Cold weather hasn’t stopped the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C63 from stripping down. Spied in sedan and wagon form, the high-performance models will help usher Mercedes-AMG into the electrified era. The cars feature a Panamericana grille whose vertical slats are echoed in the lower intake. They’re joined by an aggressive front bumper and familiar headlights.
Moving further back, we can see lightweight
wheels that are backed up by a high-performance braking system. The models also
sport aerodynamic side skirts, a rear spoiler, and a four-tailpipe exhaust
system. The interior should largely carryover from the mainstream model and
this means we can expect a classy cabin with a 12.3-inch digital instrument
cluster and an 11.9-inch infotainment system. That being said, we can expect a
handful of special touches including an AMG-branded sport steering wheel, sport
seats, and revised trim.
While both models look evolutionary, big
changes will occur under the hood. In particular, the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8
will be replaced by an all-new hybrid powertrain. It will feature a
turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, a rear-mounted battery, and an electric
drive unit that consists of an electric motor, a two-speed transmission, and a
limited slip rear differential.
Mercedes is keeping full details under
wraps, but the M139 engine develops up to 415 hp and the
company has suggested that number could be boosted to more than 443 hp for use in the C-Class. Furthermore, the automaker has said the
electric motor develops up to 201 hp and this will give their
high-performance hybrids a combined output in excess of 644 hp. While the final numbers are still pending, they should be a sizable
improvement over the outgoing C63 which has 469 hp and 649 Nm of torque. Even in S guise, the output is a relatively modest
503 hp and 699 Nm of torque.
