When we think of ultra-powerful high-performance car engines, four-cylinder mills are seldom what spring to mind. However, with the assistance of hybrid technology plucked straight from Formula 1, Mercedes-AMG is now changing this perception with the release of the world’s most powerful production four-cylinder model in the form of the new C 63 S E PERFORMANCE.
At the heart of the C 63 S E PERFORMANCE is a handcrafted turbocharged AMG 2.0-liter inline-four engine that’s been mated to a 150kW (201hp) electric motor. Paired with an Affalterbach-developed 400-volt high-performance battery, this new benchmark-setting engine pumps out a whopping 671hp and 752ft-lbs of torque, allowing for a 3.3 second 0-60mph time and an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph (though the latter figure can be raised to 174mph). The engine’s hybrid system has also been derived straight from the units currently used by the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team.
The new AMG model also gets fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive — marking the first time the feature has been offered on the C 63. In addition to boasting a wider and longer stance, the C 63 S E PERFORMANCE also features a heavily-modified, aero-equipped AMG body that increases stability and downforce. Other noteworthy elements on the new model include AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension with an Adaptive Damping System, rear-axle steering as standard, and eight different drive modes including a dedicated drift mode.
Pricing for the 2024 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E PERFORMANCE has yet to be revealed, though the AMG model is slated for a release in 2023.
