46 WheelsMag.com.au
Popular Benz flips lid for the first time
Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet
IT SHOULD have been the
perfect place to launch
a new convertible. I’m
in Italy, in the middle
of summer, on the coast,
where the winding roads
flirt with the sea. But it’s
raining. Really raining.
It’s a shame because before me
sits an AMG C63 S Cabriolet, and it
looks brilliant. Aggressive, stylish
and elegant all at once, it shares
the C-Class Coupe’s flared arches,
angular nose and tough stance on
staggered, deeply dished alloys,
but dropping the roof adds an
extra splash of class.
Promises to go like stink, too.
Under the bonnet is AMG’s
375kW/700Nm boosted V8, which
should be fun on slippery roads.
Believe it or not, this is the
first time Mercedes has offered a
cabriolet version of the C-Class.
The larger CLK plugged the gap a
while back, but no ragtop before
this has worn a dedicated C badge.
Like the Coupe on which it isbased, the Cabriolet is pitched
at younger buyers and Aussie
versions score AMG line styling
as standard, which brings bigger
wheels and a more aggressive
bodykit. We also get a thicker
‘acoustic’ version of the cloth roof,
which can be opened or closed in
20 seconds at up to 50km/h.
Four variants are coming Down
Under, two tweaked by AMG.
Regular versions include the
entry-level C200 and mid-spec
C300, both of which are powered
by a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder,
producing 135kW/300Nm and
180kW/370Nm respectively.
AMG models include the all-
wheel-drive turbo V6 C43 and the
C63 S you see here.
Power is sent solely to the rear
wheels in the C63, a fact all too
obvious on wet Italian bitumen.
Gentle prods of the throttle send
the traction-control light into
blinking fits, yet even in these
sodden conditions it feels
trustworthy. The cabriohas the same wider tracks and
sophisticated multi-link rear
suspension as the C63 Coupe and
the dynamics are predictable,
with excellent roadholding.
Cabrio versions weigh about
125kg more than the Coupe,
and while the extra heft blunts
the C63’s cornering and braking
slightly, it remains a seriously
fun car to drive quickly.
Mercifully, I score some dry
running in the C43 and C300.
The C43 misses out on the
C63’s blistered arches and
menacing stance, but its
270kW/520Nm twin-turbo V6
ensures it feels a proper AMG
product. It has oodles of grip,
thanks to all-wheel drive with a
31:69 split, but while this initial
taste is promising, it’s not as
playful or as engaging as the C63.
The most enjoyable drive of
the day, though, is delivered
by the C300. Our test car has
optional air suspension and on
smooth Italian roads and19-inch wheels, the ride is plush.
The 2.0-litre four matches the
Cabriolet’s character, with a
muscular mid-range, a rorty note
and gutsy performance.
Then there’s the open-air
refinement. Drop the roof in any
variant and there’s very little
wind noise, even at 140km/h.
The cabin mirrors the rest of
the C-Class range for design,
quality and standard safety
equipment. The only real gripes
are the inevitable loss of luggage
space, which drops to 360L with
the roof up or 285L with it down,
and rear seat space. The seats
are comfy and there’s plenty of
toe-room, but tall passengers will
brush their heads on the roof.
Even so, the Cabriolet mounts
a convincing case. The body
structure is strong, the styling
attractive and no variant feels like
an overly compromised or spoiled
version of the Coupe. And that’s
high praise for a ragtop.
ALEX INWOODFIRST
OVERSEAS
DRIVE
PLUS &
MINUSExtra weight dulls handling; price premium over coupe; boot space Styling; performance and sound of twin-turbo V8; body strength
Mod
Engin
Max powe
Max torqu
Transmissio
Weigh
0-100km/
Economy
Pric
On sale r e n t h y e
Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabriolet
3982cc V8 (90°), dohc, 32v, twin-turbo
375kW @ 5500-6250rpm
700Nm @ 1750-4500rpm
7-speed automatic
1850kg
4.1sec (claimed)
8.9L/100km (EU)
$170,000 (estimated)
November