric driving, but only about 6 miles or so; its purpose instead is to provide similar performance to the outgoing car with better overall fuel economy. During our first test drive, we were impressed with the C63's sharp handling and explosive acceleration. The electrified powertrain packs a wallop. We were able to sample the car on a race course as well as on public roads, and its cruising demeanor is more comfortable than the outgoing model. Ride quality is firm, but not harsh, and the C63's steering is expertly weighted and tactile. We wish there was more firmness in the brake pedal, but stopping performance proved excellent and the C63 needed just 139 feet to stop from 70 mph. Read More 📌 Instagram ▶ 📌 Tiktok ▶ @cartvpress
