Autocar UK – 24 April 2019

36 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 24 APRIL 2 019

Δ modes to alter everything from

steering weight and damper firmness

to shift ferocity and throttle response.

But perhaps the most meaningful

up d at e t o t he C63 S i s t h at it ga i n s

a new AMG Dynamics programme

that manipulates the characteristics

of the rear differential, with modes

ranging from Basic to Master.

It operates alongside a nine-stage

traction control system similar to

that first introduced on the AMG

GT R and which promises to tailor

the car’s playfulness to the ability

of the driver.

Lastly, Mercedes-AMG’s claimed

k e rb w e i g ht of 1745 k g i s b e l ie v a ble

enough. On our test scales, the fully

fuelled Mercedes weighed in at

1770kg, with the mass split 55% to

the front, 45% to the rear.

INTERIOR

AAABC

Were you to sit blindfolded in the

driving seats of both a regular

C-Class Coupé and a C63, and then

attempt to figure out which was

which on touch alone, the microfibre-

clad steering wheel and firmer,

torso-hugging seats would give the

AMG away in an instant.

Past these points of immediate

contact, though, the two very

different strains of C-Class remain

largely identical in terms of their

interior topography. Three circular

air vents sit just below a dashtop-

mounted screen, and the central

fascia still houses the controls for the

climate controls and shortcut buttons

for navigating the infotainment.

The rotary control wheel for the

infotainment also remains where

it w a s , p o sit ione d ju s t b e h i nd a

large storage compartment on the

transmission tunnel. There’s a sharp

new 12.3in digital cockpit in the

place of analogue dials, and a larger

10.3in infotainment display has also

been fitted. It’s a layout that has won

pl aud it s b e for e a nd , e r gonom ic a l l y

speaking, works well enough today,

although it is beginning to feel in

need of a comprehensive update to

the overall architecture.

It’s a cabin impressive for the

r ic h ne s s of it s m at e r i a l s , t o o, i f on l y

sporadically. The Alcantara-like

covering on the steering wheel

immediately transfers a sense of the

C63’s performance pedigree to the

palms of your hands, but the quality

of the plastic switchgear doesn’t

a l w ay s b e f it t h at of a n upm a rk e t ,

ne a r-£80, 0 0 0 c a r. T he A r t ic o f a l s e

leather on the dashtop and doors was

a l s o a pa r t ic u l a r p oi nt of c ont e nt ion

for our testers, who felt the C63’s

asking price at least warranted

genuine leather as standard.

Of course, while the coupé

bodystyle comes with considerably

more kerb appeal than the saloon or

estate, it’s never going to be quite as

pr a c t ic a l. We me a s u r e d 80 0 m m of

head room and 650mm of leg room in

the second row, which will be enough

for children if not quite enough for an

adult to sit comfortably (or to access,

for that matter). Its 355-litre boot

is reasonably spacious, but at 455

litres the BMW M4’s is even more

accommodating. ◊

No complaints here as far as

steering column adjustability

is concerned. Pedals are

sensibly spaced, too, which

helps reduce fatigue on

longer stints at the wheel.

HEADLIGHTS

Automatic Multibeam LED

headlights are now standard

rather than optional on the

C63. They offer impressive

range and brightness on both

dipped and main beams.

PARKING

DIMENSIONS

z With adjustable thigh bolsters, AMG’s attractive bucket seats provide generous

support. The broad transmission adds to the feeling of security.

z Rear seats are nicely sculpted and more useful than those you’ll find in a Porsche

911, although they aren’t particularly suitable for adults.

Typical leg room

650mm

Height 440mm

Width 880 to 1240mm

Length 1050mm

z Boot takes several good-sized duffel bags, but it’s not as big a non-AMG C-Class

Coupé’s and it’s considerably smaller than that of the outgoing BMW M4.

2840mm

Kerb weight: 1745kg

4751mm

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WHEEL AND PEDAL
ALIGNMENT
Weights and measures
2010mm (with mirrors)
4200mm
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