Mercedes-AMG has officially revealed its 670bhp hybrid-powered C63S E Performance, all 2111kg of it.
As noted above, the Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance has a total system power of 670bhp, with 752lb ft of torque. These figures are generated – in simple terms – by two main elements: a petrol-powered four-cylinder engine up front, and an electric motor mounted on the rear axle. While it’s not wholly unusual to see this type of mechanical layout on modern hybrid vehicles, it’s the complexity through which these two power sources are managed and connected that makes the Mercedes system stand out.
The petrol engine is a development of the M139l unit currently found in the A45, and more recently fitted to the C43. As the little ‘l’ in its moniker suggests, it’s mounted longitudinally up front and generates the bulk of the C63’s system power. Peak figures for the engine are an astonishing 469bhp at 6725rpm with 402lb ft produced at a heady 5250-5500rpm, making it the most powerful series-production four-cylinder petrol engine in the world.
The engine also has a belt-driven starter motor and generator that powers the car’s ancillaries, but differs from the setup in most current Mercs by not running on a seperate 48V electrical system. Instead, the engine’s ancillaries and that electric turbocharger are now integrated right into a 400V electrical system that supports the high-voltage loads of the C63’s hybrid system.
It’s here at the electronically-controlled rear differential that the two drive sources meet, but don’t necessarily stay as the C63 S E Performance also features a mechanical all-wheel drive system that’s able to send this blend of drive back up to the front axle via a secondary prop shaft and front-mounted driveshafts.
Of course the reason for all this change is improving the C63’s eco credentials and fuel economy is rated at 40.9mpg on the combined cycle. The high discharge and recharge rates of the battery means that owners won’t have to plug the car in, with AMG claiming this would mainly only be for pre-conditioning the car’s interior in extreme weather.With so much mechanical hardware, AMG has gone to some lengths in order to squeeze it all in the C-class’s relatively compact body.