It’s perhaps not entirely fair to say that the C63 is the first AMG C-class to be thoroughly and comprehensively re-engineered to suit its market, because both the C32 and C55 were excellent cars. But you do get the impression that the C63 represents a step up, both in design and engineering commitment.
So while the 6.3-litre V8 engine very much remains the centrepiece of the car, it’s no longer the dominant factor.
The engine itself, claims AMG, develops around 30 per cent more torque than any other rival. So while the 451bhp at 6800rpm is deeply impressive (the M3 has 414bhp at 8300rpm), it’s the 443lb ft at 5000rpm that hits hardest. And the real killer is that at least 370lb ft of this is available between 2000 and 6250rpm; the M3 has a best of 295lb ft at 3900rpm.
The C63 puts its power to the road via a seven-speed semi-automatic gearbox with paddle shifters fixed to the steering wheel, and which has three different modes: full manual (in which it will not shift up unless you ask it to), sport auto and comfort auto, in which the shifts occur more smoothly than in sport auto.
There is also a three-stage ESP system that, at last, can be switched off entirely if you so wish. As standard the diff is not a full limited-slip item (you need to specify the Sport pack to get one of those), but the C63 will still perform oversteer tricks on demand.
The suspension has been completely redesigned for the C63. Although the basic layout remains, the springs and dampers are different, the anti-roll bars are beefier, the tracks are wider front and rear and ride height is lower.
The brakes, too, have been substantially uprated to include 360mm/330mm ventilated discs front and rear with six-piston calipers at the front. Standard-size wheels are 18in front and rear with 235/40 tyres at the front and relatively narrow 255/35 covers at the rear. The test car wore Pirelli P-Zeros.
