The C63 Black has a more powerful 6.2-litre V8, unique motorsport-inspired suspension, and that Black Series badge isn’t just applied to any old hot rod Merc; there have been just three prior Black Series models, with a total of only 1170 having ever been built. Expectations are high, so read on for our first drive review of the Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe Black Series.
Let’s start with the engine, AMG’s famed 6.2-litre V8. In regular C63 guise it boasts 451bhp and 443bhp, but in Black Series form it gains the SLS supercar’s forged pistons, conrods and lightweight crankshaft, and a new ECU, to push its outputs up to 510bhp and 457lb ft. That’s actually barely any more power (and actually less torque) than its predecessor, the 500bhp and 465lb ft CLK63 Black, but it’s much gruntier than the 444bhp and 325lb ft BMW M3 GTS.
It means three-tenths are trimmed from the 0-62mph time, but no more because the C63 Black only weighs 20kg less than the normal C63 Coupe – there are no ceramic brakes or carbon panels to save weight. But there is that coilover suspension, and massively widened front and rear tracks (by40mm and 79mm respectively) which nestle behind broader front and rear wheelarches (28mm and 42mm).
Which means the Black no longer looks like a C-class saloon but a hardcore coupe with big, butch looks: intakes and vents pepper the nose, the creased aluminium bonnet and the enlarged arches, and if you spec the AMG Aerodynamics Package (circa £7k and fitted to our car you get a set of carbon ‘flics’ on the front bumper, a carbon front splitter and an adjustable carbon rear wing).
The noise is louder, the acceleration is harder, the steering is sharper, the braking ability is stronger (30mm bigger discs all round, to 390mm up front and 360mm at the rear), body control is better and the optional track-biased Dunlop tyres (yours for around £5k, together with active transmission cooling as part of the AMG Track Package) mean huge levels of grip.
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