Since the formal merging of Mercedes and AMG in 2005 to form Mercedes-AMG GmbH the German performance subbrand has been on an interesting trajectory, especially with the relatively recent introduction of diet-AMG models like the 43 and 53 cars. Where spotting an AMG badge on the back of a Mercedes-Benz used to mean something seriously special, the brand has become somewhat diluted with the democratization of the AMG badge . But don’t get it twisted.
The new 2024 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance is a full-fat AMG car with a handbuilt engine and eye-watering performance capabilities. Gone is the old C63’s V8 , as the new generation uses the most powerful production four-cylinder in the world paired with a plug-in hybrid component to produce a total of 671 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque. The 2.
0-liter inline-4 uses Formula 1 technology to sandwich a tiny electric motor inside of a gargantuan single turbocharger to eliminate the natural turbo lag that comes with slapping a mammoth turbo on a little engine. On its own, the hand-built four-cylinder produces 469 hp, the same amount of power as the old C63 in base spec.AMG pairs this overachieving engine with a two-speed electric motor on the rear axle and a 6.
1-kWh battery pack that adds up to 203 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. Full disclosure: Mercedes-AMG loaned me a gorgeous CLE450 Cabriolet to drive out to Malibu so I could sample it and the new C63 S E Performance. They put me up at a legendary Malibu resort and treat.