Mercedes-AMG C 63 SE Performance First Drive: What It’s Like to Drive this F1-Inflected Sedan

The first bragging right expressed in this car’s name is that its 4-cylinder produces record power—671 HP and 752 lb.-ft. of torque. The 2024 AMG C 63 accomplishes this by pairing a gas-powered twin-turbo engine, which alone produces an astounding 469HP, with an electric-powered motor that produces 200+ HP.  Then, it is an AMG, the performance and racing arm of Mercedes; that means you’ll get performance suspension, rear steering, braking, and other systems to harness all that power beautifully. 

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Taking what they’d learned with their F1 hybrid cars, Mercedes took a unique approach to hybrid technology: the system is designed to deliver constant power and maintain a minimum amount of charge so there’s always a power boost available. This system necessitates a new battery cooling system that keeps batteries at an optimal temperature for ideal performance. And then, the electric system supports the gas turbo charger to eliminate turbo lag, adding to the instant torque the system delivers. 

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While the Mercedes-AMG C 63 is a plug-in hybrid, it’s not your typical battery-powered car. It has an all electric range of only 8 miles, so you can drive in all electric if you’d like, just turn the drive mode dial to electric mode. But the real point here is the 200+ HP rear electric motor which adds extra boost to the car’s performance. Drivers who want to harness that power will find it in Sport, Sport+ or Race mode. 

Owners of the Mercedes-AMG C 63 may likely never plug it in. Thats because the regenerative system is quite efficient and replenishes the battery during normal driving. During our test drive we tried to run down the battery but weren’t able to; we only got it down to 50%. 

In fact, as long as you’re not in EV mode, you’ll likely be able to keep the battery fully charged. And, the battery will never fully deplete; it’s designed to maintain a reserve charge so you’ll always have boost when you need it. 

The Mercedes-AMG C 63 does have a boost mode, something we’ve seen on many electric cars and plug-in hybrid electrics. But this one, like everything Mercedes-AMG does, is different. Rather than just giving you a 10 or 15 second burst of full HP, it’s keyed to specific tracks around the world, 30 right now and another 40 to be added. 

“Track Pace” mode is sort of like having a track navigator at your fingertips. To harness all the system power and optimize the track experience, Mercedes mapped each track and paired it with engine and driving dynamics of the Mercedes-AMG C 63 to help drivers maximize lap times. The driver has to select “Track Pace” mode from the central media screen, pick the track and specify a short “hot lap” or a longer “endurance lap.” To activate the boost mode, the driver only has to floor the accelerator past the kick-down point and boost is activated. You’ll even see a countdown on the driver display.

As an AMG, the C 63 is outfitted with an AMG Performance steering wheel. On the lower left and right of the center of the wheel are two large buttons: the left button accesses Track Pace, as well as manual shifting and traction control. The right button is actually a dial that allows you to quickly shift through the drive modes, which are then displayed on both the driver’s display and the center media screen.

The right dial is simple to use and self-explanatory. The left button has multiple toggle functions that can take a bit of exploring to understand, which is a good idea. I tapped it during my test drive and accidentally ended up in manual-only mode. It was fine and fun; the driver display clearly shows when you’re in manual mode with a large M and the gear you’re in; when you’re in automatic, you’ll see your drive mode displayed. It was fun to corner through some curvy roads using paddle shifters, though the automatic transmission is quite capable and probably better at this than I am. 

We’ve become used to seeing the term “Biturbo” on the exterior of Mercedes-AMG’s twin turbo models. But the term doesn’t go far enough in this case, so Mercedes re-badged the C 63 with new side air vents featuring the Turbo e-Performance badge. You’ll also see the “S” designation on the rear of the trunk, silver against a red background, red designating that this is an electric-powered performance car. Other identifiers include a new AMG hood badge and a subtle new hood vent. 

Mercedes-AMG took the opportunity to also introduce some new features in the Mercedes-AMG C 63 model, including new sport seats that are bolstered for support while driving and new leather upholstery, paired with display screens and a center console introduced recently. 

The large center screen supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and features AMG- specific screens for performance and driver feedback. The system also features “Hey Mercedes” voice-activated assistance; just ask for what you want and the assistant is there to help. 

And there’s beautiful ambient lighting, not just along the dashboard and on the door panels but surrounding almost all functions, from the seat control panel on the door to the center console. The color is customizable; you can play with the system on the media screen or just ask Mercedes to change it for you. 

This is a compact car, and for its driving intention, should be. But there is still room for rear seat passengers for those times when you’re not lucky enough to take on curvy roads solo. Back seat passengers will find air vents, a fold-down arm rest, USB ports and a panoramic sunroof that extends over the seat, adding to the airy feel in the cabin. There are two full sets of child car seat latches for drivers who need to accommodate kids in car seats. I found the rear seat a good place to put my handbag when I had a passenger in the front seat. It was easy to turn and reach it when I needed it. 

While the battery pack and electric motor sit under the rear seat, they don’t impede in passenger space, though they do take up some of the trunk space. You’ll notice a short hump in the trunk floor set back toward the rear seats; this is where the hybrid system is housed.

This was the most rewarding part of getting to know this car: Slipping behind the wheel, putting it in gear and setting out on the highway. In any mode, from comfort to Sport+, the Mercedes-AMG C 63 is a thrill, powerful and precise.

In most drive modes, you’ll hear the engine’s sound fed into the cabin (and, at lower speeds passersby outside the car will hear it too). What you won’t really notice all that much is the hybrid system. Even though this is a plug-in, you can probably ignore that fact; just be sure that the battery level gauge on the lower right side of the driver display shows the battery is charged; you don’t want to miss out on its boost.

Once on the highway the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance did just that: perform with all the power and precision that we expect from Mercedes-AMG. My test drive wasn’t exactly F1, but on the track it might be as close to F1 as any non-professional driver will get, though ensconced in bolstered leather seats and with the assistance of a track navigator. Which will no doubt leave you with something to brag about.