Just a year after the standard C-Class made its debut, the next-generation 2023 Mercedes-AMG C63 S is now official. The C63 has always been the more bonkers among the trio of German high-performance sports sedans or wagons that include the BMW M3 and Audi RS4, but that’s all changed for this generation. While it still makes an insane amount of power, which is now at 671 horses, its powertrain does that with half the cylinder count of previous C63s.
That’s because the all-new 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S is now a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid. It uses the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine from the Mercedes-AMG SL 43, but it comes with a much larger electric turbocharger that eliminates turbo lag. As a result, it produces 470 hp and 545 Nm on its own, which is already more powerful than the previous V8-powered C63 S. It also makes this four-cylinder engine the most powerful in the world.
As mentioned, this is a plug-in hybrid, and it, therefore, comes with an electric motor at the rear wheels that produces an additional 201 hp during electric boost (thus the 671 hp total) or 94 hp under normal circumstances. It also comes with its own two-speed drive unit, which lets the C63 S be driven in pure electric for up to 125 kph and at a range of just 13 kilometers. That’s a puny amount of range for a plug-in hybrid, but this is AMG after all, and their priority is always performance.
This entire drivetrain is all mated to a nine-speed epicyclic auto, which uses a wet clutch pack instead of a conventional torque converter. The result of all this is a 0-100 kph time of just 3.4 seconds–faster than even the BMW M5 Competition. While its top speed is your typical German performance car that’s electronically limited to 250 kph, this can be raised to 280 kph by removing the limiter altogether–for a fee, of course. This is also the first time that the C63 comes with rear-axle steering, while the 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system can be switched to a new “Master” mode that allows the C63 S to do all of the drifting and oversteer antics that this car has always been known for.
A non-S C63 is also expected to debut later, of course with less power, but it will still come with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Regardless, even though this is the fastest and most powerful C-Class ever, its electrified powertrain also makes this the heaviest it has ever been. The previous C63 S weighed in at 1,680 kg, but this new one weighs a whopping 2,036 kg.
As for its styling, the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C63 S include a rearward-facing slim hood vent for cooling the engine, wider fender flares–with the ones up front being wider by as much as 76 mm, as well as Turbo E Performance badges on its side fender vents. A wagon body style is also available, but this will mostly cater to the European market.
Moving inside the C63 S, it’s mostly the same as the standard C-Class. The main differences are the two circular screens on the steering that adjust the drive modes, along with AMG-specific displays on the digital gauge cluster. Of course, the obligatory AMG sport bucket seats are offered as standard, along with an assortment of carbon fiber trims and a blend of leather and Alcantara upholstery.
The 2023 Mercedes-AMG C63 S will go on sale in the beginning of 2023 in Europe with North America to follow suit.
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