Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG coupe revealed

Mercedes-Benz has followed up the debut of the C-class coupe at the Geneva motor show with the unveiling of this new range-topping version, the C63 AMG coupe.

Set to land in North American showrooms in September following a planned debut at next month's New York auto show, the new BMW M3-challenger receives the same updated mechanical package as the recently facelifted C63 AMG sedan. It will be sold from the outset as a 2012-model-year car.

Power is drawn from is AMG's four-year old M156 engine. In standard guise, the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 kicks out 451 hp along with 443 lb-ft of torque--sufficient to eclipse the M3's naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V8 by 37 hp and a generous 148 lb-ft.

Drive runs through AMG's seven-speed MCT (multiclutch transmission), a development of Mercedes-Benz's 7G-tronic unit that adds a wet clutch in place of the torque converter, and a 2.85:1 final drive to the rear wheels. Official figures put the 0-to-62-mph sprint at 4.4-seconds--half a second inside the time BMW quotes for the M3. Top speed, as with all standard AMG models, is limited to 155 mph.

Mercedes also fit the C63 AMG coupe with an optional development package. It brings a new inlet manifold, forged pistons and connecting rods and a lighter crankshaft to the engine, to boost its peak power rating to 481 hp. So equipped, the C63 AMG coupe is claimed to run from 0 to 62 mph in 4.3 seconds, while top speed is raised to a limited 174 mph.

Distinguishing the car from more milder versions of the C-class coupe are a series of typical AMG styling features that, if these first official photographs are any real guide, provide it with a much more menacing stance.

Included is a deeper front bumper with larger air cooling ducts mounted on each side with LED running lights placed above the duct rather than through the middle, as on other C-class coupe models set to make their way to the U.S. later this year.

The grille also was reworked with a more prominent chrome surround and single horizontal slat dissecting the three-pointed star. It is partly incorporated into a redesigned hood with twin power domes.

At the rear, there's a subtle lip spoiler attached to the trailing edge of the trunk and a redesigned bumper with a black diffuser element housing a quartet of chromed exhaust pipes. The standard wheel package uses 18-inch alloys shod with 235/40 (front) and 255/35 (rear) tires.

Upgrades to the interior are similar to those on the new C63 AMG sedan, including the latest version of Mercedes-Benz's Command entertainment and navigation system along with a long line of standard safety features, including attention assist and blind-spot assist.

By Greg Kable