We like
Surprising rear wheel grip, subtle but alluring looks, unmistakable AMG V8 bellow

Room for improvement
Road noise, lack of drivers elbow room

RIGHT from the first meeting it is immediately clear that this fettled and finalised version of one of Mercedes’ most popular vehicles has something a bit different going on under the skin, with some aesthetic alterations setting this top-ranking version apart from its siblings.

On the outside, the Edition 507 pack adds a flash of red to the substantial brake calipers, which hide behind the uniquely styled 19-inch titanium grey alloy wheels.

Black body-stripes highlighting the sills might not be everyones cup of tea but they do tie in well with the minimal gloss-black boot spoiler and create a subtle all-round effect.

At the pointy end, the vented and scalloped bonnet lifted straight from the seriously rare C63 AMG Black Series is the stand-out styling change and gives the Edition 507 a devilish and purposeful look.

Once inside the visual treats continue with an Alcantara dressed steering-wheel and piano black dash and door trim highlights with Edition 507 titling to remind you that you are in something with above-average kerb cred.

Grabbing the thick suede-feel steering wheel and feeling the deep sports seats grasp your flanks further adds to the sense that this car is something a bit special - an ambience that is certainly not shattered when the engine start button is pressed.

The resultant cacophony from the four tailpipes is almost antisocially abrupt with an initial bark on start-up, but quickly settles to a comforting and heavy bass murmour.

Mercedes could have easily pacified the start-up exhaust note but that just wouldn’t be the AMG way, and we are pleased to report that the theatrics, which begin with a thunderous ignition and head-turning looks, continue in to all elements of the way the Edition 507 drives on the open road.

First we had to get to the open road though.

Apart from the ever-present but unintrusive V8 thrum, negotiation of busy city roads revealed little of the C63’s underlying sporty prowess.

Uneven surfaces manifested themselves as minor cabin vibration, the sizable 360mm brakes didn’t grab at low speeds and the seven-speed automatic transmission handled Melbourne’s characteristic stop-start traffic as smoothly as any Mercedes auto.

But as the congestion cleared and the freeways became less straight the purpose of this last C63 AMG update became clear.

Considerable restraint is required to pilot the Edition 507 within the confines of the law with every one of the 373 kilowatts and 610 Newton meters of torque instantly dropped in your lap with every stab of the accelerator.

Just as delightful as the blistering acceleration was the noise that accompanied it.

The C63 AMG cabin can be a serene and pleasant place, but we recommend opening all four windows and listening to the exhaust pop and crackle echoing back when driving through dense forest-lined roads.

So addictive was the back-end bark that we couldn’t resist slipping the selector in to neutral and blipping the throttle when passing under bridges and tunnels.

The whole performance of peace-shattering acceleration followed by raw unapologetic overrun noise was both glorious and almost childishly frivolous.

But the Edition 507 is more than just a soundtrack.

With a not exactly plump kerb-weight of 1730kg, the mighty Merc doesn’t have to battle with excessive performance sapping inertia, and this has resulted in impeccable handling characteristics too.

Despite the impressive torque, the traction control light remained extinguished during all but the most deliberate and aggressive maneuvers and, even when it had to intervene, it did so in a manner which spared the embarrassment of an unskilled driver.

Throwing the C63 AMG in to corners with notable pace never resulted in any unacceptable bodyroll and the nicely weighted steering remained pin-sharp from entry through apex to exit.

At higher speeds and on rougher surfaces such as grainy asphalt or concrete the wide, low-profile tyres did allow quite a lot of road noise in to the cabin which was disappointing given the level of refinement of the ride.

But if that’s the price to pay for such rewarding grip and poise then we will happily sign for it.

The generous side bolsters of the beautifully appointed and snug seats did occasionally obstruct the drivers elbows in tight turns, which detracted from the otherwise captivating driving experience.

With the Edition 507 pack, Mercedes have taken the already accomplished C63 AMG and added a little parting magic, resulting in a machine that can consume twisting country roads with intoxicating ease.

At $157,545 the standard C63 AMG Coupe (or $156,545 Estate) may seem like a pricey proposition up against the $149,400 Audi RS4 and it may never get a chance to compete with the yet to arrive and yet to be priced BMW M4.

But by outlaying another $14,507 on top, the Edition 507 pack pushes the C63 performance far enough ahead of the competition to justify the cost.

If you missed out on the quarter of a million dollar C63 AMG Black Series or just wanted something that’s a little more usable day to day and kinder to your bank-balance, then you couldn’t ask for much more from this C63 swansong.

This may be the last naturally aspirated AMG V8 from Mercedes so if you have been considering a C63 AMG for a while, then now would be the time to put your hand in your pocket.

Specs

MAKE/MODEL: Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Edition 507 Coupe
ENGINE: 6.2-litre longitudinally mounted normally aspirated V8
LAYOUT: Front engined, rear wheel drive
POWER: 373kW @ 6800rpm
TORQUE: 610Nm @ 5200rpm
TRANSMISSION: seven-speed automatic
0-100km/h: 4.2secs
TOP SPEED: 280km/h
WEIGHT: 1730kg
BRAKES: 360mm ventilated composite(f)/ ventilated(r)
PRICE: From $172,407 before on-roads