When I first heard we were driving the Mercedes AMG C 63 S E Performance at the Buddh International Circuit, I got extremely excited because I thought the V8 engine, sports car, and race track - a perfect combination, isn't it? But, well, Mercedes had different plans this time around. We gotta keep moving forward; we should accept new changes in our lives. That's what we keep telling ourselves. Mercedes took those lines a little too seriously and gave us the 2024 Mercedes AMG C 63 S E Performance 4MATIC+, which is now packed with a 2.0L 4-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain, making it the world’s most powerful 4-cylinder engine. They say the F1-inspired performance hybrid is the best of both worlds: ICE + Electric. Downsizing from a 4.0L Turbocharged V8 to a performance hybrid 2.0L inline four had almost all of us questioning whether it was actually a good upgrade. Well, luckily, we got the opportunity to test it out for a couple of laps around BIC and find out just how much of a surprise this car was holding onto!
VERDICT: With the latest tech directly inspired by Formula 1 and a slightly complex powertrain, the Mercedes AMG C 63 S E Performance 4MATIC+ is priced at INR 1.95Cr (ex-showroom). With a fully specced car priced at INR 2.08Cr, if you can look past the missing V8 and love driving the C 63 on the racetrack while also wanting a sports car for your normal day-to-day travel, this might be the one for you. Because the high performance of this car can make the child in anyone feel excited. However, we have to acknowledge that a 2Cr car will be a hard sell for maybe 10-15% of buyers as it misses the V8. With the four seats in the car, it can become a perfect car for a family that enjoys speed.
The new change we all probably needed was the downsizing of the C 63 from the legendary V8 to the 4-cylinder plug-in hybrid. This might sound sad as we are going to miss the pops and intimidating feeling of driving around with a V8 engine. However, the new C 63 has some interesting power figures under its hood that intrigue me quite a bit. The 2.0L 4-cylinder M139 and the electric exhaust gas turbocharger, which eliminates turbo lag, produce over 470bhp with an AMG 9-speed DCT. Adding to that is an electric motor situated on the rear axle producing 201bhp, which is paired up with a 2-speed gearbox that shifts up to second gear once the car goes above 140 kmph to maintain the performance and punch. This results in a combined max power of 671bhp and 1020Nm of torque! It can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in just 3.4 seconds! We were not expecting these numbers at all. Powered by a 6.1 kWh battery, the battery’s main function in this car is to support the engine to enhance electric performance and power. With a peak power of 150 kW, it has a 13 km electric range, which might not be needed very often. With a weight of 89 kg, this battery pack manages a high recuperation and discharge rate with direct cooling of 560 cells. Overall, while we will miss the V8, the high performance this car is packed with truly made me feel like a race car driver on top of the world. The instant punch when I accelerated was just mind-boggling, and the fact that you won't feel any lag even at higher speeds is just the cherry on top. The accelerator pedal was sharp and responsive, and this car is definitely made for great exit speeds coming out of corners. With the boost strategy on the track pace app, suggesting when to enable the boost mode at certain parts of the track was the most fun part of my experience on the track. The race mode included options to choose from quali lap to endurance stint. Bringing F1 tech to the C 63, for just a moment, you won’t realise that you are not driving a V8.
RIDE & HANDLING: The C 63 is not just about straight-line speed and high performance from the engine. The ride quality of this car can give you a nice surprise, too. The race car driver inside me felt at home while pushing the car around BIC. Having driven on this track for a long time in various formula cars, I was impressed by the driving dynamics of the C 63. Its 50:50 weight distribution between the front and rear, coupled with the weight of all the electric motors and powertrain at the rear, the rear-wheel steering, and the 4MATIC+ system, means you won’t feel like you’re driving a car weighing 2.1 tonnes. The handling of the car merges well with the power, considering the weight.
The car turns in nicely and weighs up properly, giving me confidence while turning at high speeds. The steering wheel is nimble and helps in making sharp turns. It sharpens the corners without much body roll. However, you might have to be a little more alert and put in more steering input for longer corners while carrying more speed to let it flow through the corner. With the AMG sports seats, you feel comfortable and supported as they hold you in place, and the slightly lower ride height gives you a sporty feel and encourages you to push more.
The standard steel brakes perform decently, although I felt that the pedal could have been firmer. It took some time to find the biting point, especially when driving at triple-digit speeds. But once you find the confidence to push harder and locate that biting point, you'll truly enjoy the sports car experience on the racetrack. A small piece of advice: If you love doing track days, you should definitely opt for the AMG ceramic brakes.
The car also has multiple driving modes, including Battery Hold, Electric, Comfort, Sport, Sports+, Race (my favourite, personally, with the 80% boost), Slippery, and Individual modes. The drift mode comes as standard, which had me grinning from ear to ear. Unfortunately, I couldn't try out the various modes due to my limited time with the car.
In the interiors, as soon as you enter the car, you get a sense of sportiness surrounding you. You can expect the usual AMG interiors: a perfect blend of sporty, aggressive, and tech together. The sports seats come as standard, but you can opt for the AMG performance seats at an additional cost of INR 3L. The all-black theme with red accents and ambient lights makes it look very classy. The carbon fibre detailing on the dash truly connects with the whole sporty vibe, and the special “F1 E Performance” badging on the passenger side shows Mercedes’s great attention to detail. The car we had came with a sunroof, but if you wish to have one, you have to pay an extra INR 2.40L.
The vertically stacked screens give you access to almost everything, and they're a great help when you are on track and wish to set lap times with the AMG track pace app. With just a few touches, you have all the tech information on the car, just like in Formula 1. In terms of space, you have ample storage, but the boot space of 280 litres feels slightly compromised due to the addition of the battery and electric powertrain. But, well, who needs more boot space when you have a sports car to drive on tracks?
Since we were at BIC, Mercedes gave us the exclusive F1 edition C 63 to drive around the track. And let me tell you; it doesn't disappoint when it comes to the overall looks and styling of the car. Adding to that were the F1 edition elements, which you won't have in the standard car. Although you have a good list of configuration options to choose from at an additional cost.
First up, the car has a very aggressive stance, and I absolutely loved it. The Panamericana AMG front grille and the front bumper with huge intakes give it a sporty vibe. The new bonnet design adds to the aggressive styling with the vent for airflow from the turbo. On the side, the car comes with 20-inch AMG cross-spoke forged wheels, and right above the tyres on the front, there are fake air inlets and a “Turbo E Performance” badging. The car comes with normal steel discs but has the option to upgrade to AMG ceramic brakes at an additional cost of INR 6.5L.
The wheelbase has increased by 10mm. On the rear, the lip spoiler is quite catchy, with quad exhaust tips and vents on the bumper. The red accents around the whole car are part of the F1 edition. The car we drove had the MANUFAKTUR Alpine Grey paint, but you can choose from a variety of 12 shades at an additional cost.
