Mercedes-AMG has launched the new C 63 S E Performance in India at Rs 1.95 crore. The C 63 S E Performance marks AMG’s third new car launch this year and its third plug-in hybrid in India, following the S 63 E Performance and the GT 63 S E Performance. Bookings have opened today, and deliveries are expected from April 2025 onwards.
- C 63 S E Performance pairs 476hp 4-cyl engine with 204hp motor
- Gets sporty AMG-specific changes inside and outside
- Buyers will get a complementary Nurburgring experience
Mercedes AMG C 63 S E Performance powertrain
Gone is the V8 engine that used to power the previous C 63. It’s been replaced with a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine that makes 476hp and 545Nm and is paired to a 9-speed automatic gearbox. The engine is paired to a rear axle-mounted electric motor that can put out a peak of 204hp and 320Nm. Total maximum output stands at 680hp and a whopping 1,020Nm of torque. Merc uses F1-derived tech for the turbocharger, which incorporates an electric motor that runs off the 400V electrical system, and helps the turbine spool faster.
Power is sent to all four wheels through the 4Matic+ system, which comes with a drift mode. The claimed 0-100kph time for the C 63 S E Performance is 3.4 seconds. The AMG Driver’s Package that's usually available as an option, is standard on the C 63. So top speed is 280kph.
The plug-in hybrid performance sedan gets a 6.1kWh battery pack (weighing 89kg), giving the C 63 an electric-only range of up to 13km. Four-wheel steering is also standard, which allows the rear wheels to turn up to 2.5deg in the opposite direction (up to 100kph), and up to 0.7deg in the same direction at speeds higher than that. The new C 63 gets eight drive modes – Electric, Comfort, Battery Hold, Sport, Sport+, RACE, Slippery and Individual – along three levels for its adaptive damping system – Comfort, Sport, and Sport+.
Mercedes AMG C 63 S E Performance interior, exterior
Compared to the standard C-Class, the AMG-spec model gets a vertically slatted grille with active shutters that open or close depending on the engine’s cooling needs. The restyled, more aggressive front and rear bumper increase the car's length by 83mm, and the wider front wheel arches make the performance version 76mm wider than the standard sedan. Lightweight 20-inch alloy wheels are standard.
Mercedes says AMG exclusive paint options like the Matt Graphite Grey Magno are customisable, and optional ceramic high-performance composite brakes can be specced instead of the standard ventilated and perforated metal ones. Naturally, the company offers a great deal of personalisation options with the C 63 S E Performance.
On the inside, the AMG and the standard model share the same layout, but this gets an all-black theme and an AMG-specific steering wheel. The ventilated sports seats in nappa leather and carbon fibre interior trim, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment and head-up display, and the 710W, 15-speaker Burmester sound system are standard. AMG Performance seats are an optional extra. Along with the usual list of ADAS features, 7 airbags and a 360-degree camera are standard fit.
Mercedes-AMG says that every buyer of the C 63 S E Performance will get a complementary opportunity to race at the Nürburgring.
Mercedes AMG C 63 S E Performance price, rivals
While the Rs 1.95 crore Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance has no direct rivals in India, other models that vie in this rarefied performance-focused space include the recently launched 550hp BMW M4 CS (Rs 1.89 crore) and the larger 500hp Porsche Panamera GTS (Rs 2.34 crore).
All prices, ex-showroom, India
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
