Like pretty much every automotive manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz is plotting a strategy that will lead to an all-electric future. It’s already rolled out its first long-range battery-electric vehicle, the EQS sedan, and is set to follow with an SUV version, along with the smaller EQE sedan and utility models.
The challenge is finding a way to electrify the AMG side of the automaker’s line-up. There, a manufacturer like Mercedes faces trade-offs between performance and range. And one possible solution — at least for now — is turning to plug-in hybrid technology.
That’s where the 2024 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E comes into play. Set to take the place of the current, V-8-powered C 63, it relies on a decidedly downsized inline-4 paired with a rear-mounted electric motor. This is more than just a replacement for the old drivetrain, however. The new combination manages to deliver an astounding 671 horsepower, 128 hp more than the outgoing package.
Big power from small displacement
Declaring it a “game-changer,” Mercedes-AMG CEO Philipp Schiemer noted the internal combustion side of the C 63 package is itself “the most powerful 4-cylinder ever.” It makes 480 horsepower out of a mere 2.0-liter displacement.
Of course, one of the benefits of adding the rear electric motor — which pushes power out through a 2-speed gearbox — is its incredible torque. The combined hybrid system not only makes 671 hp but 752 pound-feet of torque, 236 lb-ft more than the current C 63. And that torque comes on all but instantaneously.
The C 63 S E becomes one of the most powerful AMGs ever produced, whatever the package. And it will be one of the fastest, launching from 0 to 60 in a mere 3.3 seconds, about 0.5 seconds faster than today’s V-8. It will top out at 174 mph, the one place the new model falls short. The outgoing AMG sedan could reach 180 mph.
Other changes
During a lengthy Zoom call ahead of today’s official announcement, Schiemer offered up some insight into the new model. He acknowledged one thing the 2024 model won’t deliver is that body-rattling roar of the old V-8.
“The sound will be, for sure, different, but it will be emotional,” he insisted. Apparently, AMG engineers spent a lot of time working on the piping of the new gas side of the C 63 S E driveline to make sure it delivers the sort of engine note that will still satisfy, though “We have to follow rules,” added Schiemer, referencing the laws of physics.
Technically, the new AMG model is a plug-in hybrid, through it features only a modest 6.1 kilowatt-hour battery. The roughly 200-pound, liquid-cooled pack will only deliver about 7 miles of range in all-electric mode. Why bother, then? AMG could have downsized the pack, most conventional hybrids coming in at under 2 kWhs. But that would risk a driver running out of electrons just when they might need them most — whether turning laps on a track or blasting down the Autobahn, right foot planted firmly on the floor.
As for charging up, an owner certainly will be able to plug in, most likely to a Level 2 240-volt charger. But, Schiemer noted, simply using brake regeneration under less aggressive conditions should help keep the pack at or near capacity.
A better experience
Raw power is one thing. But, like traditional Mercedes-AMG entries, the goal was to create the “compleat” package. It is, said Schiemer, “not just … pure power but the handling of the car, the feeling of the car. It’s the integration of the car.”
Among the features added to the 2024 model, it gets a rear-wheel-steering system that allows the back rubber turn as much as 2.5 degrees. At low speeds they turn in sync with the front tires, delivering an unusually tight turning radius. At speeds above 62 mph, (100 kmh), they turn out of phase by up to 0.7 degrees. That enhances high-speed handling.
The suspension uses adaptive damping, with steel springs at each corner.
As you’d expect of an AMG with this sort of power, the C 63 S E Performance gets composite brakes with six-piston fixed front calipers up front. They’re a blended system which means that much of your speed actually will be scrubbed off and that kinetic energy transformed back into electrons to keep the battery pack charged. Drivers can adjust the level of regen and the AMG sedan offers a 1-Pedal mode which, under most conditions, means a driver can simply modulate the throttle to accelerate, slow or even come to a complete stop.
Motorists will have a choice of different driving modes, including Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Race, Battery Hold, and Slippery, and those settings will instantly adjust vehicle functions including steering, suspension, throttle, transmission shifts and braking.
Good looks and big money
From a design standpoint, the C 63 S E won’t get confused with a more conventional C-Class. It has wider front fenders, flared wheel arches and a track widened by about 3 inches. It’s also a bit more than 3 inches longer, with a 0.4-inch stretch to wheelbase.
It gets a modified grille that hints at the classic 1954 300 SL race car, as well as a double-domed hood with built-in heat exhaust vents.
The cabin updates the current C 63 but stays close to its overall look with AMG-requisite touches such as unique infotainment functions that let you record on-track performance. And new sports seats are available.
The 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance will reach European and some other global markets early next year. Unfortunately, Americans will need wait until later in 2023 to take delivery as a 2024 model. As for pricing, it would surprise no one if the new package comes in above the $77,250 Mercedes-AMG asks for the current C 63 S package, possibly pushing into the mid-$80,000 range.
Long term, expect the plug-in hybrids to have limited applications, at least if global regulators hold to their plans to completely ban the use of internal combustion engines.
The approach taken by the C 63 S E, said Schiemer is “a bridging step towards total electrification.” AMG has shown it is ready to get into that game with its version of the EQS — though some have derided it as a sort of “AMG Light.”
But stay tuned. The sub-brand has a new “axial flux” high-performance motor coming closer to mid-decade, as well as a unique AMG-exclusive battery-electric platform. The C 63 is just the first step in what Schiemer calls “our electrification strategy.”
