► Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe (2016) scooped
► A sleeker, two-door kinda sports car
► Target: BMW M3
Mercedes’ go-faster specialists at AMG are busy beavering away on the new C63 AMG Coupe due in 2016 – what is expected to become the best-selling fast C.
Stuttgart is readying the regular two-door C-class bodystyle for launch at the 2015 Frankfurt motor show – and we expect the C63 hotrod version to land at the same time, priced from around £60,000 in the UK, rising to nearer £70k for fully specced versions.
The UK has always lapped up the two-door C63 Coupe; it’s been the best-selling bodystyle, ahead of the saloon and estate AMGs – selling around 600-700 a year.
The spec lowdown on the C63 AMG Coupe
No great surprises in store here; this car is essentially a two-door coupe version of the existing four-door AMG C63, although we hear the rear end will be more heavily influenced by the S-class Coupe and AMG GT sports car.
Power comes from a 3982cc V8 breathed on by a pair of turbochargers to make up for the capacity shortfall compared with its predecessor’s 6.2.
Power is in no shortage whatsoever, with the coupe expected to repeat the saloon’s 469bhp, uprated to 503bhp in S guise. It is resolutely rear-wheel drive though a limited-slip differential will be deployed to tame up to 516lb ft of torque.
Performance? Expect something very close to 155mph top whack and 0-62mph in 4.0sec in the C63 S Coupe. Drivers will be able to pick a sports exhaust for fruitier tunes.
C63 two-door: the M3 to M4 transition
Mercedes is adept at spinning off multiple versions of most model ranges, so it comes as no surprise that you will soon be able to spec your C63 as saloon, estate or coupe. In the fullness of time, we’d expect a convertible fast C, too, reflecting the various iterations of closely related BMW M3 and M4.
Watch the Merc C63 in action on track as contributing editor Ben Barry thrashes around Portimao in our video below.