Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG coupe 2012 review

THE race to be Australia's leading luxury brand is going down to the wire again this year after a nail-biter last year.

Mercedes came from behind last December to overtake BMW for its first win since 2003. With a month to go, the two are just as close this time, with Mercedes fewer than 150 sales behind.

The key battleground is the junior executive range. BMW's 3 Series, the definitive car in the segment, is up against the Mercedes C-Class, with each accounting for a third of brand sales or more.

Explore the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class range

• Mercedes-Benz C-Class C63 2012 review
• Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG coupe 2012 review
• Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG 2012 review

One reason why Mercedes could do the double is because its C-Class is outselling the 3. The Merc starter pack exec benefited from a mid-life refresh this year that focused on upgrading the dash and improving fuel economy. Both had lagged the competition.

It has worked. Remarkably, among mid-size cars regardless of price the C-Class is the third most popular, behind only the Ford Mondeo and Toyota Camry - despite costing almost twice as much. Or more.

Design

The makeover also brought a two-door to the C-Class for the first time and that changes the dynamics of the segment. It means Mercedes now has a rival for BMW's 3 Coupe and, more significantly, a direct competitor for the halo model among 3s: the M3 Coupe. This casts such a bright light over the 3 Series it can even make the humblest four-cylinder owner glow with pride. It's a potent marketing tool and a superbly polished dynamic performer.

The C63 AMG Coupe arrived in October and is already scoring goals, knocking off the M3 for top sportscar in the motoring clubs' Best Car awards last month and boasting a healthy order book. It has a window of opportunity now, because the 3 Series is about to be replaced. That means everyone knows the old M3 is on the way out.

Although they compete, these are very different cars. The M3 gives its best when you're going hell for leather. That's when the engine's on song and its precision can be appreciated. It's a scalpel. However, most of us don't need surgical steel every day. 

By comparison, the Merc is a breadknife even though this version, and the Coupe in particular, is less of a blunt instrument than before. Badge notwithstanding, this is a muscle car with a gold Amex that's all about the engine.

That means you don't have to risk a jail term to enjoy. The driver looks out over a ridged bonnet as shapely as Venice Beach biceps and the engine fires up explosively when you press the oversize metal button. That's just the prelude to a soundtrack that never stops entertaining.

Technology

The C63 retains the 6.2-litre V8, which AMG has been fitting for years but is being replaced by a turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 in next-generation cars. Because the C Coupe arrives halfway through the model cycle, it sticks with the old unit. This is not a bad thing. The 6.2 is more tuneful than the new engine and, despite a torque peak high in the rev range, never feels wanting.

This is especially true if you fit the Performance Pack, as here. For another $14,990 it boosts power by 22kW to 358kW, adds better front brakes with look-at-me red calipers and a steering wheel with Alcantara in the grip sections. Six out of 10 buyers reckon bragging rights are worth the extra.

Drive

Engine mods include forged pistons and a lightweight crankshaft, which dock 3kg off the weight. This unit spins to 7200rpm, which is not bad for a large V8 not made by Ferrari, and every millimetre of throttle application feels like you are unleashing some tempestuous, elemental force. It growls and roars on the way up then coughs and crackles on the way down. It's so entertaining at any speed you'll never forget why you bought it.

Of course, most of those kilowatts simply apply a rubber veneer to the road. But that's not the point. You have the power. If you do get some traction, it's quick. The Performance Pack lowers the 0-100km/h sprint time by 0.1 seconds to 4.3 seconds, which only a few years ago was in the supercar class.

The C63 Coupe disdains a torque converter automatic transmission in favour of the multi-plate clutch fitted to the SLS Gullwing. It has four levels of shift aggression, brings launch control and revs the engine on downshifts for extra drama. Quick, but not the quickest gearbox around, it can be hesitant and indecisive in slow-speed manoeuvres, a bit like the double-clutch transmissions now used by many brands.

The upgrade brings more direct steering to all C63s and it makes the front wheels your friends. It's one of the car's highlights. The AMG suspension is stiffer and sets the wheels further apart than in a standard C. It's a rigid set-up so the body doesn't move around much through corners.

That means on suburban roads the ride is joltingly firm. For me, there's just enough sophistication about the compromise to make it liveable. Great seats help and they're also one of the key AMG interior upgrades. Unlike before, this cabin feels the money even though tyre noise intrudes a bit too often and there are vestiges of former technology, such as the foot-operated park brake. The AMG cosmetics are restrained, in typical German fashion.

The C63 saves its extrovert traits for the road. That's unlikely to change, but all brands are being forced to succumb to emission regulations that mean large capacity, naturally aspirated V8s will soon be a thing of the past. Both Merc and BMW have taken to turbocharging and the M3 will return to six cylinders for its next generation.