2009 Mercedes Benz C63 AMG Road Test Review
C63 AMG Photos
Not too long ago, I picked up Mercedes Benz DTM driver, Bruno Spengler, from his hotel. The first words out of his mouth were, “Have you driven the C63 AMG?”
Sadly, I had to say no. Spengler told me that I wouldn’t believe how fantastic it was. He said the power was awesome, and it looked… cool.
Today, my answer to Spengler would be different as I have just spent 9 days, 6 hours and four minutes with the new 2009 C63 AMG… and loved every minute of it.
To begin with, Mercedes took the new C-Class and had it AMG-ized. While the basic shape is the same, the C63 – upon closer observation – has a wider front stance, which meant wider front flares, plus a new front fascia, with all kinds of vents, and a rear apron complete with diffuser insert.
It’s still very much a C-Class, but the telltale giveaway is the four pipes out the back and the two bulges on the hood.
The look is very aggressive without being having a ‘boy racer’ look. It just oozes confidence as it sits there.
The first thing you’ll notice as you climb inside is the quality of the seats. The 10-way adjustable sport seats can be tailored to fit any driver. I really liked
the way the back section moved in and out. Once you’re in them… you’re in them.
The C63 AMG also features aluminum studded pedals, AMG velour mats, Bluetooth integration, crash responsive NECK-PRO front head restraints and a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel – flat bottomed.
The controls are nicely laid out except for the position of the turn signals and cruise control. The cruise is positioned where you’d expect the turn signal switch to be, but it is actually lower than usual. This is the common layout for Mercedes models and until I got used to it, I was turning on the cruise instead of the signals.
Other than that, the navigation works great, one of the best out there, and the harmon/kardon LOGIC7 digital surround system sounds amazing… the five minutes I actually used it.
I didn’t use the sound system much, but I did use the window switches just about every time I got in the C63 AMG. The noise from those four pipes out back, and the rumble under the hood has to be heard to be appreciated. One guy at a coffee shop stood around for 10 minutes looking at it and when I walked over, he just said, ‘he had to hear it.’
Ohhhh… that sound. (Note to future C63 AMG owners; Step one, get in, step two, open driver’s window, step three, start car.)
What’s making that noise is the heart of the C63. It’s a DOHC 32-valve 90 degree, normally aspirated 6.2L V8 that pushes out – with ease I might add – 451 bhp and 443 ft/lbs of torque.
To deliver that power to the rear wheels, yes, it’s rear wheel drive, the C63 has the 7G-Tronic 7-speed automatic transmission with AMG Speedshift enhancements. You have three modes to choose from, comfort, sport or manual. In manual you can shift with the center shifter or use the steering wheel mounted paddles.
You
also get the AMG sport suspension, and there is an option for an AMG Tuned performance suspension. The C63 AMG comes standard with 18-inch wheels and some monster brakes.
Once you have come out of the daze of listening to the engine, it’s time to ‘have a go’ as they say.
What you’ll experience will play havoc with your senses. The grip level from the two rear wheels is very good, but turning the traction control to either sport or off will allow the C63 to spin the rear wheels with ease. Mercedes says it will sprint from 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds.
What you will notice is just how well balanced the C63 is, considering it has a
thumping great V8 up front. Turn in is crisp and sharp, and with some sensible throttle modulation the load is transferred to the outside wheels, and it just leaps out of corners.
It is a very capable sedan, and when pushed hard, it inspires confidence in capable drivers. There are no hesitations as it tries to decide – with the traction and ESP on – what the driver’s intentions are.
This truly is a driver’s car.
But its also one that you can take the wife… or significant other… out on the town with, in class and luxury, without having to worry about constantly holding back the monster that lies within.
Simply
shift it into comfort mode, turn up the stereo, adjust the dual climate controls and off you go.
We have seen over the past few years that the trend in capable sport sedans is to have them blend in to the untrained eye, and have them pack a potent punch when need be, but also double as true luxury sedans. It is difficult to get a true supercar to do all that successfully, but Mercedes has hit a home run with the C63 AMG.
Wait, it gets better. Base price for the C63 AMG is $55,975, although the one I had was more thanks to the AMG premium package (command APS with hard disc-drive Nav, DVD changer, Keyless GO, Logic7, thermotronic climate control, Linguatronic Voice Control and rear window sunshade) and Obsidian Black Metallic paint.
Spengler was right about the C63 AMG, and he gets to drive the race version… how cool must that be!