Remember everything negative we had to say about the 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300 just the other month? Meet it’s antithesis; the 2012 C63 Black.
Engine: M156 6.3-liter V8xxxxHorsepower: 510xxxxxxxxTorque: 457lb-ft
Curb Weight: 3605lbsxxxxxxx0-60mph: >4.2 secondsxxMSRP: TBD (+$100k)
The All New 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 Black Coupe
Sporting pronounced fender flares and aggressive stance the C63 cut an imposing profile
Mercedes-Benz recently unveiled its re-envisioned C-Class, the C63 AMG Black Series. The company says the new car (currently only offered as a coupe with a sedan to follow) which is a 2012 production model will feature the 6.3-liter V8 engine from the SLS AMG and in this configuration will produce an awesome 510 horsepower capable of propelling the car from 0-60mph in just under 4.2 seconds!
Utilizing the latest technology to boost its performance, the new C63 also pays homage to the 1960s American car manufacturer’s mantra of installing large engines designed for big cars into smaller chassis and letting big displacement make extremely fast muscle-cars. Unlike those earlier U.S. “ground-pounders” however, this new breed of European muscle-cars is designed to be a truly capable both around the track and at the stop-light; the C63 can readily accelerate, brake and corner like a like a racecar all the while offering it’s driver and passengers the creature comforts and luxury expected from a big Merc.
The transmission and suspension can be adjusted for different driving conditions and the transmission control knob even has a “race start” setting to help facilitate maximum acceleration. A special rear-axle differential lock is designed to improve traction, “especially under race track conditions,” per Mercedes’s engineers.
There’s plenty of “eye candy” inside the car to denote it’s origins at the Mercedes “Skunkworks” facility, including red seat belts and red contrasting stitching on the steering wheel, seats, door trim, armrests, center console and shift lever. There is a ”Black Series” logo on the dashboard, and a three-dimensional color screen that displays the AMG logo when the car’s door is opened. Probably our favorite touch, the steering wheel is flattened on top and bottom to give it a shape more similar to that found in Formula One race cars.
The new C63, which is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. in early 2012, will also later in the year be available with four doors.
AMG's impressively intimidating 6.3-liter V8
The well appointed and ergonomically aggressive interior of the C63
A native of Tampa, FL Robert is the presiding editor and co-owner of both Down Shift Magazine and DS Holdings, LLC. A proud alumnus of the University of South Florida’s class of 2005 Robert is active in the Tampa Bay community and when not residing at his home in Tampa, FL enjoys traveling throughout the United States and abroad covering the motorsports and cultural phenomenon that shape our modern automotive enthusiast community.
