Mercedes-Benz C63 2015 News

Audi has lifted the lid on its second-generation RS5 Coupe at the Geneva motor show.

Australian new car market roars to new sales heights, but post-election blues may put brakes on in back half of 2016

Here's a recap of the year's stars, with impressive arrivals and value added to staples.

They would have learned everything they need to know at the world's most successful new car show, the Goodwood Festival of Speed.Goodwood has been running for many years, but more recently it's morphed from a garden party at the stately home of the Earl of March into a genuine motor show which draws every major maker in the UK - and beyond.So what began as a chance for the owners of historic racing cars to exercise their old-timers is now a major event that draws more than 200,000 people each June on the same weekend as the Glastonbury music festival.Some fantastic retired racers still sprint up the Earl's driveway but it's the modern stuff which is drawing the big crowds and the big brands.Goodwood is an event and a destination, proving that cars are still more than just appliances for a lot of peopleMercedes-Benz uses the weekend to unveil its facelifted A45 AMG and new C63 S, Aston Martin rips the covers off its $2.5 million Vulcan and launches it up the hill, and Peugeot shows its 308 GTI for the first time. Mazda, which is the star brand at the show and has its Le Mans winning rotary 787B doing noisy demonstration runs, has its all-new MX-5 in action.There is also a moving motor show where ordinary fans can take a passenger ride and a supercar cavalcade including all of the world's most desirable cars, right up to the 400km/h Ferrari FXX K.And that's the real key to the Festival of Speed. The cars move and there is lots of interactivity for visitors, from off-road driving events to racing car simulators and even kiddie slides.Did I mention Ken 'Gymkhana' Block in the outrageous Ford Mustang that starred in his most-recent internet video hit?Old-school motor shows are just giant showrooms, but Goodwood is an event and a destination, proving that cars are still more than just appliances for a lot of people. If it can work in Britain then the same formula should be just as tasty in Australia.

Australian buyers have committed nearly $50 million on the yet-to-arrive Mercedes-Benz C63 S AMG.

The original car had just 206kW of power whereas the new model due in Australian showrooms in August has a thumping 375kW of grunt from a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8.However, while the price marginally undercuts the BMW M3 sedan, it is not the cheapest C63 AMG ever sold locally.In 2001 the C32 powered by a supercharged V6 sold for $146,900 while the previous C63 dipped to $144,365 in 2008 before climbing to $153,900 last year.Mercedes-Benz Australia has opted to take only the high output C63 S rather than the standard C63; the difference is 350kW and 650Nm versus 375kW and 700Nm and a 0 to 100km/h time of 4.0 seconds.“There has really been nothing quite like the previous C63 and the new C63 S won’t just move the goal posts, it creates a new sports ground," said Mercedes-Benz Australia boss Horst von Sanden.A wagon version of the new C63 AMG will also be also available, for $157,400 plus on-road costs.  1995 to 1997Mercedes-Benz C36, 3.6-litre six-cylinder, 206kW, four-speed auto: $154,900 to $155,100 1998 to 2000Mercedes-Benz C43, 4.3-litre V8, 225kW, five-speed auto:$152,090 to $156,100 2001 to 2004Mercedes-Benz C32, supercharged 3.2-litre V6, 260kW, five-speed auto: $146,900 to $150,900 2005 to 2007Mercedes-Benz C55, 5.5-litre V8, 270kW, five-speed auto:$159,900 to $160,490 2008 to 2014Mercedes-Benz C63, 6.2-litre V8, 336kW, seven-speed auto:$144,365 to $153,900 2013 to 2014Mercedes-Benz C63 507 Edition, 6.2-litre V8, 372kW, seven-speed auto: $169,407

In a year when the overall car market shrank, all but a handful of prestige brands increased sales. Buyers don't just want a good car; they want others to see they have one, helping everyone from Maserati to Mercedes-Benz post gains.The trend is accelerating and a steady stream of new models in 2015 only adds to the impetus. CarsGuide looks at what's in store for the premium players this year.It isn't hard to foresee the popularity of the 4C two-seat coupe when it hits showrooms next month. This baby supercar uses a carbon-fibre tub, mid-engine layout and minimalist interior to present a modern incarnation of a stripped-down racer. Pricing will be $80,000-$100,000. The soft-top Spider is due in October. The Alfa Giulietta also gets an update.A steady new model rollout starts in February with the arrival of the TT coupe for just under $80,000. It will be joined by the soft-top roadster midyear and the TT S performance model in August or September. The plug-in petrol-electric A3 e-tron five-door hatch is due in May with an expected price of $60,000, with the Q7 large SUV due late in the year. Updates or variants include the A6/A7, RS6/RS7, A1, RS3 and Q3/RSQ3.New metal is in short supply at the British brand but two models will join the line-up, starting with the Vantage S Roadster at a shade under $420,000. If that isn't exclusive enough, consider the $500,000 Vanquish Carbon using the same V12 but with eight forward ratios in place of the Vantage's seven.BENTLEYChauffeurs will going cap-in-hand to buyers of the Mulsanne Speed for the chance to steer the best Bentley ever. A twin-turbo V8 cranks out 1100Nm - only the Bugatti Veyron can torque itself up as a more powerful production model - to push the 2.7-tonne limo into triple figures in 4.9 seconds. Pricing has yet to be set but if you have to ask, you can't afford it.There's a lot of product in the pipeline this year but only one all-new car. The X1 will switch to front-wheel drive when the second-generation model arrives in the third quarter. The X1 will look more mini-SUV than compact wagon, aligning it with the X3 and X5. Top-end versions will be all-wheel drive. Updates and new variants include the 2 Series convertible, X5M/X6M, 6 Series/X6, 3 Series, X4 M40i and X5 e-Drive.The 458 range has a Speciale A due next month. The 499 examples of the alloy hardtop model are already sold, meaning the $635,000 two-seater is likely to be a smart investment. Keep an eye on the classifieds.The struggle to be a serious prestige player continues for Infiniti with a major model overhaul due in 2016. A refreshed Q70 flagship is due midyear with a nip-and-tuck for the bumpers, updated interior trim and more safety software.The transition from niche player to prestige powerhouse is predicated on the XE sedan being a genuine rival for the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and BMW C-Class. Specs indicate the engines are up to the job, so it comes down to how well it can be priced in Australia. There will be updates for the F-Type coupe and convertible and XF sedan.Styling that echoes the Evoque and a premium interior mark the Discovery Sport, debuting in May. Essentially a replacement for the Freelander, the Sport is a serious off-roader with 600mm wading depth and four-wheel drive. Also expect a Range Rover Sport SVR, Range Rover hybrid and updated Evoque.A compact performance sedan, the RC F will cost $133,500, making it a 'budget' alternative to the Germans. The naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 isn't quite on par with the Euro competition but neither is the price. The GS F mid-sized sedan will use the same engine and is due later in the year, price undisclosed. The NX200 will get a new turbo engine.No new news is still good news for Lotus aspirants. An automatic Exige - the brand's first self-shifter - is due in the second quarter. Expect to pay around $9000 for the clutch-less version, putting the price above $135,000. An updated Evora should land late with less weight and improved interior.An 'affordable' McLaren is due late in the year with an entry level Sport model priced at more than $300,000. That puts it in the higher echelons of Porsche 911 territory - but still well below typical McLaren prices.Australia's top-selling prestige brand rolls out a range of new toys this year to expand its appeal. The action starts with the AMG GT and C63 AMG in the second quarter, both using a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8. Skip ahead to Q3 and there's the new GLE (formerly known as the ML) and GLE coupe SUVs, followed by the CLA Shooting Brake and the much-needed GLC compact SUV. Other updates or variants include the S63 coupe, CLS, B-Class and S500 coupe.The action starts with an entry-level five-door Mini Cooper One at $25,600 in February. It is powered by a three-cylinder engine with 75kW/180Nm. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the John Cooper Works three-door hatch, which will be the Mini with the most mumbo ever when it arrives midyear at an estimated $48,000.There's plenty to whet the appetite for performance enthusiasts, even if it is all clad in existing bodywork. The base V6 and performance GTS Cayenne SUV models are due next month, followed by the Turbo S midyear. An update of the 911 should make it before Christmas and Santa may deliver the new GT4 Cayman at the same time.The XC90 large SUV is due midyear with prices starting from about $90,000. A more affordable alternative will be the V60 Cross Country due late in the year from $65,000. The elevated version of the V60 wagon will be sold in FWD and AWD guise.

New Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG has 375kW of power and 700Nm of torque. The new generation 2015 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG promises to be the most powerful yet, with the company confirming the twin turbo 4.0-litre V8 will have 375kW of power and a whopping 700Nm of torque. The peak outputs are greater than the previous generation E63 AMG, and 50Nm more than the same engine in the AMG GT-S sportscar unveiled a fortnight ago. Company insiders say the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG is expected to complete the 0 to 100km/h dash in less than 4.2 seconds, the time recorded for the current generation C63 AMG Black Series. Mercedes-Benz is still doing final testing of the new generation car ahead of its global unveiling at the 2014 Paris Motor Show in late September. Spy photos show sedan and wagon versions of the new C63 AMG have been tested on the Nurburgring and high-speed autobahns of Germany. Price is expected to be announced next year, but Carsguide understands it is likely undercut the BMW M3 sedan and BMW M4 coupe despite being faster and more powerful than its German rival. Mercedes-Benz says it has sold 40,000 V8-powered C-Class AMG cars since 1997, but the new model is expected to set new sales records for the mid-sized performance sedan. 

New generation Mercedes-Benz C63-S to pack 375kW of power.

Mercedes-Benz is moving the new C-Class closer to the top shelf, which will make even more breathing space for the very affordable CLA (which starts at $49,900) underneath the C's kick-off -- currently about $10,000 higher.So the new 2015 lighter and more powerful C-Class unveiled just a couple of hours ago ahead of the Detroit show doors opening tomorrow owes a lot to the S-Class flagship, including some styling cues and high-end technology that will take the fight to the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series and 4 Series.The fresh exterior makeover is matched in the cabin with hand-stitched leather upholstery, a 7-in touchscreen that can be optioned up to a massive 8.3-in with touchpad control, premium Burmester audio, a heads-up display option, and internet connectivity and apps. It will also be the first in its class to offer adaptive air suspension, with modes switchable from Comfort, ECO, Sport, and Sport+ via the Agility Select switch.The engine line-up starts with the base model C180's turbocharged 115kW/250Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol unit, with Mercedes claiming a 0-100km/h time of 8.2 seconds and fuel economy of 5.0L/100km. Moving up the scale, the C200 is powered by a 135kW/300Nm turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol with official 0-100km/h time of 7.5 seconds and 5.3L/100km economy.The C220 Bluetec carries a 125kW/400Nm 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel with an urea injection system to reduce emissions to the tighter coming EU6 standards, and claims a 0-100km time of 8.1 seconds and 4.0L/100km economy. The frugal focus is helped by all engines getting stop-start and brake energy recovery systems, and by the car having dropped up to 100kg in weight, depending on variant.Transmission choices for the launch models are a six-speed manual and seven-speed auto, with those gearboxes driving the rear wheels in the initial line-up. However an all-wheel drive will join them later in the year, as well as more engines: a petrol-electric hybrid at one end of the spectrum and a fire-breathing twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 for the AMG variant.And the C-Class is also getting a hold, as motor authority points out on the S-Class's mantle as the world's safety leader, with an arsenal of standard features including attention-monitoring, collision prevention that helps brake the car if it senses a bingle is imminent, and options including lane-keeping, active parking assist, extra brake helpers, a 360-degree camera and in some markets a system that can read traffic signs.We'll get the new C-Class in the later half of this year, and should have news on any price changes closer to the local launch. For more news on the Detroit show, head over to our dedicated mini-site.