Motor Australia — January 2018

140 january 2018 motormag.com.au

A45 AMG

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Dec 16 $78,315 (7dc) I4/2.0T 2 8 0 / 6000 475/2250all 1480180 4.32 12.54 12.8 Much improved ride comfort; even more mental performance

It’s a bit serious; transmission not the best

CLA45 AMG

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$ 9 2 , 6 1 1 ( 7 d c ) I4/2.0T 2 8 0 / 6000 475/2250all 1510 176 4.2 – 7.4 Addingabootjustaddstotheappeal;ridesalittlesofter

Responsesdulledalittle;stylingoddfromsomeangles

CLA45 AMG S/brake

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$ 9 2 , 6 1 1 ( 7 d c ) I4/2.0T 2 8 0 / 6000 475/2250all 1540172 4.3 – 7.4 Hardcore performance wrapped in compact utility

It’s the heaviest MFA-based AMG yet

AMG C43

11123

Jun 17 $102,611 (9a) V6/3.0TT2 7 0 / 6000 520/2000 all 1615 167 4.61 12.87 12.35 Quick, comfortable, entertaining

More subdued than most modern AMGs

AMG C43 Estate

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$105,112 (9a) V6/3.0TT2 7 0 / 6000 520/2000 all 1660163 4.8 – 8.1 Engaging chassis wrapped in a wagon package

Looks quite subtle, but then that could be a plus

AMG C63 S

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Sep 17 $157,211 (7a) V8/4.0TT375/6250 700/1750 rear 1655227 4.27 12.20 8.6 Amazing engine; brilliant chassis; new-found comfort

Looks quite subtle; occasional transmission stumble

AMGC63 S Estate

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Jan 16 $159,711 (7a) V8/4.0TT375/6250 700/1750 rear 1725 217 4.0 – 8.7 Thefamilyman’sperformancesolution

Practicalitycomesatacost–she’sgettingheavy

C300 Coupe

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$83,400(7a) I4/2.0T 1 8 0/5500370/1300 rear 1490121 6.0 – 6.6 Fast, frugal engine; decent dynamics

Not particularly exciting; rear styling an acquired taste

AMG C43 Coupe

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$ 1 0 5 , 6 1 5 ( 9 a ) V6/3.0TT2 7 0 / 6000 520/2000 all 1660163 4.7 – 8.0 Quick, comfortable, entertaining

More subdued than most modern AMGs

AMG C43 Cabriolet

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$ 1 2 0 , 6 1 1 ( 9 a ) V6/3.0TT2 7 0 / 6000 520/2000 all 1795 150 4.8 – 8.4 Solid mix of class, sophistication, and performance

Twin-turbosixfeelsalittleunderdoneforthispackage

AMG C63 S Coupe

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Feb 17 $163,611(7a) V8/4.0TT375/6250 700/1750 rear 1725 217 4.5612.48 8.7 Germany’s premier muscle car; awesome engine and handling

Weight increase over sedan; more expensive than rivals

AMG C63 S Cabriolet

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Apr 17 $181,611 (7a) V8/4.0TT375/6250 700/1750 rear 1850202 4.1 – 9.3 FrontrowseatstohearAMG’sthumpingneweight

Not the keenest handler of the C63 bunch

E400 Coupe

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$ 1 4 5 , 6 1 1 ( 9 a ) V6/3.0TT2 45/5250480/1600all 1845148 5.3 – 8.5 Slick B-pillar-less design has hugely improved as the handling

AMG-tunedE43sedannotmuchofastretchatthispoint

E400 Cabriolet

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$157,500 (9a) V6/3.0TT2 45/5250480/1600all 1935127 5.5 – 8.6 New-gen E-Class Cabriolet not too bad on the eyeballs

Startingtoclocksomescaryfiguresonthescales;priceclimb

AMG E43

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$159,611 (7a) V6/3.0TT2 9 5 / 6 1 0 0 5 2 0/2500all 1765 167 4.6 – 10.3 SupercomfyE-Classsuspension;V6tweakedtohighoutput

Soft looks; crying out a bit more character

AMG E63

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$ 2 0 9 , 6 1 1 ( 9 a ) V8/4.0TT 4 2 0/5750750/2250rear 1950216 3.5 – 9.3 ‘Entry’ E63 returns with 4.0-litre engine for less

Can’t ditch the front driveshaft like its sibling; December arrival

AMG E63 S

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July 17 $239,611 (9a) V8/4.0TT 4 5 0/5750850/2500rear 1955230 3.75 11.63 9.3 Staggering turn of speed; all-paw traction with rear-drive fun

Heavier than the old one; 4.0-litre very highly strung now

Hot Source

Fast guide to quick cars

Jaguar XF 25t

THE JAGUAR XF range has received an update for the 2018 model

year, primarily based around the roll-out of JLR’s latest ‘Ingenium’

engine family. A 2.0-litre turbo petrol is available in three states of

tune, 147kW/320Nm 20t, 184kW/365Nm 25t and 221kW/400Nm 30t,

with two diesels (132kW and 177kW) joining the carryover 3.0-litre six-

cylinder S engines, a 280kW/450Nm supercharged petrol and grunty

221kW/700Nm turbo diesel. Tested here in 25t guise, the XF is a nice car,

which isn’t meant to sound anywhere near as condescending as it does.

Simply put, the XF is very good in many areas without being standout.

Its party piece – probably the primary reason why you’d buy it over its

conservative German opposition – is its looks. The sporty R-Sport is

pictured here, however, our black Portfolio test car looked mature and

classy; granted, it looks very similar to the smaller XE, but the design

language seems to work more cohesively on the larger XF. The 2.0-litre

turbo four looks the goods on paper (6.6sec 0-100km/h; 6.8L/100km)

and is torquey enough for brisk acceleration, but it feels a little strangled

at the top end suggesting the 221kW tune is the one for keener drivers.

Jaguar’s chassis is also well up for a punt, with accurate, well-weighted

steering, fine handling balance and good body control. The interior lacks

the latest gadgets of the new-gen Germans but works well enough,

though the rotary gear selector needs to go. Pricing is also an issue, as

while the base cost is sharp enough a long options list can quickly add up.

Choose wisely, but start with the 221kW engine. – SN

MODELTESTED PRICE ENGINEKW/RPMNM/RPMDRIVEKERB KGKW/TONNE0-100 KM/H0-400MFUEL CONSPROS & CONS

SPECS 2.0-LITRE TURBO INLINE-4CYL, 184KW, 365NM, 0-100KM/H 6.6SEC PRICE $92,900

FastBlast