I think Mercedes-AMG might have a problem with its new C63 coupé.
It’s not that there appears to be much wrong with it. In fact, in matt black paint on the stand at the New York motor show, it never looked less than utterly gorgeous. And we know enough about its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 to believe it's unlikely to be spoiled much by being linked to a gearbox with nine rather than seven speeds or, in the 476bhp C63, by having the same electronically controlled limited-slip differential already available in the 503bhp C63 S.
No, while I think it will cause AMG a problem, I don’t think it will be for the C-Class. I think it might just make things a little tricky for the Mercedes-AMG GT.
I don’t mean either the GT R or GT C versions of AMG’s two-seat supercar, because they have power, performance and, in the latter, a focus that takes it far beyond the ambit of the C-Class coupé. But for the GT and GT S models? Well, let’s take a look.
The GT has the same power as the C63, the GTS just 12bhp more than the C63 S. In straight-line terms, the differences between them are measurable either in the odd tenth of a second or not at all. Yet the C63 will carry four people in reasonable comfort, the GT no more than two in any legal circumstances. The C63 is practical with a big boot and, unless Mercedes has completely ruined it, a compliant ride and a V8 that only sounds rude and rambunctious when you want it to. And, unlike the GT R, which is a fine-handling car at least in the dry, the less finely honed GT and GT S can keep you very busy indeed. By contrast, experience of the last C63 S revealed it to be an endlessly entertaining, relentlessly indulgent, old-fashioned muscle car.
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Certainly not the GT unless
Certainly not the GT unless you think steering a wide 'sports' car with an ultra long bonnet is a good idea.
The GT has a number of
The GT has a number of problems which make other AMG models a threat to it. One is that despite its sports car intentions it doesn't drive very sports car like with the only concessions to the concept being its looks, performance and its sound. Secondly as a front-engined two seat design there is very little difference between it conceptually and the C63 AMG Coupe, and indeed every other 2 door AMG Mercedes especially as the GT doesn't go like a sports car while the other models offer more benefits like better practicality. Perhaps if Mercedes went down the mid-engine route for the GT there'd be enough difference. And what doesn't help the GT is the SL which, while one is a Grand Tourer and the other a sports car, is virtually no different design and concept wise. And as for the C Class AMG coupe it's so much cheaper. I suspect one reason why Mercedes isn't offering an AMG 63 version of the E Class Coupe is that it'd be as fast as the GT but for less money.
If it was my money I’d go for
If it was my money I’d go for a C63 too (although I might have to do something about that hideous new grille). Horses for courses, though.
I wonder if there is much resentment that the power outputs of the GT models are pegged back. After all, we all know this engine will go to 600bhp in the E63, yet the AMG flagship doesn’t even offer this option.