Mercedes-Benz South Africa has told TopAuto that the next-generation C-Class flagship, the C63, will be unveiled to the world “in the final week of September.”
As for when it will reach local dealers, “the date has not yet been confirmed, but we’re aiming for a Q1 [2023] introduction,” said the subsidiary.
Luckily, enthusiasts who don’t want to wait at least four months to get their hands on a high-performance C-Class will only have to hold out until November, as this is when the new C43 will go on sale in the country.
Mercedes-Benz has been tight-lipped over its new C63, thus far not publishing any teasers or sneak peeks to get fans excited.
As such, we ventured into the world of rumours and speculation to see what information the keen-eyed car spotters out there have been able to uncover.
High-performance hybrid
The biggest and most controversial rumour thus far about Mercedes-AMG’s new C63, which has all but been confirmed by the manufacturer itself, is that the sports sedan will ditch the V8 powerplants of old in favour of a hybridized four-cylinder that’s half the size.
Motor1.com reports that the AMG department’s V8 mills will from now on be available in the larger saloons and SUVs, whereas the next-generation C63 sedan will get the code-M139 2.0-litre engine previously only reserved for the “45” models.
This coincides with a revised, partially-electrified M139 drivetrain the manufacturer revealed in March 2021.
Improved with an electric exhaust-gas turbocharger like the one installed in the AMG One hypercar, a high-performance 6.1kWh battery, an electric motor with a two-speed transmission, a rear-axle limited-slip diff, and a starter-alternator, the system is capable of generating over 480kW “at the performance level of current V8 drives,” said the company.
While the good part is the new AMG will likely be more agile and powerful than its predecessors, the last of which generated 375kW, the downside is that it probably won’t be able to produce the glorious sounds that the big-engine C63s have always been capable of.
Spy shots by Motor Authority earlier in 2022 show the sporty new C-Class in multiple body styles including sedan and estate.
According to the publication, we can also expect at least two variants to be built including a standard 63 and a 63 S E Performance, the latter of which will be the pinnacle in the range similar to the GT63 S E Performance launched in September last year as the carmaker’s “first hybrid performance car.”
Although the next-generation C63 is still covered in an eye-confusing camo it’s clear it sports a much more aggressive front bumper with larger air vents than its toned-down brother, the C43.
The wrapped side sills also look more flared and will likely get their own unique design, while the rear gets a noticeably bigger boot-lip spoiler as well as angular exhaust outlets in contrast to the round pipes on the rest of the range.
2023 Mercedes-AMG C63
Photos by Motor Authority