It’s about time right? The M3 competitor, Mercedes’ C63 AMG, is here.
Original plans were to give this sports coupe a 5.5 twin turbo set up, but Mercedes opted for the more powerful 6.2 liter V8 instead. This long-awaited two-door version comes at you fast with the V8 pushing out 451 horses and 443 pound-feet of torque. BMW will offer an optional performance option they call “Development Package” which includes a boost of 30HP, an ECU Reflash which lifts top speed from a limited 155mph to 174, and knocks off one-tenth of a second when going 0-60. (Down from 4.4 to 4.3). We are guessing based on a similar package offered to the 2011 C63 it will be offered in the neighborhood of $6,000 or more.
Is the new C63 AMG Coupe better than the new M3? You be the judge.
There will be no manual version offered, but before you get too upset, go test drive one and learn why. The Mercedes Speedshift Plus 7-speed gearbox is stunning. Faster than any shift a human could accomplish with a clutch moving from gear to gear in 100-millisecond.
Europe will receive a matte black paint option that will not be offered stateside along with the standard 19 inch alloy wheels that will also not be available stateside. The US will have to deal with 18 inch wheels for standards, but lets be honest, this is a performance car and the 18 inch wheels are a better option anyhow. Look for the newest AMG to hit showroom floors later this year.
