The last Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG was one of our favorite cars, a tire-smoking V8 monster with ridiculous power for days. But there's a new C-Class out now, so how will AMG improve upon it? Simple: by giving the twin-turbo V8 from the Mercedes-AMG GT. Meet the new Mercedes-AMG C63. (Update: WAGON!)
A day before the car's official debut, some photos and specs have leaked early onto Autoguide and other places from a German Mercedes retail site. They confirm what we all suspected: that the 911-fighting, 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 from the AMG GT will go into the C-Class.
Like the sports car, there will be two versions: a C63 with 469 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, and a C63S with 503 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Both versions are a healthy boost over the last C63's 451 horsepower, 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8.
We'll miss that old engine, but everything we've seen from the AMG GT indicates this one will be kickass too.
Not much else is known right now, except that the car will get some sort of seven-speed automatic. (Update: It's the 7-speed AMG SpeedShift MCT gearbox.)
Other goodies include adaptive dampers and high-performance brakes. You know, the usual.
More info as we get it.
Update: The UK's Autocar has more info and some press photos. They say the sedan version will weight 3,615 pounds, and can do zero to 62 mph (100 kmh) in 4.2 seconds, which is about what the 2015 BMW M3 will do.
They also say 4Matic all-wheel drive won't be available on launch cars, meaning this bad boy is rear-wheel drive at first. Yay!
And notice I said "sedan version." There's a wagon too, and it's a sexy, sexy beast. No word on whether that, or the base C-Class Estate, will come to the U.S., but here's hoping.
This post has been updated to reflect the car's new name, Mercedes-AMG C63.