2024 AMG C 63 S E Performance Is A Simply Astonishing Hybrid EV

The 2024 AMG C 63 S E Performance is a Formula 1 racer masquerading as a family sedan that's also a hybrid EV. It looks like being a compact luxury car isn't the only thing the Mercedes-Benz C-Class range is trying to be. In our first drive of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, we noted that the long-running lineup is inching closer to the flagship S-Class models. Its luxurious interior carries almost every cutting-edge tech Mercedes-Benz could think of, while its peppy performance and aggressive exterior echo the more racing-focused AMG lineup.

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The 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine-powered C-Class can generate 255 horsepower, and its electric motor adds 20 more horses under the hood. However, the sportier 2024 AMG C 63 plug-in hybrid takes those figures to ludicrous proportions. In a press release, Mercedes-AMG announced that its latest PHEV utilizes "the world's most powerful four-cylinder engine" — the M139l. Despite also being a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, it delivers almost double the horsepower at 469. When paired with its "permanently excited" in-house-developed electric motor, it can generate a whopping 671 horsepower. This gives the AMG C 63 S E Performance a top speed of 174 mph, and going from 0-60 mph is estimated to take 3.3 seconds.

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The 2024 AMG C 63 S E Performance features tech that's "derived directly from Formula 1." It incorporates a similar setup used by the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, with the AMG C 63 S E Performance engine being the first ever to be mass-produced with an electric exhaust gas turbocharger. Thanks to its beefy powerplant, electric motor, and efficient anti-turbo-lag system, it produces even more power output than the top-of-the-line S-Class PHEV and its bigger six-cylinder motor. It basically brings Formula 1-esque racing chops to the public roads, but don't forget, it's still a luxury sedan with decadent amenities. This includes an adaptive suspension that ensures comfort in various road conditions, as well as a dynamic 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system with a "Drift Mode" for added excitement.

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The AMG C 63 S E Performance interior has ergonomically designed racing seats that provide maximum comfort and weight reduction, while the MBUX multimedia system returns with an optional head-up display. Aside from internal speakers, the AMG PHEV also has external loudspeakers and a rear soundbar that emit enhanced engine sounds. 

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This system lets enthusiasts enjoy their car's roars by picking up the engine's sound and then transmitting enhanced feedback to the interior speakers. Overall, the AMG C 63 S E Performance specs make it sound like it's pushing the boundaries of what PHEVs can be, and it's no wonder it's referred to as a "game-changer" in AMG's long-running history.

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