PARIS MOTOR SHOW: Both Benz C 63 AMGs could come here
New Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG sedan to cost about $160K — and a cheaper, less powerful version could also come to OzThe 375kW Mercedes-AMG C63 S will be priced at around $160,000 when it goes on sale in Australia in April or May next year.
And the good news is that if you can’t quite stretch to that money then the standard 340kW C 63 still hasn’t been ruled out for Australia and would likely be priced at $140,000 if it gets the green light.
A decision on whether Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific will take both versions will be made towards the end of this year.
There has also yet to be a decision made on whether the traditional AMG Edition 1 launch version of the C 63 will come to Australia.
And if the $140,000 ask is still a bit high then C 450 AMG Sport sedan – which has yet to be formally confirmed by Benz – is expected on sale in Australia toward the end of 2015 priced around $110,000.
The C 63 sedan and estate both had their formal unveiling last night on the eve of the Paris show at the Piscine Molitor, a historic swimming pool and hotel complex in the French capital.
Both cars literally emerged from a dry ice fog in an empty swimming pool.
Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific communications chief David McCarthy said reports the standard C 63 wouldn’t come to Australia were premature.
“We are absolutely definitely taking S, we haven’t made a decision yet on just C 63,” he said. “Initial production is S anyway for the first three months, so we have production slots for S only at the moment.
“If it (C 63) was incremental volume then that would make it (a green light) a lot easier. But my gut feel tells me the S is what everyone will want it. There would need to be a significant price differential.”
The lower powered car misses out on some equipment, including dynamic engine mounts and the option of ceramic brakes.
McCarthy said buyer preference for higher powered versions of AMG models such as the performance pack C 63 and S versions of the E 63 and CLS 63 mitigated against the standard C 63.
However, he estimated the sale of as few as 50 units could swing the case for the 340kW version. The W205 C 63 trades in its predecessor’s 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8 for a new 4.0-litre biturbo.
A $160,000 pricepoint for the new C 63 S means it would undercut the last of its predecessors — the run-out 507 limited-edition — by around $12,000, while effectively matching it for power outputs, outdoing it dramatically for fuel consumption and offering more standard equipment.
A $160,000 pricetag also means it will be slightly more expensive than its fiercest rivals, the new BMW M3 sedan ($156,430) and M4 coupe ($166,430) biturbo inline sixes, which make 317kW.
The C 63 has been a huge success for AMG in Australia. The Benz performance brand will sell its 10,000th car in Australia in November. Of that total, one third have been C 63s.
“C 63 has the potential to continue to be a third of our volume,” McCarthy predicted. “And when we announce the price later in the year you will probably agree with me.”
He said new C 63 would be “more affordable” than its predecessor.
AMG will flesh out its C 63 range as more C-Class variants are launched. The new C-Class coupe is due late in 2015 and a convertible has also been tipped.
The C 63 S Estate is forecast to account for only a few dozen sales per annum: “it’s enough,” McCarthy said.
He added that the C 450 AMG Sport sedan would likely attract a different buyer to the AMG C 63. It will be powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 and come only with 4MATIC all-wheel drive.
Its price will make it the flagship of the mainstream C-class range. The C 450 was chosen by M-B A/P ahead of the rear-wheel drive C 400.
The C 450 will come about the same time as the replacement for the mid-size GLK SUV, which is expected to be dubbed GLC, as both are based on the same rear/all-wheel drive MFA architecture, which debuted here under the new C-Class.
Other forthcoming W205 C-Class variants on the way include the C 300 Hybrid in November, C 200 CDI turbo-diesel in January-February and the coupe towards the end of 2015.
A yet-to-be revealed C 350 plug-in hybrid is also expected to come to Australia: “If we can get it under $100,000 we will take it,” McCarthy said.
All the latest news and video from the motoring.com.au team at the Paris motor show
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