Hardcore C 63 coming in March

Australia will be one of the first markets outside Germany to get the all-new AMG-tuned Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and when it arrives here in March 2015 it'll be offered exclusively in C 63 AMG S trim.

The first S-badged C 63 AMG will pump out an extra 25kW over the regular C 63's expected 350kW, thanks to an all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8, confirmed Head of Development for the C-Class Estate, Ralf Rossmanith.

"For the first time in C-Class we will do two versions of AMG, the C63 and C63 S. The S has 25kW more than the regular version," Rossmanith told Australian journalists in Germany this week.

He noted both models would have the same torque output, but wouldn't be drawn on exact performance figures.

Given that the normal C 63 is expected to pump out around 350kW, it's possible the C 63 AMG S will deliver 375kW/650Nm -- the exact same output of the upcoming Porsche 911-rivalling Mercedes AMG GT coupe with which it will share its engine.

That would make it 2kW/40Nm more potent than the current 373kW/610Nm 6.2-litre V8 found in the outgoing C-Class AMG Edition 507 flagship.

As one of the most sought-after luxury performance cars in Australia, the current Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Edition 507 Coupe recently had its price slashed by more than $10,000 to just under $160K, undercutting the new BMW M4 in the process.

Mercedes-Benz Australia (MBAu) said the decision to bring only the tyre-frying C63 S model to Australia next year is based on the fact that between 90 and 95 per cent of current C 63 sales are for the more powerful 507 model.

"No one buys the 336kW regular version any more," said David McCarthy, MBAu's Senior Manager of Corporate Communications.

"We will only take the S. We'll take the higher output version, it's locked and loaded."

McCarthy confirmed the March 2015 launch date to motoring.com.au, citing the importance of the Australian market to AMG as the reason for the early arrival.

Almost one in every 10 Mercedes-Benz cars sold in Australia are AMG models, an incredibly high proportion.

The C 63 AMG S is rumoured to be fitted with more radical bodywork than the regular version and is expected to be followed by an all-new six-cylinder turbo-petrol AMG model, dubbed the C 450 Sport, a 275kW go-getter tipped to arrive in Oz late 2015 or early 2016. That car is also likely to be the first C-Class offered in Australia with 4MATIC all-wheel drive.

For now, however, the C 63 AMG will remain rear-wheel drive.

The C 63 AMG sedan has been seen testing in a special camouflage suit and its appearance is being kept a secret until October's Paris motor show.

Michael Christof, Product Manager of the new C-Class, said we can expect to see the wagon and sedan to be launched at the same time in January or February in Europe. He added that the C-Class needed a wild side.

"I think it's very important to have the rational side in the car but you need an emotional side too, and C 63 AMG really helps for this. For our positioning of the car it's important."

Although fuel consumption has not been mentioned yet, the smaller 4.0-litre biturbo V8 will offer "a tremendous decrease in fuel consumption" said Christof.

He also noted that in five year's time when more stringent emissions regulations are enforced in Europe, the most powerful C-Class AMG could follow BMW M division's lead and evolve into a six-cylinder proposition.

"Maybe in 2020 we have to go one step further with a six-cylinder [to meet emissions standards] but right now the V8 is safe," he said with a grin.