It doesn’t take someone of high intellect to understand that wagons->ke143 aren’t as sexy as sports cars.->ke506 That’s never been the case and that’ll never be the case unless automakers completely reinvent the way we look at these cars. But, just because they don’t look sporty in the traditional sense, that doesn’t mean they can’t perform like a sports car. Take the case of the 2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 Estate. On the surface, you won’t mistake it for its two-door brother. But, pop open the hood, and it becomes a different story.

Now take that story and add another chapter to it in the form of Piecha Design. The German->ke2091 tuner knows Mercedes->ke187 models like the back of its hand and that disposition has led it to create some of the fiercest programs for Affalterbach’s finest. This time, it’s set its sights on the aforementioned AMG C63 S Estate, the kind of car that runs like a sports car, despite its grocery-getter body.

The kit, appropriately dubbed the "Rottweiler," is comprehensive. It’s got an aerodynamic kit, a new set of wheels, and most importantly, an engine upgrade that gives it enough power to shame some of the industry’s finest sports cars. That’s saying a lot for an estate, but the proof is in the pudding. Go check it out and see how angry this Piecha-tuned AMG C63 S Estate can be.

Continue after the jump to read more about the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Estate by Piecha Design.

Exterior

Aesthetically speaking, the Rottweiler kit falls a little short in giving the AMG C 63 S Estate the kind of look that fits the breed of dog it gets its name from. We’ve all seen how ferocious rottweilers can be; this kit just doesn’t inspire anything close to that. The lack of aggression aside, there are plenty of functional purposes with the kit, starting with a new front spoiler lip and equally new side skirts. An additional roof-edge spoiler made from glass-fibre reinforced plastic is also included in the program, largely to provide extra downforce for the high-powered estate.

On a more superficial level, Piecha Design also gifted the big-bodied C 63 S Estate with some sporty graphics, including a two-color racing stripe that runs the length of the wagon, beginning on the hood and going all the way down to the rear diffuser. A new set of 19- and 20-inch wheels are also part of the package. These options allow a customer to choose between a set of 19-inch MP1 Monoblock wheels or a set of 20-inch MP5 LMX wheels. Either wheel option is available in pale-metallic or satin-black finishes.

Interior

Note: Interior from standard Mercedes-AMG C63 Estate shown here.

Piecha Design’s work on the interior was largely limited to four-point LED entry lights that doesn’t really do much in the way of enhancing the cabin’s all-around appeal. That’s not to say that the absence of upgrades on the interior is a bad thing. On the contrary, keeping the AMG C 63 S Estate’s interior intact preserves the plush and luxurious work that Mercedes did in the first place. Sometimes, the best work is no work at all and that’s especially true for this section of the performance estate.

Drivetrain

Note: Engine from standard Mercedes-AMG C63 Estate shown here.

This is where things get really interesting. Piecha Design’s work on the AMG C 63 S Estate’s 4.0-liter V-8 engine is nothing short of exceptional. Though the tuner didn’t specify the kind of work it did to the engine, but it did say that the results give the AMG C 63 S Estate an impressive 612 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torque. Considering that the standard model has 510 ponies and 516 pound-feet of torque, the increase of 102 horsepower and 104 pound-feet of torque is pretty significant.

Need proof? Look no further than the estate’s performance times, specifically with its 0-to-60-mph sprint. From the 4.1 seconds it takes the standard model to cover that distance, Piecha’s “Rottweiler” program helps the AMG C 63 S Estate do it in just 3.8 seconds. The top speed is listed at 155 mph, which means that the speed limiter is still in place. But, if customers can find somebody, Piecha or otherwise, that can take that away, a 186-mph top speed isn’t out of the cards for this estate.

Safety

To accommodate the massive engine tune, the German tuner fitted the C 63 AMG S Estate with custom coilovers, wheel spacers, and a suspension lowering kit to drop the car’s overall ride height, giving the car a more aggressive stance while also improving its balance and handling capabilities.

Pricing

As is often the case with tuners, pricing wasn’t made public. Interested customers are invited to inquire about the costs that come with the Rottweiler kit by contacting the tuner directly.

Competition

Audi RS6 Avant by ABT Sportsline

I know that the Audi RS6->ke1305 Avant and the Mercedes-AMG C 63 Estate aren’t in the same category - the AMG E 63 Estate is a more suited rival - but for the purposes of this program, Piecha’s Rottweiler kit is potent enough to line up against a recent kit introduced by ABT Sportsline for the RS6 Avant. That program also came with the usual amount of aerodynamic components, including carbon fiber exposed air inlet panels, front flics, a rear spoiler, and a new set of 22-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Dunlop performance tires.

Under the RS6 Avant’s hood, ABT Sportsline created a special ECU unit that shot the 4.0-liter V-8 engine’s output up to 735 horsepower and 679 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 175 ponies and 162 pound-feet of twist from the V-8’s standard output of 560 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. The tuner didn’t say how the engine upgrades improved the RS6 Avant’s 0-to-60-mph time, but it did announce that top speed has increased to a supercar-like 199 mph.

Rear our review of the Audi RS6 Avant by ABT Sportsline here.

Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake

Tuning programs for the Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake aren’t that prevalent, but if you ask me, the Jag wagon makes a compelling case as a true adversary to its Mercedes counterpart. Give Jag some props because it really worked hard on giving the XFR-S Sportbrake a fresh interpretation of its sedan->ke142 counterpart, the equally aggressive XFR-S.

Some of the more notable design elements of the performance wagon include the red grille logo, the aggressive nose, and those large intakes. Oh, and in case people forget, this is an R-S model so the R-S badges that adorn the entire body are there for a reason.

Move to the engine and you’ll find a 5.0-liter V-8 that’s bigger than the ones powering both the AMG C 63 Estate and the RS6 Avant. In standard guise, Jag’s mighty V-8 is good for 543 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque, enough to cover 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. That sprint time falls short of what its two rivals are capable of even in their standard configurations. But no matter, the Jag still packs a top speed of 186 mph, which means that it can travel faster than the standard AMG C 63 Estate sans Piecha’s Rottweiler kit.

Read our full review of the Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake here.

Conclusion

I love everything about this kit, not just because its name fits the results, but because Piecha was able to give owners of the AMG C 63 Estate a go-to tuner in the event they want to squeeze more out of their performance wagons. The engine upgrade is the highlight of the kit, but don’t sleep on the subtle tweaks Piecha did to the body of the vehicle. These modifications may not be as flattering as extra power, but they’re just as important in giving the car a more rounded driving experience that drivers can enjoy, even if some of those drives are just to the nearest Costco.