€217 per HP
From next week, the 680 hp Mercedes-AMG C63 SE Performance can be configured and ordered. How much do you have to pay for that? Well, at least $147,834. For that money you buy the always richly equipped plug-in hybrid sports sedan. An Estate is also available and costs at least €149,286.
It was a bit of a swallow when the full-fat AMG variant of the latest Mercedes-Benz C-class was presented. It no longer has a biturbo V8 under its hood, but ‘only’ a 2-liter four-cylinder. Nevertheless, the new Mercedes-AMG C63 SE Performance is by far the most powerful C63 ever. The C-class produces no less than 680 hp and up to 1,020 Nm of torque from its plug-in hybrid powertrain; a good deal more than the maximum 510 hp of the earlier V8.
To lose some power, the C-class AMG now always has four-wheel drive, good for a 0-100 sprint of 3.4 seconds. The four wheels can not only drive, but also steer: the C63 SE Performance always has a steering or counter-steering rear axle, as well as 20-inch alloy wheels and a ‘drift mode’.
A Mercedes-AMG C63 without ‘S’ addition does not seem to be coming (yet), so this always technology-packed variant – as a sedan or station wagon – is the only option. It costs from €147,834 for the sedan, and from €149,286 for the station. Although the hybrid system (with a 6.1 kWh battery pack) of the sporty C-class is based on performance and not so much on fuel economy, the theoretical CO2 emissions are a lot lower than the previous C63 S with V8 – and that results in a lower bpm amount. Yet the new one is more than €10,000 more expensive than the previous one.
Price comparison
And compared to a few alternatives? Well, a Mercedes-AMG C43 with basically the same four-cylinder under the hood is available from €110,560. It lacks the plug-in hybrid systems, but still kicks it up to 408 hp and 500 Nm of torque. It also weighs a lot less. Among the competition from Munich, we find the BMW M3 in the price lists with a six-cylinder, an output of 480 hp, a manual gearbox and a starting price of €131,910. Prefer four-wheel drive and an automatic? Then you can order an M3 Competition with 510 hp for at least €143,776. A 450 hp Audi RS4 Avant (with V6 and automatic transmission) is available from €140,464.
The new Mercedes-AMG C63 E Performance can only be ordered as an F1 edition for the first year, but the prices are not yet known.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl