Cubed, Cursed, and a bit of Curiosity

Engineered for perfection

There is one car engineered to perfection, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the only C-Class variant that fueled most enthusiasts was the one with the AMG variant. Surely, AMG is Mercedes-Benz's tuning arm that injected them with steroids but the entry-level C-Class sedans aren't far out what they seem. Let's begin with an instant classic, the W203 C32 AMG.

A proper executive super saloon

This car, it reminded me of those Brabus-tuned C-Class I drove (or hijacked) on The Getaway games but this C32 AMG is a bit more of a car chase prop. Yep, this is more like a proper prop for a good car chase. Anyway, about that C32 AMG, this was launched in 2001 and it uses a 3.2L Supercharged M112 V6 AMG engine which produces 354PS of power and 450Nm of torque. It uses a 5-speed AT, providing a 0-60mph time of 5.2 seconds.

Sadly however, when Mercedes-Benz facelifted the W204 C-Class in 2004, the C32 AMG was dumped and replaced by a more powerful C55 AMG, the one with the 5.4L V8 AMG engine that has no superchargers whatsoever. Another problem regarding this is that either a C32 or a C55, like the past C-Class AMG models, comes with the "bolt-on" performance modifications that suffered them from relentless understeer. So to solve this problem, by the time the arrival of the W204 C-Class, they come up with this...

Step aside, here comes a new kid

C63 AMG speeding through...

Check out that back!

This is the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. It's based on the W204 C-Class. It is equipped with a new suspension derived from the CLK63 AMG Black Series and the ESP can now be turned off. The 6.2L AMG V8 engine has more power and torque than its key rivals, the BMW M3 and the Audi RS4. It comes with a 7G-Tronic AMG transmission that has three modes; Comfort, Sport, and Manual. This promises about 0-60mph time in 3.9 seconds.

This car was featured in Top Gear alongside the BMW M3 and the Audi RS4 while Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May rattled through the twists and turns of the Ascari Race Resort in Spain.

It was featured in XTM Top Gear Korea. Thanks to The Stig, the C63 AMG has a lap time of 1:36.83, quicker than the Lotus Exige Cup 260 but a few seconds slower than the Porsche Cayman.

Yes, the C63 AMG is just one of the finest AMG models you can buy and the M156 AMG V8 engine generates a lot of noise. This is an executive sports saloon unplugged but sadly however, the days of the M156 engine have come to an end because Mercedes-AMG developed a new 5.5 V8 BiTurbo engine. Most AMG models will use that kind of engine but as for the W204 C63 AMG range, facelifted, the answer was NEIN. Why?

The preferably of the old AMG 6.2 V8 over the new AMG 5.5 V8 BiTurbo on the facelifted C63 AMG is because this new engine won't fit under the hood of the W204 C-Class, even in sedan, estate, or now in coupe variants. There is also another reason why the new turbocharged V8 engine is not a candidate for the C63 AMG is because the chassis of the W204 can't survive the torque of the AMG 5.5 V8 BiTurbo. That is just a piece of cowardliness! I am really supposed to hope that Mercedes-AMG will become an all-turbo lineup but no. Thanks to NA cars like these (and even the new SLK55 AMG), it ruined it. And now, there's someone even worse than that! Care to guess what?

What car is this?!

It's coming!

It's here! The C63 Black!

Here it is and of course, it's still the ruination of the Mercedes-AMG range because it doesn't have the turbocharged V8 engine you get from present-day AMG models. This is the all-new Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series. This car is part of Forza Motorsport 4's Megular's Car Pack.


Basically a beefed-up version of the C63 AMG Coupe, the C63 Black is armed with an improved version of the AMG 6.2L V8 engine, producing 517PS of power and 620Nm of torque, 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds, 255/35 R 19 and 285/30 R 19 wheels, black diffuser insert from SLS AMG GT3, chromed twin tailpipes, AMG sports suspension with AMG rear axle differential lock, 3-stage ESP, two AMG sports bucket seats, black DINAMICA microfibre upholstery on the centre panels of the seats and doors, omission of the rear bench seat (single rear seats available as an option), AMG performance steering wheel in nappa leather/DINAMICA microfibre, steering wheel rim featuring flattened top and bottom sections has aluminium shift paddles for manual gear changes, red seat belts and red contrasting topstitching on the steering wheel, on the seats, door centre panels, armrests on the doors, the centre console and on the shift lever gaiter; three autonomous round dials has a three-dimensional TFT colour display.

It went on sale in Europe in January of this year for 115,430 Euros (plus 19% VAT) and later on in China and the USA.

Jeremy Clarkson reviewed this on one episode of Top Gear alongside the Maserati Granturismo MC Stradale. Thanks to The Stig, the C63 AMG Black lapped around the Top Gear Test Track in 1:21.0, a few seconds quicker than its key opponent, the Maserati MC Stradale.

Smoking all day long!

Still smoking!

Black Series models are more like hardcore versions of the Mercedes-AMG range. One fine example was the CLK63 AMG Black Series, which became the biggest thriller for Jeremy Clarkson on his DVD, Thriller. This is somewhat the exact opposite. This car only works on the track but on everyday use, (guess Clarkson's right), it's a bit too harsh thanks to its uncomfortable ride comfort. The terms SHOUTING, SMOKING, and POWER, these are what made this C63 AMG Black a very interesting instrument of terror and this does more like one of my favorites such as the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe and the new Jaguar XKR-S.

The C63 AMG Black will always leave you into trouble easily but surely it can't put a smile in your face and it will never soothe your brow all the way home. It kinda feels like you've been attacked by scissors for no reason.

C63 Black having a spotlight at the Top Gear Studio

A normal C63 AMG Coupe is a bit too okay but with this C63 AMG Black Series, what they've done here is turned it into a giant skunk that came out from the skunkworks. Surely this car loves to smoke but what lies beneath the shadows of the C63 AMG Black Series is nothing but a web of lies. To sum up then, I would rather prefer the Jaguar XKR-S but hey, both the Jaguar XKR-S and the C63 AMG Black have a top speed limited to 300kph, they have similar 0-60 times, and they look pretty much obvious. Both of them weren't made for the most intelligent men from some very intellectual institute. It was made to be insane. It will take moments to make a middle-aged man feel 5 years old again but only supercars can do that. This car was nothing but a colossal show-off.

When will Forza Motorsport 4 feature a Mercedes-AMG model equipped with the 5.5 V8 BiTurbo engine? I'm afraid was a No because they keep spending most of the time putting up some of the older generation cars rather than focusing on the latest and modern ones. It appears then, that there won't be a chance to see a turbocharged AMG car coming to Forza soon.