Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance: A 4-Cylinder PHEV Powered By F1
by Scotty Reiss · ForbesWhat has Mercedes-AMG learned from Formula One Racing— other than how to dominate the one of the most fascinating sports on earth?
The power of electric motors to push technology way past the point anyone thought it could go, which is the magic behind the 2024 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance, the most powerful 4-cylinder car on the road generating 671 hp and 752 pound-feet of torque.
Before Opining On A 4-Cylinder AMG, Let me Explain
Of course there are naysayers. Plenty of them, but not likely if they’ve driven this car. Yes, it starts silently; yes, it’s not the loud growling experience we have come to know from Mercedes-AMG; a 4-cylinder, no matter how tuned, will never sound like a V8.
But, turning the drive mode over to Sport (or Sport+ or Race) will turn up the roar, and on proper spots along the road you’re able to feel all 671 hp and 752 pound-feet of torque. That’s thanks to the 200 hp electric motor that boosts the performance of the 4-cylinder, 470 hp gas powered engine, which is a feat on its own.
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And then, there’s this.
Climbing into the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance is like putting on a glove. Everything about it feels like a second skin—if that skin is a highly precise performance car.
A Cabin Made for the Track Driver
Nothing in the experience of the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance is careless or accidental: the seats cradle you; the steering wheel feels perfect in your hands. The control buttons on the steering wheel glow, begging to be pushed or dialed.
The multimedia screen, which is pointed slightly toward the driver, is more about setting up your drive experience than finding a song on the radio— there’s “Hey Mercedes” voice assistance for that. Sinking into the driver’s seat you feel as if this car is begging you to drive it.
What AMG Learned From Formula One Racing
The engineers at Affalterbach, where AMG models are designed and engineered, sought to glean an advantage from the brand’s Formula One Racing presence. At the heart of that is propulsion, and as propulsion evolves, electric power is increasingly important.
That’s where AMG saw an advantage: add an electric power boost to a 4-cylinder engine that would deliver an astounding amount of power, about 170 hp more than the C 63’s predecessor.
Even
More Benefits Of An Electric Powertrain
To ensure that this car performs like an AMG but also, uses all the available power, the company enhanced the suspension, added rear wheel steering and upgraded performance braking.
And then, the electric system supports the gas turbo charger to eliminate turbo lag so the instant torque provided by the electric motor isn’t disturbed by the gas-powered engine.
The result is a plug-in hybrid electric powertrain that is more focused on power and less on the conventional benefits of EV driving. However, for those who want it, there is also an all-electric drive range of 8 miles.
8 Miles of Electric Range? What’s The Point?
That the driving range is low is OK; it’s not the point of this car. In fact, AMG’s engineers designed this car to take care of the electric power plant first; it will recoup or recharge as much power as it needs to provide the power it promises.
Even if owners don’t regularly plug it in, the battery can remain all or mostly charged from regular driving.
This Luxury AMG Is All About The Track
Priced from $84,000 to just over $100,000, the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance is still a four-door, five passenger luxury sedan filled with the luxuries a buyer would expect, from leather seating to top-drawer technology.
What it also delivers is a track experience like no other. Track Mode is designed for driving the AMG C 63 SE on one of about 30 world class tracks, and acts like coach and a co-pilot, guiding the driver on the course and adjusting the car’s dynamics and power accordingly, maximizing power and handling at every corner, apex and straightaway for the best possible performance.
The tracks are programmed into the car’s performance system, which also allows the driver to customize the drive experience. For daily fun, dials on the steering wheel that allow you to toggle through the drive modes (the right dial) and select manual or track mode (left). You’ll see the settings pop up on the driver display and the multimedia screen.
New Badging Sets The Tone For Performance
Past AMG C models carried “Biturbo” badges to signify the dual turbo power under the hood. With the C 63 SE Performance model, AMG has shifted both the name and the look of the badge to signify the electric power boost. Along the side of the sedan is a Turbo e-Performance badge just under an air vent. And on the rear is an “S” designation in silver against a red background, red designating the electric-powered performance.
The Formula One By-Product That Will Delight You Every Day
Formula One races are fleeting; they’re here and then gone. The Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance is far more lasting, and to the driver, it’s more rewarding to tap the accelerator of a true race-derived performance car. Don’t let it’s quiet nature or complex drive modes deter the thrill of this powerful car, or the small but mighty 4-cylinder engine put you off; this is the technology of the future.