New Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe Black Series: Official

Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe Black Series - it's official

We’ve been expecting the official reveal of the Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series for some time, especially after photos of what now appears to have been the actual launch car popped up at the beginning of the month.

The expectation is for a hard-core, hard-edged, bonkers C-Class. And that’s what we get.

Power for the C63 Black comes from the once ubiquitous – but now being replaced – 6.2 litre V8. In the C63 Black Series it gets forged pistons, conrod and crankshaft, a bigger oil cooler and quick remap – much of it courtesy of the SLS. That all adds up to 509bhp and a hefty £100k+ price tag when it goes on sale in 2012.

All that power goes to the back wheels through a modified 7-speed Speedshift ‘box and the choice of four control settings, a double de-clutching function and a launch control – ‘Race Start’.

Under the skin Mercedes has worked hard to make the C63 AMG Coupe Black Series a proper track-inspired road car. The C63 Black gets wider track – 40mm at the front, 75mm at the back, and a limited slip diff with three stages of ESP – one of which is a proper off setting.

Bigger, six-piston calipers make sure the 390mm discs (360mm 4-pot out back) haul the C63 in from its 0-62mph in just 4.2 seconds, and stiffer anti-roll bars and a plethora of suspension setting means you should get a car that does exactly what you want, when you want.

Inside the C63 Black Coupe comes as standard with just two seats (although we’re expecting a 4-seat Black Series Saloon at some point), although you can specify the optional rear bench. The two seats you do get are race-style buckets with contrast stitching and the seat belts are trimmed in red.

Interesting options include a Track Package which gives you s new set of very sticky Dunlop rubber and a diff cooler and the Aerodynamic Package which bolts bits of carbon fibre to the front bumper and adds a carbon fibre spoiler.

It all sounds very promising, even if the (admittedly less hard-core) just as quick DR520 cost just £62K and actually managed to deliver more power. That said, Mercedes in the UK produced only 20 – and they are long gone.

Hopefully the C63 AMG Black Series will live up to the promise.

(23 photos – click any thumbnail for full gallery)

* Preliminary data

By Cars UK