Aussie streets are set to become a little bit quieter as Mercedes ends production of the V8 powered C 63 AMG.
The car established notoriety in Australia as the wheels of choice for a wide variety of petrolheads ranging from executives and Formula 1 drivers to celebrities, hoons, and gangsters.
Even Lewis Hamilton couldn’t help himself behind the wheel of a C 63 – the F1 champion was busted by Victoria Police doing a burnout near Albert Park at the 2010 Australian Grand Prix.
Combining a hugely powerful – and noisy – V8 engine with the relatively compact body of a Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the C 63 was a smash hit in Australia and beyond.
Production of sedan versions has closed as the brand transitions to a greener, quieter – yet faster and more powerful – model with a four-cylinder hybrid motor.
It’s too late to order a V8 powered C63 sedan.
But customers can pick up an old-school Mercedes-AMG C 63 Final Edition coupe or convertible this year, following confirmation that “a limited number” of the cars are coming to Australia.
Power comes from the same 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 that has produced 375kW and 700Nm since the engine debuted in 2015.
A favourite of road testers, the C63’s bass-rich exhaust note complements its effortless shove.
As we noted in 2019, “it can rumble away effortlessly in the background when cruising around town, or pin you in the seat while filling the cabin with an intoxicating roar”.
The Final Edition brings a handful of tasty upgrades including carbon ceramic brakes, two-tone cross-spoke alloy wheels, matte grey paint and eye-catching side decals.
An interior trimmed in black leather with yellow stitching and swathes of matte carbon fibre adds to its appeal.
The package adds $28,400 to the price of a C63 Coupe, a car that already costs $190,000 plus options and on-road costs.
While the next-generation C63 doesn’t have the rock-and-roll soundtrack of its V8 predecessor, there is no doubt the new car is significantly faster.
Our European correspondent John Carey sampled the hybrid C63 on track in 2022 and came away impressed by its blend of ferocity and refinement.
Capable of sending 500kW and 1020 to all four wheels, he found the new model proves “turbo four plus volts is tech to trump V8” and that “there’s no way any earlier, V8-powered C 63 will keep up with it”.
And Mercedes-AMG will continue to offer V8 models in the future, including the soon-to-be launched SL convertible, V8 hybrid GT four-door sedan, and a successor to the two-door Mercedes-AMG GT coupe and convertible.