Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

Many cars have challenged the perpetually great BMW M3 over the years, with the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG sedan—introduced in 2008—among those that have come closest to knocking off the M3’s crown. With the C-class coupe debuting this year, AMG’s newest product was a bit of a no-brainer. Still, we don’t see the C63 AMG coupe so much as a two-door version of a sedan but rather as the M3’s most formidable and natural competitor yet. Both M3 and C63 are based on a famous German luxury brand’s cheaper U.S. Both demand an ante about 50 percent higher than that of their entry-level siblings. Both are available as sedans and (now) coupes. Both have more than 400 hp—but only one has way more. The C63 AMG’s 451 hp surpasses the M3’s output by 37 ponies. If, however, that isn’t enough, AMG offers the Development package, which swaps the regular C63’s pistons, connecting rods, and crankshaft for the same pieces used in AMG’s gullwing SLS flagship. These plus a reprogramming of the engine-management system net 481 hp, 67 more than the M3’s.

AMG’s bruiser also crushes the M3 in torque output, its 443 lb-ft—with or without the Development pack—representing an advantage of 148 lb-ft. All the C63’s straight-line miracles are accompanied by some of our favorite vocals in the industry, a voice like velvet woven from razor wire. As proof of how little Mercedes refinement survived AMG boot camp, consider this: At 83 decibels under full throttle, the C63 is only 2 dBA quieter inside than a Dodge Viper coupe. Although we always prefer a manual, the C63’s seven-speed swaps gears in as few as 100 milliseconds. The pull to ever-higher speeds is relentless, and the “screw you” effortlessness with which the C63 driver can relegate challengers to mirror blips is simply amazing. We were torn by our desire to conduct the engine manually using the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and the reality that the transmission doesn’t always get the full message regarding multigear downshift requests. Like the C63 sedan, the coupe has a remarkably solid structure and a stiff ride that lands barely on the right side of abusive.

The updates made to the 2012 C63 sedan guided Mercedes’ hand on the coupe as well, with more negative camber at every corner and revised springs, shocks, and bushings. The car’s exemplary “hit it and forget it” body control faithfully reads and transmits every divot and lump in the road but dwells on none of them. The C63 coupe corners more neutrally than last year’s sedan but is still riotously easy to slide, and abrupt inputs at the limit can easily turn cornering into drifting. Hold it together, though, and it sticks for 0.91 g. Although that figure isn’t as high as some of the numbers we’ve recorded from the benchmark M3, the C63’s utter lack of body roll means the Benz changes direction with seemingly supernatural immediacy. We like the quickness of the steering for informal back-road blasts but found it a touch too light and twitchy when chasing lap records. As a whole, the C63 AMG coupe is a shocking, intimidating, and tremendously rewarding car. Is it better than the BMW M3?

The only thing missing is the salty spume flecking your face, which Mercedes could probably have done with the windshield washer jets had it been of a mind to. Even if you were to ignore it altogether, there’s still plenty to occupy you in the S-Class’ cabin. The ambient lighting system now not only has 64 colors to choose between, but allows you to set different hues in different sections. There’s Car-to-X communication, which allows nearby cars to share details on hazards and driving conditions for a preview of what’s around the next corner. The adaptive cruise control not only automatically adjusts based on changes in speed limit, but by examining the upcoming bends, junctions, toll booths, and more on the maps. The excess is at times overwhelming. Look beyond the magic and glamour, however, and the 2018 S-Class’ core is no frippery or casual luxury. Sure, few will find themselves behind the wheel of the AMG S63, but it paves the way for the next decade of Mercedes-Benz technology. Cars that close the gap in driver assistance as we wait for full-autonomy; that talk among themselves to improve comfort, safety, and economy; that make deeper and deeper use of increasingly detail-rich mapping data and the potential of the cloud. When the 2018 S-Class arrives at US dealerships by fall 2017, it’ll be no mere luxury sedan. It’s a blueprint for the future.