Mercedes-Benz->ke187 has been the official supplier of safety cars and medical cars for Formula One->ke190 since 1996. An AMG E-Class Coupe was occasionally used as a medical car as early as 1984, but that was before Mercedes-Benz bought AMG and made it its performance arm. The latest model to handle medical-car duties started its run in 2008, based on the C63 AMG Wagon.

Featuring a mid-cycle facelift in 2011, the model was part of the same generation until the 2014 Formula One season, when the old C-Class Wagon was replaced by a new model. Mercedes-AMG has already worked its magic on the new car, resulting in the C63 and C63 S Wagons, and the 2015 F1 season will feature a medical car based on S version.

Continue reading to learn more about the Mercedes-AMG C63 S Wagon F1 Medical Car.

Exterior

With Formula One having improved its safety credentials and serious accidents getting fewer, the Mercedes-AMG C63 S medical car is likely to be a rare appearance on the track, but that will not stop the model from being present at each of the either 19 or 20 races this year (the 2015 German Grand Prix isn't confirmed as of 3/10/2015). Just like the new safety car, embodied by the Mercedes-AMG GT S, the C63 S Wagon medical car looks nearly identical to a production model, save for a few details.

Color-wise, the model is engulfed in an iridium silver metallic paint that you can order for your run-of-the-mill C-Class as well, but the F1 and FIA stickers are probably a bit harder to come by. On the roof, a less aerodynamic version of the orange light bar sported by the safety car is present, working in connection with the illuminated rear number plate that bears "Medical Car" lettering. Other than than, every design element present on the model, including the 19-inch light-alloy wheels, are also available on the production version.

Interior

The medical car sports four bucket seats with six-point seat belts instead of two sports seats and a rear bench like the standard car. The two front seats are occupied by racing driver Alan van der Merwe and the official FIA head physician, Dr. Ian Roberts, both of whom are on deck every Formula One weekend. The two bucket seats in the rear accommodate one or two assistant medics from a local hospital near each race track. Since this is a station wagon, the increased luggage compartment can accommodate a range of emergency medical equipment, including a defribilator and a respirator. Just like the safety car, the medical car features two iPads, an InCar Hotspot and WLAN, so that medical personnel can monitor race activities in real-time.

Drivetrain

Similar to a production Mercedes-AMG C63 S Wagon, the F1 medical car is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter, V-8 that delivers 510 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque - which is actually 37 pound-feet of torque more than the Mercedes-AMG GT S's engine. Unlike the GT S though, the V-8 in the C63 S Wagon is paired with a multi-clutch automatic transmission, which sends power to the rear wheels via an electronically controlled LSD. This amount of power and torque allow the medical car to accelerate from 0-62 mph in 4.1 seconds, onward to a governed top speed of 180 mph.

Both the engine and the transmission have dynamic mounts, just like the road-going version, while braking is taken care of by carbon-ceramic rotors that measure 15.8-inches at the front and are optional for the showroom model as well. Unlike the road-going version though, the C63 S medical car is fitted with a revised suspension that is better-suited to carry more weight during high-speed track driving. The wagon also comes with a modified performance exhaust that cannot be ordered from a Mercedes-Benz showroom. Other than that, every technical detail -- including the 245/35 R19 (front) and 265/35 R19 (rear) tires -- is identical to the production model.

Prices

Naturally, you won't be able to buy a Mercedes-AMG C63 S Wagon medical car even if you throw money at Bernie Ecclestone, but the road-going model starts at 86,037 euros (approx. $92,400 as of 3/10/2015) in Germany, including 19 percent value-added tax. Unfortunately, the car is not available in the U.S. and will likely never be, unless you fancy the sedan or upcoming coupe version.

Conclusion

Compared with its naturally aspirated predecessor, the C63 S Wagon is obviously part of a new era, one where large-displacement engines are being replaced by dowsized powerplants with forced induction. That said, Mercedes-AMG went through all the trouble of fitting the new model with a modified exhaust system that should remind Formula One spectators of its bonkers predecessor, which sounded like the end of the world during downshifts. But the new medical car has more power and torque, and is about a half-second faster to 60 mph. Hopefully, we will only get to see and hear it during the pre-race parades.