We had been waiting for a replacement for the W204-based Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe, and what we got was this, the Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe. It is still based on the sedan, but the aggressive appearance is new sleeker with the elegant coupe body. It has slimmer taillights, and it is actually more than 2.5-inches wider than its four-door sibling. The inside is pretty much identical to the C-Class coupe, so it does benefit from having an absolutely beautiful cabin with elegant and sporty design cues to go with excessively high-quality materials. Under the hood, you’ll find the same 4.0-liter V-8 that powers al of the new Mercedes-AMG vehicles. The standard model delivers 469 horsepower while the C 63 S delivers 503 horsepower – numbers that are identical to that of the Mercedes-AMG GT.

Putting it lightly, Mercedes just served the competition in fashionable style, targeting models like the BMW M4, Lexus RC F, and anything with an Audi badge. The model is set to arrive in dealerships in the summer of 2016 as a 2017 model. Before that happens, we have put together a detailed review below to tell you everything you need to know about AMG’s new powerful coupe.

Update 6/1/2017: The Mercedes C63 is up for a facelift in 2019, and we’re getting the first round of spy shots of the coupe doing some warm-weather testing in Europe. Check out the spy shots section below to see what’s up with the upcoming facelift.

Click past the jump to read more about the Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe.

2019 Facelift Spy Shots – Round 1

As is the usual case with Mercedes facelifts, the C63 won’t change much. To keep things fresh through the decade, it looks like Merc is planning a redesigned front fascia with a revised air dam, new vents, and an updated front grille. This specific prototype was caught testing with your run-of-the-mill halogen bulbs, but by the time it makes it to production, it should sport a revised set of LED headlights with new LED strips. Around back, things will be a little less dramatic. The rear fascia will get a small revision, but nothing major, while the taillights should get a new graphic layout. It does appear as if the rear spoiler has grown a bit as well.

This facelift isn’t expected to yield any drivetrain updates of any kind, but inside the infotainment system will be updated to include the latest software enhancements and new, more intuitive menus while a new touchpad will provide smoother operation. The cluster with dials should also get a mild revision to round out the interior enhancements. This is an early prototype, so more could develop between now and when it is finally revealed in early 2018. Let us know what you think about it so far in the comments section below.

Exterior

The Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe takes the sedan's aggressive appearance and puts it into a sleeker, elegant coupe body. In short, it's a stunner and has all the styling attributes of a modern-day muscle car. The slimmer taillights and the more pronounced, angry look of the front end result in a much more distinctive overall look that isn’t just a C-Class with two fewer doors.

Up front, it features the A-shaped bumper that is not unlike the one found on the C63 sedan, along with a single-bar grille. It also sports more pronounced side skirts, a rear bumper that integrates an aerodynamic diffuser flanked by the usual four-exit exhaust system, while the larger wheels are engulfed with meatier tires. A small spoiler adorn the trunk lid, giving the rear end a racier appearance.

But the AMG C63 Coupe also has a few surprises up its sleeve, at least when compared to the sedan. Whereas the previous model was simply a two-door version of the sedan, the new coupe is actually wider than its four-door sibling. The flared wheel arches make the coupe 2.5 inches wider at the front and 2.6 inches wider at the rear, while also allowing the use of wider tires. Not only this makes the AMG C63 Coupe look more aggressive, but it should also enable it to perform a lot better at the track. All told, the BMW M4 just got served in the styling department.

Rendering Vs. The real deal

Interior

The interior of the AMG C63 Coupe is identical to the C-Class Coupe, which means it benefits from the same gorgeous cabin Mercedes originally designed for the 2015 Mercedes C-Class Sedan. Somewhat of a departure from Mercedes' tradition understatement, it combines sporty yet elegant cues with high-quality materials, such as wood, leather, and metallic inserts. Of course, the AMG gets a few extras over the standard model, including a custom instrument cluster, a 12 o'clock stripe on the AMG-badged steering wheel, and optional performance seats with a lower seating position and increased lateral support.

The standard seats come wrapped in Dinamica man-made leather and microfiber. Other features setting apart from the regular coupe including the AMG Dynamic Select switch next to the touchpad, the AMG-exclusive analogue clock in the carbon-fiber center stack, and carbon-look dials. As with most AMG models, Mercedes offers a wide range of options that can be tailored to individual preferences.

Drivetrain

As expected, the AMG C63 Coupe gets its juice from the same 4.0-liter V-8 found in the AMG GT sports car and the AMG C63 Sedan. The twin-turbo mill is available in the same two version, with the base model rated at 469 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque and the S model powered by 503 horses and 516 pound-feet of twist. Charging from 0 to 60 mph takes 3.9 seconds in the standard model and 3.8 seconds with the S, while top speed is limited at 155 and 180 mph, respectively.

These figures make the coupe a tenth-second quicker than the sedan, which comes at no surprise given the two-door is a tad lighter than the four-door. Also, the AMG C63 Coupe is as quick as the BMW M4 (3.9 seconds with the DCT), while the more powerful AMG C63 Coupe S charges to 60 mph a tenth-second quicker.

