Bye-bye Biturbo
A short ode to the V8 in the C and E-Class.
Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupé
The radio stays off. We don't need it. The car may be equipped with a Burmester sound system, but we can do without it today.
The radio stays off. We don't need it. The car may be equipped with a Burmester sound system, but we can do without it today. Instead, we put the glass roof in the tilt position, grab the gearshift paddle on the steering wheel with our left hand and press the starter button with our right hand — AMG Emotion Start. With a loud rumble, the eight cylinders under the bonnet begin their work. And through the four angular tailpipes at the rear they announce it to everyone around. We shift into gear and roll off. Calmly, because the biturbo V8 needs to get up to temperature first.
Die deutschsprachige Version dieses Textes befindet sich hier.
The heart of our C 63 S Coupé is to be the main protagonist of this drive. After all, the discontinuation of the 205 and 213 series also means a farewell to the V8 engine in the C and E-Class. Although there are two AMG models in the current C-Class lineup, the Mercedes-AMG C 43, which is a lot of fun in a completely different way with its turbo four-cylinder, and the C 63 S E-Performance that takes performance to a completely different level, a V8 is still a special kind of engine.
We drive onto the Bundesstraße and the temperature gauge slowly climbs up. A gentle step on the accelerator is enough to effortlessly pull into the left lane and past the lorries. After a few kilometres, the coolant temperature has settled in the normal range. We take the exit onto the motorway. On the unrestricted Autobahn, it is tempting to press the right foot onto the pedal with full force and let the V8 rev up and roar, but we prefer to approach a decent cruising speed in a more relaxed manner. Because the motorway is not where we want to go anyway. We prefer taking the next exit and continuing on the winding roads towards the river Moselle. As we do so, we turn the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT control on the steering wheel to Sport+. The suspension becomes noticeably firmer, engine and transmission respond even more quickly. This is what makes these roads even more enjoyable, especially since there are not that many people on them on this Wednesday morning.
A gentle step on the accelerator is enough to effortlessly pull into the left lane and past the lorries. After a few kilometres, the coolant temperature has settled in the normal range. We take the exit onto the motorway.
The tarmac winds its way downhill through the forest. We shift through the nine gears ourselves with the paddles on the steering wheel. When the four-litre engine revs up on a downshift before the bends and the distinctive exhaust system at the rear delivers an acoustic confirmation of the gear change, this is the translation of engineering into emotion. What an engine! As with all AMG vehicles, however, it is the overall package of the C 63 S that makes it so exciting. The sharp turn-in that translates every half-degree turn of the steering wheel into a change of direction, the competent suspension that allows cornering speeds that can keep up with the 510 hp of the engine, plus the sports seats that hold you in a perfect position with their DINAMICA fabric. At this moment, we cannot imagine a better car for an engaging drive on these country roads.
When the four-litre engine revs up on a downshift before the bends and the distinctive exhaust system at the rear delivers an acoustic confirmation of the gear change, this is the translation of engineering into emotion. What an engine!
We arrive at the river Moselle and park the car by the water, take a step back and just look at the two-door coupé for a while. Although the launch of the 205 series was several years ago, the vehicle still has striking looks. And although the car’s flared fenders cannot quite deny that there is considerably more horsepower under the bonnet than in the average automobile, the design never seems brash, which is certainly also due to the paint finish in hightech silver metallic. Understatement has always been something that has distinguished the vehicles from Affalterbach.
The weather is a bit cloudy, but nevertheless we start the V8 again and make our way uphill from the river to enjoy the view into the valley from above the vineyards. A steep path winds its way up in narrow serpentines. On the short spurts between the bends, the eight-cylinder roar echoes back from the sides. You don't have to ask the biturbo engine twice to deliver huge power. It's enough to tickle the right pedal just a little and you’re shooting forward. And a smile inevitably forms on your face. When we reach the top of the vineyards, we park the C 63 S and, in addition to the driving impressions, we are thrilled by the view of the Moselle valley. So many beautiful landscapes right on our doorstep. Something to be done more often — just getting out there The coupé is the ideal companion. But we don't stay up there for long, because we want to get back behind the wheel of the V8 and enjoy every kilometre back home. Over country roads and without the radio, of course.
You don't have to ask the biturbo engine twice to deliver huge power. It's enough to tickle the right pedal just a little and you’re shooting forward. And a smile inevitably forms on your face.
Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupe shot for KBM Motorfahrzeuge GmbH & Co. KG in April 2023.
[Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupé | WLTP: Energieverbrauch kombiniert:
11,0‒10,7 l/100 km | CO₂-Emissionen kombiniert: 250‒244 g/km | CO₂-Klasse: G]
April 2024