Four cylinders, supercar pace
AMG replaced the V8 with a four-cylinder hybrid and somehow made the C63 faster — if not louder.
Purists cried foul when Mercedes-AMG announced a four-cylinder C63. After driving the E Performance version, the complaint is less about power and more about soundtrack.
The combined output of 680bhp is absurd for a car this size, and the electric fill-in torque makes it feel even stronger than the numbers suggest.
Performance in practice
Zero to 100km/h arrives in 3.4 seconds, which is supercar territory. The electric motor masks turbo lag entirely, and the nine-speed gearbox shifts with a violence that belies the eco credentials.
Daily usability
Surprisingly, the C63 works as a daily driver — with conditions.
- Electric-only mode covers short HDB runs silently.
- Ride quality in Comfort is acceptable on the CTE.
- Boot space is reduced by the battery pack.
- Fuel consumption drops significantly in hybrid mode.
The sound question
AMG has piped an artificial exhaust note through the speakers. It is convincing at full throttle but cannot replicate the old V8 rumble at idle.
Conclusion
The C63 S E Performance is a technical triumph that will divide enthusiasts.
Buy it for the pace and the technology, not for nostalgia.
