√2023 Mercedes-AMG C63 previewed with four-cylinder hybrid power

This lightly-veiled concept revealed in Germany showcases AMG’s new 500kW four-cylinder plug-in hybrid-powered performance model.

The next-generation 2023 Mercedes-AMG C63 4Matic – already confirmed to forgo traditional V8 power in favour of a new hi-tech four-cylinder plug-in hybrid drivetrain – has been revealed in concept form, ahead of a planned unveiling for the final production model later this year.

Displayed at the Nürburgring 24 Hour race in Germany (photos here via Autocar), the new 2023 C63 4Matic is differentiated from other fifth-generation C-Class models by way of a comprehensive body kit, giving it a more muscular appearance than its standard siblings.

Although the concept wears a composite wrap featuring AMG’s new corporate colour scheme, various exterior styling elements are clearly evident, including a new front bumper with a low-set splitter, large air ducts and signature ‘Panamericana’ grille treatment.

Further back, the new C63 receives a uniquely-styled bonnet with a central air vent, and widened front fenders in combination with a lengthened front track and chunky sills underneath the doors.

The rear is distinguished by a revised bumper similar in style to that featured on the recently unveiled C43 4Matic as well as a subtle boot-mounted spoiler and AMG’s traditional trapezoidal-shaped tailpipes. The concept also receives 20-inch wheels with Michelin tyres.

More than the styling, though, it is the drivetrain of the new C63 4Matic that is already the subject of heated discussion among the performance car crowd.

The upcoming Audi RS4 and BMW M3 rival is powered by a longitudinally-mounted 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine featuring an electrically-driven turbocharger in combination with an electric motor, which together will provide the third-generation C63 4Matic sedan and wagon pairing with a significant boost in performance.

Exact power claims have not yet been made public, though AMG says its new four-cylinder E-Performance drivetrain is capable of delivering a combined 500kW – some 125kW more than the twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 used by the outgoing C63 S range.

The heady reserves include 350kW from the internal combustion engine alone – 40kW more than AMG’s existing ‘M139’ four-cylinder engine, as used by the A45 S hot hatch, promising to make the new AMG-developed unit the world’s most powerful four-cylinder engine in a production car.

The petrol engine is supplemented by a 150kW electric motor mounted on the new C63 4Matic’s rear axle.

It provides drive exclusively to the rear wheels via a two-speed gearbox, with electric energy provided by a 6.1kWh lithium-ion battery mounted within the floor of the boot. Charging can be achieved at up to 3.7kW on an AC system via a port located within the right-hand side of the rear bumper.

Details remain scarce ahead of the new performance sedan’s official unveiling, though its peak power of 500kW is claimed to be available in short 10-second bursts of full-throttle acceleration.

AMG’s new plug-in hybrid system is also rumoured to develop up to 750Nm of torque, 50Nm more than the outgoing turbo V8.

By comparison, the new C43 4Matic’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol engine develops 300kW and 500Nm (click here for full details).

An ability to run on the electric motor alone is set to provide the new C63 4Matic with a limited electric range of less than 20km at speeds up to 130km/h.

One of the key advantages of the adoption of the new electrified drivetrain is a reduction in weight over the front axle of the new C63 4Matic. At 160.5kg, AMG’s ‘M139’ four-cylinder engine weighs 48.5kg less than the ‘M177’ V8 engine used by today’s C63.

The mounting of the electric motor and battery at the rear, a layout mirroring that of the recently introduced GT63 4Matic E Performance four-door, adds extra weight overall but it is claimed to provide an improved front-to-rear weight distribution.

As well as featuring in the new C63 4Matic, the new four-cylinder plug-in hybrid drivetrain is also planned to appear in the top-rung AMG version of the new second-generation GLC.

It’s also set to feature an upcoming coupe and convertible model pairing that will go under the name CLE, as a replacement for today’s C- and E-Class coupe and convertible models – with the new models to be codenamed C236 and A236.

Our thanks to Autocar for permission to use these images.

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