AMG C 63: Mercedes does it again (VIDEO)

Coupe styled cars call on your emotions and other senses, more than anything else, to seduce and lure you into them.

Cars in this segment are not completely rational choices – they off er arguably less space and practicality, which is ultimately ignored over the promise of excitement and exclusivity. And the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe I got to drive along the stunning coastline and surrounds of Malaga in Spain recently delivers on all those promises and more.

“With the sportiest incarnation of the C-Class, we fulfil the requests of individualists who intend to enjoy their lives with an open mind, full of confidence and with that special touch. The basis for the modern charm of our new C-Class Coupe is provided by a fascinating design, high-class appointments, agile handling and hallmark Mercedes qualities, such as performance, comfort, safety, efficiency and a sense of ecological responsibility,” said Ola Källenius, member of the board of management of Daimler AG, Mercedes-Benz cars sales and marketing.

From a styling point of view, you are either going to like the C-Class Coupe or not. I personally think it looks great and offers enough of a difference over the sedan model to make it quite special.

The Coupe is longer and lower than ever before and this gives that dynamic and sporty look coupe owners all want from their cars. Driver and passengers enjoy an ambience that leans toward the interior of the C-Class Sedan, yet with a new sportier look, while still retaining that high quality Mercedes-Benz feel we have come to expect from the brand.

A seating system that includes an automatic belt extender for convenience, along with integral sports seats designed specifically for the coupe, offer plenty of grip for when you want to push on and a decent level of comfort when you are simply cruising on the open road.

As per usual, you can opt for a host of interior and colour trim options. As said, this car is wider and longer than before, with an 80mm longer wheelbase, while being 95mm longer and 40mm wider than the predecessor, and this also allows for more shoulder room, elbow room and headroom for all seats.

You also get a new generation of multimedia that covers everything from sound to navigation to extensive networking, even in the most basic version.

Mercedes-Benz Apps can be used while driving. Audio and video playback is possible from various sources. Powerful and efficient four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with eco start/stop function provide for a decent range.

They are all compliant with the Euro 6 emissions standard and, compared with their predecessors, they are claimed to consume up to 20% less fuel.

For us in SA, we will be getting two petrol derivatives – a 2.0 litre C 200 with 135kW and a C 300, also a 2.0 litre, with an output of 180kW – and one diesel, the C 220d with 125kW on offer to start with when the cars arrive in April 2016.

Power is sent to the road via either a six-speed manual transmission, the 7G-Tronic Plus seven-speed automatic transmission or the new nine-speed 9G-Tronic. Now before you think the coupe is just a different shell on a sedan platform, just one of the many unique features found on the car is a new four-link front suspension, along with a multi-link independent rear suspension that really ensures very agile and precise handling.

The coupe comes with a steel suspension as standard, while two suspensions with selective damping are also available. A more comfort orientated Agility Control suspension that is lowered by 15mm and a Sports suspension with tauter springing and damping that also includes Sports Direct-Steer system are on offer.

You can also get the optionally fitted Airmatic air suspension that is electronically controlled and continuously adjusts the damping on the front and rear axle and controllable by the driver at the push of a button between sporty, comfortable or consumption-optimised driving.

Thanks to intelligent lightweight construction with a higher proportion of aluminium, the car is lighter than its predecessor. At the same time, the body is now much stiffer and stronger, thanks to the use of high-strength materials, which not only have a positive effect on driving dynamics once more, but also crash safety.

The C-Class Coupe, therefore, follows a Mercedes-Benz tradition in not only meeting all current national and international laws, but also all rating requirements, as well as the more stringent internal Mercedes-Benz safety requirements, which are based on what actually happens in real-life accidents.

An AMG Line is available as an alternative to further personalise your coupe and offers exterior features, such as special bumpers and sills featuring AMG body styling, a diamond radiator grille with pins in chrome and 18-inch AMG light-alloy wheels.

Interior highlights of the AMG Line include sportily exclusive touches, such as upholstery in Artico leather/Dinamicamicrofibre in black with contrasting topstitching, a multifunction sports steering wheel with flat boom and AMG sports pedals. The trim in open-pore black ash on the dashboard and the doors, further emphasise the AMG look.

AMG C 63 Coupe

Talking of the AMG Line, the Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupe differs significantly from the standard Mercedes-Benz model, which shares merely the doors, roof and boot lid.

The wider track on the front and rear axles called for a redesigned front end, a discrete rear end and new side walls. The strongly flared wings make the AMG Coupe 64mm wider at the front and 66mm wider at the rear.

The aluminium bonnet sports two striking power domes. The front end is characterised by a low-slung “twin blade“ radiator grille and large air intakes. A front splitter helps to reduce lift on the front axle. Special side sill panels give the side profi le a discrete appearance as well.

The C 63 offers a special AMG Ride Control suspension with adjustable damping. And you are able to change the characteristics of the C 63 with four different AMG Dynamic Select driving modes along with an additional “Race” driving mode for those who want to enjoy, say, the track or their favourite mountain pass but don’t want to slide off the side of a mountain in a blur of tyre smoke.

To prove this they let us loose on the very demanding and fast 5.2 km long Ascari Race Resort track and, trust me, with 350kW or 375kW in the S model under your right foot, along with 650Nm or 700Nm of torque respectively available from the best sounding 4.0-litre twin-turbo eight-cylinder engine out there today, there are times you are grateful for the electronic help you are being offered by the car.

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