Driver's Notebook: C Change
December 1, 2007
The triumvirate of german sedan manufacturers—Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz—has long engaged in a serious game of performance one-upmanship. Simply because some models naturally dominate their class—say, the M5 or SL65—none is inherently safe in its hegemony. Carmakers work constantly to devise the ultimate performance envelope for each category, and the new Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG has its sights set on the competitive sport-sedan segment—an arena where past efforts have failed to dethrone the pedigreed BMW M3 and the agile Audi RS4.
Front and center in the C63’s strategy is its own version of AMG’s mighty 6.2-liter V-8 engine. Churning out 451 hp—30 more than either of its closest rivals—and 443 ft lbs of torque, the C-class sprints from zero to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and storms onward to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. "We said to ourselves, ‘If we go back to the C-class segment, let’s do it right this time,’" says Mario Spitzner, branding director for AMG. "This is not really a successor to the previous C-Class AMG models. We did so much more to this car than ever before." That attitude also dictated distinctive visual cues to set the C63 apart from its fifth-generation siblings, the C300 and C350. In addition to chrome badges, the AMG hot-rod sports a refashioned grille, flared front fascia, 19-inch wheels and a power-dome hood that looks as if it might be growing horns.
The C63 also carries a number of performance extras developed for Mercedes-Benz’s DTM (German Touring Car Masters) racecar. The new AMG Speedshift Plus transmission, for instance, features an automatic throttle-blipping function during downshifts—a first for any Mercedes-Benz vehicle—greatly enhancing performance during hard braking and cornering. A three-stage Electronic Stability Program (ESP), meanwhile, gives experienced drivers much-welcomed control over the traction control system: ESP ON intervenes if the car’s computer senses the slightest handling instability; ESP SPORT makes corrections only if the car begins to oversteer or understeer; and ESP OFF shuts down all electronic control systems. Mercedes-Benz warns that the ESP OFF function "should only be used by experienced drivers on dedicated racetracks," but—no doubt to the chagrin of insurance companies nationwide—leaves it up to the owner to define "dedicated racetracks" and "experienced driver."
Stepping into the car, it becomes apparent that the C63 shares most of its interior design with the C300 and C350; the only notable exceptions prove to be a leather-clad steering wheel and the same bolstered sport-seats found in the Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series.
The C63 starts up with a rumble. Our drive along the roads of Hessen, Germany, begins in the town square of Weilburg, and the C63’s stiff, sport-tuned suspension transmits vibrations from each cobblestone along the city center’s medieval thoroughfares. On reaching the countryside’s evenly paved streets, though, it’s time to switch the driving mode from Comfort to Sport, with its high-revving upshifts and throttle-blipping downshifts. Locals take note of the car’s power-dome hood and deep burbling idle as I travel through village streets. I answer their inquisitive stares with a press of the throttle: an aggressive snarl escapes the chromed twin tailpipes, and the car’s tires chirp in anticipation. Yes, this is a C-class and, yes, it has this much power.
"We have put more than enough horsepower in this car," says Tobias Moers, director of vehicle development for AMG. Translation: It’s more than either the M3 or the RS4.
But the 4,000-pound boy-racer not only has enough power, it has agility and road-presence to match. Only one question remains: Does it have the appeal to compete on the showroom floor with the vastly popular BMW M3 and the enthusiast’s Audi RS4? Mercedes-Benz admits this is a challenge. "If you look at the numbers of the E-Class and S-Class, we are number one in the market share, but the C-Class never really hit the highest mark," says Spitzner. "This car will hopefully change that."
Mercedes-Benz experienced a 7.4 percent spike in September sales—with a record 124,600 passenger cars sold—and some of that success can be attributed to the redesigned C-Class sedan. The range-topping C63 AMG will appear at dealerships in spring 2008, costing around $60,000. In the face of a new BMW M3—with a similar price tag and release date— the marketplace itself may decide the winner.
Mercedes-Benz, www.mbusa.com
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