Paris show: Power figures out for Benz C63 AMG

MERCEDES-BENZ has confirmed that the new-generation C63 AMG will produce “up to 375kW and 700Nm of torque,” from the same 4.0-litre biturbo V8 engine found in the recently unveiled Mercedes-AMG GT coupe.

While the German car-maker is not yet ready to confirm the precise power figures, the numbers offer a tantalising tease of what could be to come for the next-generation of the wildly popular C63 AMG range.

If peak power reaches 375kW, AMG's latest will be a full 39kW more powerful than the outgoing C63 AMG model and a marginal 2kW more powerful than the hardcore C63 AMG Edition 507, both of which were powered by an ageing and thirsty 6.2-litre bent-eight.

By comparison, Mercedes has already confirmed that the same engine will be making 340kW/600Nm in the entry-level Mercedes-AMG GT and 375kW/650Nm in the top-spec GT S.

These numbers also eclipse Mercedes' Bavarian-based rivals, with BMW's M3 and M4 producing 317kW/550Nm from a 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six powerplant and Audi's RS4 and RS5 outputting 331kW/430Nm from a naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8.

Despite the mounds of power on tap, Mercedes is still claiming a best in segment fuel consumption figure of 8.2 litres/100km, which is a significant decrease from the 12.1L/100km figure of the previous-generation C63 AMG.

It also just undercuts BMW's M3/M4 twins that consume 8.8L/100km in manual guise and 8.3L/100km for the automatic.

The C63 AMG will be revealed in full at next month's Paris motor show and will go on sale in Australia early next year.

Mercedes ripped the covers off its new front-engined Porsche 911-rivalling GT coupe earlier this month in Germany, previewing the AMG-developed biturbo V8 ahead of its Paris debut.