This is the racy Black Series for the C-class Coupe getting a 517hp treatment.
Ah, the Black Series lives on ...
Just in recent years, Mercedes-Benz has tried to show the world that it can build serious performance cars. In other words, the chaps at Stuttgart want to outwit the M cars from arch-rival BMW.
So, welcome to the fourth BS ever made by Mercedes _ the C63 AMG Coupe Black Series. The BS philosophy is quite straightforward: racy looks and performance, plus lightweight. Oh, and just two doors.
The 19-inch wheels house beefed-up brakes.
- So, it's only for the track?
Oh no, my friend. The C63 Black Series is perfectly road-legal. The enhancements _ redesigned bumpers, 19-inch wheels, and various aero parts _ are designed to give drivers a race-like feel. And the same goes for the interior, which now sees just two bucket seats (rear perches are no-cost options).
Behind these visual alterations lie technical upgrades. Lighter seats mean less weight, the bigger wheels house beefed-up brakes, and the wider front (by 28mm) and rear (by 79mm) tracks benefit better roadholding for increased performance.
There are only two bucket seats up front.
- How much more powerful and faster is it?
The power output of a 6.2-litre V8 has been raised to 517hp, up from 475hp in the standard AMG form and up from 487hp in the AMG Performance pack version. The increased number of colts is made possible via lighter engine components and a new ECU.
As a result, the 0-100kph acceleration is timed at 4.2sec _ 0.2sec and 0.1sec faster, respectively.
- Does BMW have an M3 that goes faster than this?
Apparently not. The wildest M3 so far _ and probably just this _ is the race-inspired GTS, whose 450hp 4.4-litre V8 helps catapult the car from 0-100kph in a slower 4.4sec.
Better even for the Merc is pricing. The C63 Black Series costs between 15.5-16 million baht in Thailand, depending on forex rates, 3 million baht cheaper than the M3 GTS. When it comes to performance-to-baht ratio between these two German speed-hungry coupes, you've got the answer!
Like in other Black Series models, racy looks are a must.
- BTW, will Mercedes Thailand sell the regular C-class Coupe?
Sure. We hear that they are planning to launch it in mid-August in C250 CGI form, equipped with a 204hp 1.8-litre petrol-turbo engine, costing around 4.2-4.3 million baht.
The earlier Black Series
SLK55
Power: 400hp 5.5-litre V8
Numbers made: 120 from 2006-2007 The second-gen SLK was the first Merc to get the Black Series treatment. The roadster's folding hard-top was ditched to make way for a lighter fixed carbonfibre roof.
CLK63
Power: 507hp 6.2-litre V8
Numbers made: 700 from 2007-2008 The next Merc to go wild was the second-gen CLK coupe. Like today's C-class Coupe successor, the CLK's rear seats were dumped in the interest of weight.
SL65
Power: 670hp 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12
Numbers made: 350 from 2008-2009 Merc's flagship roadster is still the ultimate Black Series ever made. Similarly as in the SLK smaller brother, the roof is welded to the body.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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