If it wasn’t clear from the change in engine, the revolution in the Mercedes-AMG C63’s chassis and the way the engineers talk about their aims with this project confirm that this will be a very different car from its predecessor.
That’s not an accident: there's no sense in making a similar car with a less charismatic engine. It needs a new USP.
In the new C63, the tyre-smoking hot-rod element takes a back seat so that AMG can go after the Audi RS4 customer, who wants a car that's as easy to live with as a C220d and has secure, competent handling in all weather but can still take their breath away with its performance.
At the same time, the handling should be less ‘blunt instrument’ and the plug-in hybrid part ought to bring a semblance of social acceptability.
I’ve little doubt that the new C63 will rationally be a better car than the old one in a lot of the ways that matter and will suit the needs of many owners better.
However, I do question whether it will be a better super-saloon, one that you desire simply for what it is, one that excites on the road, and I really don’t envy the people whose job it is to sell potential buyers on the idea of a four-cylinder super-saloon when the RS4 and BMW M3 still have a six, even when it makes sense on paper.
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The problem is when you put your foot down hard it will likely sound like a cheap car, which may be at odds with the money shelled out. Not something I would do but for business people I'm sure it makes perfect sense. If you are not doing daily business and have a technical appreciation of engines as not just as a tooI to get a vehicle moving I would say buy an older multi cylinder car unless the new models offer much better ride and handling balance or offer somethings you need or want that will balance the deficit like a big reduction in tax. Looks like the secondhand market may be decoulpling itself from the enthusiasts secondhand market.
I can see where AMG are going with this... they can't just pump out another V8 C-class in a downsizing car world... so USP'ing it on 'more power and efficiency' makes sense. But people don't buy these cars for power and efficiency (a C300d is more than plenty for the road)... they buy them for the noise. It'll be interesting to see if the traditional AMG customer will trade in their existing car for one.Also... hard to see how the handling on this will be less 'blunt instrument' when it weighs 300kg more than its predecessor...
Again the Autocar writers who get free cars forget that being a plug in hybrid now means it's tax effective in many countries/company cars so a realistic option on my company car list now compared to the old V8.