Mercedes-AMG has announced the new C63 S E Performance, which is scheduled to go on sale in South Africa in the first quarter of 2023.
The new performance model will be competing with the likes of the BMW M3 Competition M xDrive, which has a starting price of R2,000,797.
The two sedans have been at each other’s throats since they debuted, and in this latest generation, it’s no different.
This is how the new Mercedes four-door compares to the BMW.
High-end performance
The new AMG uses a hybrid powertrain, incorporating a 6.1kWh battery with a 2.0-litre twin-turbo engine.
The battery is capable of delivering between 70-150kW, depending on the drive mode selected, and has enough charge to allow for 13km of pure electric driving.
The engine, meanwhile, contributes its own 350kW and 545Nm, and altogether the Mercedes will put out a considerable 500kW and 1,020Nm.
For the gearbox, the automaker has chosen a nine-speed dual-clutch automatic setup, which sends power to the 4Matic all-wheel-drive layout through an active differential.
Also equipped to the new C63 is standard rear-wheel steering making it both nimbler at low speeds and more stable at high speeds, which in tandem with the new active suspension, leads to much sharper turns and improved handling than before.
As a result, the Mercedes will sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds and reach an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h, which can be optionally lifted to 280km/h.
Furthermore, the electric motor is capable of recuperating energy while braking, effectively allowing for one-pedal driving via controlled throttle usage.
BMW’s creation, on the other hand, is powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol engine, giving it a rating of 375kW and 650Nm.
An eight-speed Steptronic transmission is then used to power the all-wheel-drive system, and the M3 also makes use of an active rear differential to deliver torque to the wheel that needs it most at any given moment.
Performance-wise, the M3 will do 0-100km/h in near identical 3.5 seconds, but its maximum speed is higher at 290km/h.
Opulent interiors
The upcoming Mercedes-AMG’s interior will sport Nappa leather upholstery with cross-stitching, electrically-adjustable seats with memory function, three-zone climate control, a digital driver display, and a large vertically-mounted 11.9-inch infotainment screen running the automaker’s Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) operating system (OS).
Buyers will also be able to opt for AMG Sport seats to be added at additional cost, as well as a driver assistance features including lane-keep assist, blind-spot assist, lane-change assist, and brake assist.
Eight driving modes are additionally included, ranging from Battery Hold, Electric and Comfort, to Sport, Sport+, Race, and Slippery, and it sits on 19-inch alloys as standard.
The M3, meanwhile, is sold with a 14.9-inch curved media display running the carmaker’s eight-generation software with smartphone mirroring, alongside a 12.3-inch digital driver display.
Also included are electronically-adjustable M Sport seats in leather with heating and memory functions for the front row, automatic three-zone climate control, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, and three driving modes to choose from – Road, Sport, and Track.
Other features consist of keyless entry, BMW’s digital key system letting you turn your smartphone into a vehicle key, and an optional assistance package with parking assist, evasion assist, lane-keep assist, front cross-traffic warning, brake intervention, and front collision warning.
As for the wheels, the front pair are kitted with 19-inch alloys while the rear is styled with 20-inch rims.
Price
The new Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance is set to go on sale in South Africa in the second quarter of 2023, and the local pricing should be revealed closer to the launch date.
The previous model had a South African starting price of around R2 million. However, as the new model’s drivetrain is much more sophisticated and it sees a raft of additional features, the next-generation C63 is likely to cost a few hundred thousand Rand more than this.
The BMW M3 Competition M xDrive has a South African starting price of R2,000,797.
This includes a 2-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and a 5-year/100,000km maintenance plan.
Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance
BMW M3 Competition M xDrive
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