Geneva Show 2011 Highlights: 2012 Mercedes C63 AMG

Mercedes-Benz has revealed a facelifted version of the four-year-old C63 AMG at the Geneva motor show.

The new saloon and estate, on sale in the UK from March, receive a host of detailed styling changes – both to the exterior and interior, together with some key mechanical modifications that are claimed to extend their respective performance while bringing about a reduction in consumption.

Visual changes, as with other C-class models, are mild. They extend to an edgier looking front bumper, restyled grille, new headlamps with altered internal graphics, a rear bumper that incorporates a black diffuser element and new multi-spoke alloys shod with 235/40 (front) and 255/35 (rear) tyres.

Also included on the new car is a new aluminium bonnet with more prominent power domes than those on the car it replaces. Earlier photographs of the facelifted C63 AMG leaked to the Internet showed an engineering mule sporting a standard C-class bonnet.

Inside, there’s a newly designed dashboard together with the same three spoke steering wheel as the new CLS63 AMG.

While other recently new AMG models have adopted the company’s latest twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8, the facelifted C63 AMG retains the older naturally-aspirated 6.2-litre V8. It continues to kick out 457bhp in standard guise or a gutsier 487bhp with AMG’s optional Performance Package.

But while the old C63 AMG used a beefed up version of Mercedes-Benz’s 7-GTronic seven speed automatic gearbox to channel these reserves to the rear wheels, the new model receives AMG’s own in-house developed MCT (multi-clutch transmission).

It does away with the torque converter for a series of wet clutches to provide the driver with four distinct modes C (comfort), S (sport), S+ (sport plus) and m (manual). It also includes a launch control system called Race Start.

AMG quotes a 0-62mph time of 4.4sec for the saloon and 4.5sec for the estate – a reduction of 0.1sec respectively. Top speed in both instances is limited to 155mph.

The C63 AMG’s combined cycle fuel consumption is also claimed to have benefited from the adoption of a new steering pump that reduces the amount of hydraulic assistance. Official figures put the saloon at 23.5mpg and the estate at 23.0mpg – up from an earlier 21.1mpg and 20.6mpg.

Since its launch in 2007, the C63 AMG has recorded over 17,000 sales worldwide.

Thanks to: Autocar