Both versions of the beefed-up coupe use the AMG Speedshift, seven-speed automatic transmission, which features four modes: "Comfort," "Individual," "Sport +," and "Race". "Comfort" offers a comfortable and more fuel efficient driving experience, while "Race" turns the coupe into a raging race car for the road. The "Individual" mode allows you to personally configure the way the AMG C63 behaves.

Drivetrain Specifications

Suspension

Keeping the AMG C63 Coupe on its best behavior is AMG’s Ride Control sport suspension with three-stage adjustable damping. The system comprises a four-link suspension up front and a multi-link unit on the rear, which can be set between three different stages for either optimum long-distance comfort for a 500-mile trip or maximum sporting performance for a weekend at the track. The coupe also has a rear locking differential, a three-stage ESP, and a precise, speed-sensitive steering. Stopping power is provided by motorsport-based, radially mounted brakes, with a ceramic-composite system available as an option.

Safety

Every AMG C63 Coupe comes standard with front side airbags, front pelvic airbags, a driver knee airbag, and full-length side curtain airbags. Additional safety features include Collision Prevention Assist Plus and PreSafe, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Prices

With the current C63 AMG coupe starting at a MSRP of $63,000, it is expected that its replacement shouldn't cross the $65,000 barrier, or at least not by much. That is arguably a lot of money for the smallest Mercedes-Benz coupe in AMG trim, but keep in mind that it would be a similar price with its biggest competitor, the BMW M4, which starts at $65,400. Automotive News reports that the base model may start at around $70,000, while the S model will be priced in the low $80,000, though nothing is official as of yet.

Competitors

2015 BMW M4

Despite offering two fewer cylinders and using an interior engine sound augmented by the audio system, the BMW M4 is still very much part of the big league, many seeing it as the benchmark of its segment in terms of on-track performance. Paranoid regarding the brands fuel-economy average, the M4 switched form the naturally aspirated, high-revving V8 of its predecessor to a twin-turbocharged inline-six with a displacement of 3.0 liters. Despite this, the Bavarian uber-coupe is actually slightly thirstier than the Mercedes-AMG C63 and even the C63 S, making for the restriction on number of cylinders seem a bit unnecessary form this point of view. Nevertheless the M4 comes with a healthy amount of performance thanks to its lower weight, meatier tires and its 425 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. As a bonus compared with the upcoming C 63 Coupe, the Bimmers also offers a manual transmission option, which is bound to please the ever-shrinking amount of purists out there. Pricing starts from $65,400.

Read our full review here.

2015 Lexus RC F

With an exterior look that is clearly part of the "love it or hate it" crowd, the RC F->ke4714 has no direct predecessor, with Lexus developing the model from a clean sheet. The model is powered by an old-school, naturally-aspirated, 5.0-liter V-8 that can switch from Otto to the Atkinson cycle in order to offer a better fuel economy than you would expect. Still, despite the intention, the Lexus->ke47 RC F actually comes a bit short in the performance department, as the car weighs as much as the recently unveiled and much larger 2016 Lexus GS F, while its power figures are obviously down on its rivals. Its high-revving V-8 is good for 467 horsepower and 389 pound feet of torque, and comes paired exclusively to an eight-speed automatic transmission from Aisin. Those numbers are only good enough for a 0-to-62-mph time of 4.5 seconds, which would have been enough back in 2010 to battle the Germans, but not today. Starting at $62,400, the RC F is not exactly a bargain offer either, leaving its controversial looks as the only major reason for choosing one.

Read our full review here.

Conclusion

While the AMG C63 Coupe still has to prove it is as good on the road and track as it is on paper, it should be one hell of a performer. Along with the Lexus RC F it will be the only performance coupe in its segment that is still faithful to the V-8 formula, while also bringing much improved fuel economy figures compared with its predecessor. Moreover, it seems as if it will beat the BMW M4 in just about any department and will probably give Audi a good reason to speed up development of the next-generation RS5.

Update History

Updated 09/24/2015: We’ve added a series of new photos we took at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show->ke235. Find them in the "Pictures" tab.

Updated 08/25/2015: Automotive News reports that the new C63 and C63 S Coupe will be quite a bit more expensive than the outgoing 2013 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe, although it will also come with more power and features.

Updated 08/18/2015: The latest teaser for the Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe is in, and this time the model is no longer camouflaged. Even so, it still leaves a lot to the imagination, since only fragments of the model are shown.

Updated 08/12/2015: Mercedes continues its teasing session for the upcoming C63 AMG Coupe. The countdown page announces that the official debut will be made in just 7 days, so stay tuned for the official details!

Updated 08/04/2015: Mercedes dropped a new teaser image for the upcoming C63 AMG Coupe, which will be unveiled in mid-September at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Updated 07/27/2015: Mercedes-AMG dropped a series of new teaser images for the upcoming C63 AMG Coupe and announced an official debut will be made at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Updated 07/17/2015: Mercedes continues its teasing session for the upcoming C63 AMG Coupe. All we can say is that the car looks very promising and we can't wait seeing the real deal.

Updated 02/02/2015: We created a rendering of the future Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe to help give you an idea of what it'll look like. Creating the rendering was pretty simple, as our artist just took what he already knew about the Mercedes-AMG C63 Sedan, hacked off the rear doors,and tweaked the roofline.

Rendering

Spy Shots

April 20, 2015 - First testing session