Our colleagues on the British journal Autocar have taken a primary drive of the brand new Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Efficiency, the primary AMG C-Class to ditch the V8 engine in favor of an electrified 4-cylinder. And as anticipated, the impressions usually are not very favorable.
Historical past data the Mercedes C 36 AMG as the primary C-Class AMG. However it wasn’t. The Mercedes C 36 AMG was only a C 280 that was disassembled, after which the AMG physique package, brakes, suspension and 6 inline, 3.6 liter engine had been added in Affalterbach. The primary real C-Class AMG was the C 43 AMG in 1997, outfitted with the 4,266 cc (260.3 cu in) V8 engine. If it weren’t the V8-powered C-Class AMG, could also be AMG wouldn’t be the success it’s as we speak.
However, prefer it or not, one other web page in AMG historical past has now been turned. The C-Class AMG with a V8 engine is lifeless, and the successor is the brand new Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Efficiency 4-cylinder. Autocar’s editor believes the choice to ditch the V8 is linked to new emissions laws and prices. If Mercedes may afford to maintain the V8 and add a hybrid system within the case of bigger limousines, rising the value and revenue margin, this was not potential with the C-Class AMG. It sells in greater volumes, and a worth enhance could be problematic.
However if you expertise how straight the V8 drop influences the dynamic enchantment of such a automobile designed for driving enjoyment, you may consider the true value of this choice. It’s not nice to come back to such a conclusion however an AMG mannequin like this and not using a V8 engine appears a wierd and meaningless factor, like a clock with out arms.
Mercedes has fitted the brand new C 63 S E Efficiency with one of the best of its powertrain and drivetrain to compensate for the dearth of a V8. However no system manages to interchange the V8. Sadly, we reside in instances when an organization like Mercedes-AMG has to take drastic measures to maintain such sports activities vehicles on sale.
Though Autocar has a transient conclusion: Those that take advantage of important adjustments and take the largest dangers needs to be applauded, provided that the stakes are calculated.
The Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Efficiency makes use of a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine which options an electrical exhaust fuel turbocharger to remove any turbo lag. The 476 ps (469 hp) and 545 Nm (402 lb-ft) are transmitted for the primary time within the C-Class AMG to all 4 wheels by way of an nine-speed AMG Speedshift MCT computerized transmission. The all-wheel drive system features a limited-slip rear differential, torque vectoring perform and integral steering.
An electrical motor is then coupled to the rear differential by way of a two-speed transmission and the electrical motor can add 204 ps (201 hp) and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) on prime of what the combustion engine delivers by way of the PTO shaft.
The battery developed by Mercedes weighs 80 kg and is positioned above the rear axle, has a small capability for a PHEV, solely 6.1 kWh, and gives an electrical vary of solely 13 km (8 miles).
On the observe, driving the brand new AMG C 63 S E is a really totally different expertise from the outdated mannequin. The Monitor Tempo app tells you when to make use of the Increase perform on the observe to get one of the best lap time. You choose the observe you’re on, and the app locates you and tells you the place it’s greatest to make use of the Increase perform. Subsequent, you turn to Race mode, and when the phrase Increase flashes on the digital instrument cluster, you press kick-down. A stopwatch and indicator bar exhibits you the way lengthy Increase is accessible.
However past these items, that are nice enjoyable, the query is how a lot of the normal AMG values can the brand new C-Class AMG ship? Sadly, not a lot. With the electrical motor operating at full energy, the AMG C 63 S E Efficiency is a quick automobile. For those who use the opposite drive modes (eight in complete, together with Electrical and Battery Maintain however not together with Drift mode), you’ll benefit from the energy of the electrical motor with out having to press kick-down. For those who swap gears manually and use the next gear, the torque out there at medium revs permits easy driving.
However because the revs enhance, you notice the boundaries of the 4-cylinder engine. The engine doesn’t revs as simply as a bigger, multi-cylinder engine and doesn’t have the ferocity anticipated above 5000 rpm. The engine additionally lacks the attribute V8 sound. It sounds okay however not like a motor of a automobile that prices over 100,000 euros ($106,000).
Drift mode is spectacular, however the torque vectoring perform and rear lockable differential don’t present their advantages. The big 2.1-tonne kerb weight is felt on the observe the place the AMG C 63 S E Efficiency tends to understeer persistently by means of the quicker corners. Sadly, the brand new C-Class AMG looks like an enormous, heavy automobile, and the additional dose of grip and agility that its predecessors supplied over their greater siblings is gone. Need to trigger an oversteer? Until you’re in drift mode, neglect it.
The lack of driving appeal is a a lot greater problem than the burden and agility features. And this loss is not going to be mitigated by engineers.
