2015 Mercedes-Benz C63 S: Review

They say there is no replacement to displacement. And that’s exactly the reason why the naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 from AMG in the older C63 was revered so highly among enthusiasts. It was among the first cars from Affalterbach that had enough mettle in it to not only play ball but even beat its arch rival, the BMW M3. The driving posture, the seats, the sound, and, of course, the heart, ensured it to be as close to perfection as German precision engineering can get. A car with a recipe that suited the taste of enthusiasts and left them grinning from ear to ear. 

But what happens when you challenge the philosophy and usher in a successor to one of the most iconic cars of recent times? The 2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S then has bloody big shoes to fill.

Design: rating_4.0_rating

With new and beefier front and rear bumpers, wider front wings, and meaty sills, the C63 S does look like it has been given a transformation by the artists at AMG. The single slat grille flanked by those typically Mercedes headlights sync well with the rest of the front end. In profile too, it does look sporty thanks to those matte black alloy wheels, the carbon fibre side skirts and the golden carbon ceramic brakes. The smoothly carved out rear, with the neatly placed quad-exhausts makes the C63 look stunning. The strip of brushed aluminium underlining the exhaust helps highlight the carbon fibre bits on the rear bumper.

However, considering that it is based on the C-Class aka baby S-Class, the elegance of the C63’s design - in its own way - overpowers the sporty appeal. We would have loved it if the C63 looked a bit more aggressive with sharper looking ORVMs, generous usage of carbon fibre, larger rear wing and wheel arches.

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Interior and Space: rating_4.0_rating

On the inside, the C63 S looks typically Mercedes-Benz – with the trademark air con vents, steering wheel and the infotainment screen. The leather/alcantara wrapped steering wheel is chunky and nice to hold. Behind it is the twin pod instrument cluster that is easily legible and, at the same time, informative. However, we would have liked it more if it had an AMG logo, thus giving it a unique identity as befits it. The upper part of the dashboard is well built and wrapped in leather. The waterfall centre console has bits of carbon fibre that makes the interior look premium. The buttons to adjust the driving modes are also housed in the centre console.

The older generation C63 AMG was known for its excellent seats, and this new one is no different. Thanks to them being electronically adjustable it is easy to find the right driving position. Moreover, you can also adjust the length for better under-thigh support. The passenger seat up front too is electronically adjustable. Things at the back though aren’t as comfortable. For starters the C63 S can only seat two at the back, and leg room and under thigh support for the rear passengers aren’t exceptional either.

For those who want to ensure that their C63 S AMG looks unique from the inside, Mercedes-Benz also offers two design luxury packages to choose from. The seats of the one we had on test were washed in black leather.

Features and Equipment: rating_5.0_rating

As you’d expect from a top-of-the-line German super saloon, the Mercedes-Benz C63 S AMG comes loaded to the brim with features. In terms of safety, it gets 7 airbags, ABS, EBD, ESP and all the other acronyms that you can possibly think of. Other features include dual zone climate control, steering mounted controls, electric tilt and telescopic steering, 360 degree camera, heads-up display, and more. It also gets a Burmester 13-speaker surround sound system, Active Park Assist and a panoramic sliding sun roof.

Engine and Performance: rating_4.5_rating

As opposed to the naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 unit on the older model, this new C63 S AMG makes use of a 4.0-litre V8 bi-turbo. Despite the drop in displacement, at 510 horses and 700Nm the 2015 C63 S produces more power and torque than its predecessor. This unit is effectively two engines of the A45 AMG under one hood. While engine specifications on the new C63 are better, the purists loved the way the older version sounded - something that this turbocharged unit tries to achieve with the help of electrically operated flaps in the exhaust system.

Turn the key and the Mercedes-Benz C63 S AMG comes to life with a bassy grunt, letting you know straight from the get-go that it means business. The engine is an extremely potent one with its peak torque coming in as low as 1,750 rpm and going right up to the 4,500rpm mark. Peak power, on the other hand, comes between 5,500-6,250rpm, which essentially means no matter where your tacho needle points, a gentle tap on the pedal is good enough to get it going. To put things in proportion, Mercedes claims that the C63 S can do the 0-100kmph dash in 4 seconds flat.

The C63 S comes mated to AMG’s version of the 7-G-Tronic autobox but it replaces the torque converter in place of a multiple clutch setup. This has helped ensure that the shifts are quick even when you use the paddle shifters.

Ride and Ease of Driving: rating_3.5_rating

Just like anything that comes off the AMG stable, ride quality isn’t exactly high up among the long list of the C63’s selling points. However, the AMG Dynamic Select does allow you to make things comfortable by adjusting the suspension to comfort or dynamic mode. The steering feels fairly light at lower speeds making it easy to manoeuvre in the city. Thanks to good visibility from behind the wheel it is easy to park but if that too isn’t enough for you then the C63 S also comes fitted with a 360 degree camera. The biggest drawback of the C63 S though is its ride height. It sits really low due to which one has to consciously drive the car sideways over large bumps and potholes.

One rather annoying thing about the C63, though, is the road noise that seeps into the cabin. It isn’t simply what you’d expect from a performance saloon that is so refined in all other departments.  

Handling and Braking: rating_4.5_rating

Despite all their stellar accomplishments, mainstream Mercedes-Benz cars have never been at the forefront when it comes to the question of handling. But not AMGs, and definitely not the C63. It has just the right dynamics to make it extremely fun to drive, be it on a winding stretch of road, the autobahn, or even the race track. The steering weighs up pretty well as you gain speeds; you can change the engine, suspension exhaust settings to make it feel more energetic too. If that still doesn’t cut it, and you’re brave and talented enough, you can try switching off the traction control and enjoy some sideways action. Be warned, though, the 2015 C63 AMG is extremely tail happy.  

As far as braking is concerned, the 2015 C63 AMG comes with a disc setup on all four corners. The car that we had on test was fitted with the optional ceramic composite braking system. With this top-spec fitment, even under heavy braking, the car remains composed and comes to a stop without much drama.

Price and Fuel Efficiency: rating_4.0_rating

For cars in this category, neither of these factors really matter as much as performance and handling. However it must be noted that by using low friction materials Mercedes-Benz has managed to extract better efficiency from the motor. The C63 S claims 11.9kmpl whereas its arch rival, the BMW M3, which produces less power and torque, only returns 10.75kmpl.

The Mercedes-Benz C63 S AMG has been priced at Rs 1.30 crore (ex-showroom Delhi) which is Rs 13,000 higher than the M3. However, consider the power and torque you get for that extra amount, and suddenly the Mercedes starts sounding like a more sensible buy.

Verdict: rating_4.5_rating

Half a day with the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C63 S AMG was enough for us to fall in love with it. The car has an energetic engine, aggressive looks and decent handling dynamics. In fact, the geniuses at AMG have even managed to retain the sweet exhaust note. But what really impressed us was the fact that it strikes the right balance between elegance and aggression, luxury and performance. Whether it will taste the success of its predecessor is yet to be seen, but the 2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 takes the lineage forward and how!