The Mercedes-AMG Sports Sedan Destined To Become A Classic

The C63 moniker is one of the most recognizable and beloved models in the German automaker’s fleet, both past and present. It was offered in many body styles and pandered to enthusiasts looking for tarmac-punishing performance alongside a sumptuous interior.

Synonymous with the automaker’s hulking V8 engines, the latest version of the Mercedes-AMG C63 relies on a small but mighty four-cylinder engine. Unsurprisingly, this has stirred the masses and weakened consumers’ fervor for the latest rendition of one of the automaker’s cornerstone offerings. Four-cylinder, hybrid-assisted C63 aside, the version of the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG that utilizes that naturally aspirated V8 engine is bound to become a collectors’ item.

An AMG-Only Affair

When it debuted in 1993, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class was the small model in the Mercedes-Benz range. The first generation, at least from a performance standpoint, wasn’t really that special, but it was cool. There were three first-generation C-Class models in total – C36, C43, and C55. The C36 used a 276 hp inline-six, the C43 used a 302 hp V8, and the C55 a 342 hp V8. The numbers next to the C were still aligned with the engine size at this point.

The second-generation C-Class had even cooler AMG models. The first was the C32, which utilized a supercharged 3.2-liter V6 producing 349 hp. After four years on sale, Mercedes went back to a naturally aspirated V8 for the C55, taking the power up to 362 horses. It’s an extremely underrated car, and you can pick one up for next to nothing these days.

The development of the third generation began in 2003 and was unveiled in 2007 at the Geneva Auto Show, with deliveries promising to start in the first quarter of 2007. Most notably, this was the genesis of one of the most iconic and prolific monikers that would carry the tri-pointed star: the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG.

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Its biggest character-defining feature was the Mercedes M156 6.2-liter V8 engine, which inspired the “C63” moniker. The engine was introduced in 2005 and offered the road-going model nearly as much power as the race car used in the DTM racing series. Paired with the potent and vocal V8 engine was an AMG Speedshift Plus seven-speed automatic transmission.

Inherited from the Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG is the front three-link axle design, which worked alongside the C63 AMG’s sports suspension. A new front axle with a wider track, a redesigned wheel position, revisions to its elasto-kinematics (referring to the forces between the road and a tire and how that affects the position of a vehicle’s wheel), larger torsion stabilizer bars, and new dampers were a handful of the components were supposed to keep the C63 pointed in the right direction. AMG failed to build a car that was as razor-sharp as the E90 M3, which was much faster around a track. But the C63 and its wild rear end was more fun to drive around a track.

Rear-wheel-drive, high horsepower, a vocal V8 engine, looks that could kill, and exciting driving experiences were core aspects of the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. These characteristics would be retained throughout every iteration of the C63 AMG that would follow.

The Evolution Of The NA V8-Powered C63 AMG

Mercedes-AMG’s efforts to create a powerful sports car paid off. It was an immediate crowd-pleaser, finding favor with the automotive community and the press. The next major revision of the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG came in 2011 when the facelift of the W204 generation debuted. While certain body styles were available pre-facelift, the facelifted W204 generation C63 AMG pandered to a larger audience and lifestyles by offering three distinct body styles: sedan, coupe, and wagon. However, the bulk of the AMG division’s focus was on powertrain improvements, mechanical upgrades, a better cabin, new tech, and a more aggressive design.

The most notable adjustment to the C63’s formula for the facelifted version was the adoption of the automaker’s AMG Speedshift MCT seven-speed transmission that aided in fuel consumption and offered quicker gear shifts. For its suspension system, Mercedes-AMG introduced a reinforced multi-link independent rear suspension system, stiffer elasto-kinematics, larger cross members for the anti-roll bars, and adjusted spring and damper rates, resulting in improved agility and better lateral acceleration.

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A dashboard instrument panel, a specially designed AMG performance steering wheel, new AMG sports seats, and designer leather appointments were the aspects that further distinguished and elevated the appeal of the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. Visual changes included new headlights and taillights, a revision of the model’s bumpers, and a new aluminum hood that followed the “power dome” aesthetic, effectively shrouding the 6.2-liter beating heart.

At the tail end of the W204 generation, Mercedes-AMG introduced the C63 AMG Black Series, which was a hardcore offshoot of the standard C63 AMG Coupe. Better brakes, adjustable sport coilover suspension, a rear axle differential lock, lower curb weight.

The end of the C63 AMG with a naturally aspirated V8 engine would end only a handful of years after the facelifted model debuted, with the swansong of this iteration of the C63 AMG being the Edition 507.

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The Final Moments Of The NA V8-Powered C63 AMG

Debuting at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, the Mercedes-AMG C63 Edition 507 was the final hurrah of the C63 powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine. It was one of the most noteworthy renditions of the W204 generation. At the core of Edition 507 was a heavily modified version of the M156 V8 engine, featuring components inherited from the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, like forged pistons, but also employed forged connecting rods and a lightweight crankshaft. These new components aided the Edition 507’s higher power output than the standard C63 AMG and a total of roughly 6.6 pounds of weight saved.

Although a higher power, a more exclusive offering from Mercedes-AMG, the Edition 507 was still available in coupe, sedan, and wagon configurations. The Edition 507 was also distinguished by several exterior elements like its hood, wheels, spoiler lip, and a numbered Edition 507 plaque. Other model-specific features included a high-performance braking system featuring composite brake discs accompanied by six-piston brake calipers at the front and four at the rear.

A 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8, referred to as the M177 engine, succeeded the hulking 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 following the introduction of the W205 generation in 2014. This engine would be used in several high-profile performance models, including the AMG GT Black Series. However, the M156 engine remained in use for the W204 generation coupe until production ended in 2015.

A Classic In The Making

We’ve all heard the team “future classic,” and typically, this refers to a modern vehicle that will be considered a classic in roughly a decade or two. Think of the BMW 1M coupe and Chevrolet C7 Corvette ZR1. These are considered future classics, and the Mercedes-Benz W204 C63 AMG is one such car. It’s a sublime combination of a powerful and sonorous V8 engine sending power exclusively to the rear wheels and aggressive styling that effectively echoes the performance capabilities of the first-generation C63, which will increase its worth as time goes on.

When the C63 AMG debuted, it featured an asking price of $57,275, but now, more than a decade later and with many miles clocked, a typical used example of a 2009 model year Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG could sell for less than half its original MSRP. Why will it go up in value. Well, naturally aspirated V8s are all but dead. The W204’s successor debuted with a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8. The current model is a turbocharged four-cylinder plug-in hybrid, and while it’s stupidly fast, it lacks character, resulting in slow sales.

Prices for the W204 will continue to rise. The W204 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG is an example of one of Mercedes’ most important performance models and one from a period free from the regulations and restrictions imposed on modern vehicles.

Sources: Mercedes-AMG, BringATrailer