Mercedes debuted the new AMG C63 SE Performance a few months ago. It arrives with big changes under the hood. Mercedes has not only replaced the V8 with a four-cylinder, the automaker has also added an electric motor to compensate for the cylinder shortage. A new video from Motorsport Magazine’s YouTube channel shows that the new car’s hybrid powertrain can still push the sedan to 124 miles per hour (200 kilometers per hour) with ease.
The new AMG C63 features a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood. A rear-mounted electric motor helps the engine generate power, delivering a combined output of up to 671 horsepower (493 kilowatts) and 752 pound-feet (1,018 Newton-meters) of torque.
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When Mercedes revealed the car, it said the C63 would be able to reach 60 mph (96 kph) in a claimed 3.3 seconds, quicker than the previous model. While the video only shows the C63 hitting just over 124 mph, the car has a top speed of 174 mph (280 kph) when equipped with the AMG Driver package. This is lower than the outgoing model’s 180-mph (290-kph) top speed. Helping the car accelerate is an all-wheel-drive system, a first for this model.
While the C63 gets a major update under the hood, its exterior hasn’t changed radically. Mercedes is providing an evolutionary makeover of its popular high-performance sedans, although the automaker is changing the cabin throughout the C-Class range. The C63 features a standalone digital instrument cluster behind the wheel and a tilting display mounted low on the IP stack for infotainment setup.
Mercedes hasn’t said exactly when the new C63 will hit the North American market. The car is expected to go on sale early next year in global markets; however, interested US buyers will have to wait until late 2023 for the car to arrive for the 2024 model year. We don’t know the price, but it should start above the outgoing model, which commands around $75,000 to start with. Tech-packaged plug-in-hybrid replacements can start at over $80,000.
