New York show: AMG V8 firepower for C-Class cabrio

THE inevitable AMG-tuned, V8-powered C63 flagship variant of Mercedes’ C-Class Cabriolet broke cover at the New York show overnight, and is expected to arrive in Australian showrooms at the end of this year or early 2017.

Australian C63 Cabriolet pricing is yet to be determined – but it is guaranteed to command a premium over the $162,400 (plus on-road costs) coupe equivalent.

Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific senior manager of public relations, product and corporate communications David McCarthy told GoAuto that like the C63 sedan, wagon and coupe, the cabriolet would “most likely” only be offered here as the higher-powered S version.

Mr McCarthy said no Australian orders for the soft-top C63 had yet been taken.

“But I don’t expect that will take long,” he added.

The hand-built, twin-turbo V8 of the C63 S develops 375kW of peak power and and 700Nm of torque and is fitted standard with dynamic engine mounts that provide the best of both worlds for comfort and responsiveness, plus an electronic limited-slip differential for improved corner-exit traction.

It’s a substantially punchier proposition than the standard car’s 350kW and 650Nm, shaving a tenth tenth off the 0-100km/h dash time to achieve it in a brisk 4.1 seconds.

AMG describes an evocative exhaust note for the C63 Cabriolet as “a key development goal” resulting in a model-specific system complete with valves that deliver the right mixture of throbbing bass, gargling mid-tones and, at higher revs, howling trebles.

The valves are electronically controlled based on which driving mode is selected, driver inputs and engine revs. For the hard of hearing or just plain antisocial, a performance exhaust option will be offered – although AMG insists the systems comply with noise limits “irrespective of the flap position”.

Also specific to the C63 Cabriolet is the suspension tune, which has unique steering knuckles, standard adaptive damping with Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus stiffness settings. It shares the C-Class Coupe’s special rear axle and AMG-specific axle and wheel carriers, which enable the wider track and higher negative camber.

The C63 S has 19-inch alloy wheels as standard, the tyres on which have a wider 285/30 profile at the rear compared with 255/35 at the front. A 20-inch rear/19-inch front wheel and tyre combination is optional.

Behind the wheels of the C63 S are 390mm cross-drilled and vented front brake rotors and 360mm rear rotors (360mm all-round on the standard C63 Cabriolet).

Ceramic brakes with 402mm front rotors – and half the weight of conventional discs – are optional.

Unlike other C-Class cabriolet variants that use a nine-speed automatic transmission, the C63 has a seven-speed unit, which behaves according to the various dynamic select modes, and can be used as a full automatic or manually operated using paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.

Differentiating the C63 from lesser Cabriolet variants is a 64mm wider front and a 66mm widened rear, thanks to its flared wheel arches and wider track.

Also present and correct are the hallmark twin power domes on the bonnet, AMG front bumper with splitter and AMG-specific twin-blade radiator grille, complemented by side skirts that protrude beyond the doors to enhance the appearance of extra width. Finishing off the look is a functional rear diffuser and bold quad tailpipes.

Inside are typical AMG cues such as the three-spoke steering wheel with 12 o-clock marker, carbon-look AMG-specific instruments including a speedometer calibrated to 320km/h and special AMG switchgear for the dynamic select and ride control modes.

The mainstream C-Class Cabriolet will arrive Down Under in time for our summer, while the Coupe range that was unveiled at Frankfurt last August will arrive next month, with price premiums of between $4000 and $14,500 over the sedan equivalents.