"It handles like a 500-horsepower Miata." Not only I say this out loud a few times, but several of my colleagues expressed the same after lapping Laguna Seca. And if they do not say they agree with the sentiment. Of course we are all completely wrong. The 2013 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series Coupe handles like a 510-horsepower Mazda Miata. And despite what Mercedes could say on the subject, round these parts is one of the highest praise we received.
Like its predecessor - the popular CLK63 AMG Black Series - the new guy (who we just call it for brevity Black Coupe) is a jump-up, ran out version of a "lesser" AMG product. In this case, we're talking about a car that we have been beaten with the C63 AMG. And beaten by I mean I know four people on staff (not counting myself) who have indicated some form of "I would own one." But why on earth would you leave well enough alone? That's not how the Black Division, AMG is the world sees. So, they modded the C63.
One of the main differences between normal and C63 Coupé Black has more power, always a good thing. In this case you get 510 hp (from 451 in the regular flavor C63, 481 and the P31 Development Package option). The torque current also increases, from 443 to 457 lb-ft. Like the P31 pack version of this great (and sadly soon abandoned because of high emissions) Benz M156 6.2-liter V-8 uses high dollar inside the flagship SLS AMG. Expect the Black Coupe to hit 60 mph in just under 4 seconds and a low-12s to go in the quarter.
Other performance-minded pieces include standard adjustable coil-over shocks and composite brakes. AMG widened the car lot, actually changing the rear half shafts of the E63 AMG. Rather peculiar, if not silent, Mercedes chose to use the same basic axes for its C-, E-and S-Class cars. That always struck me as overkill, because the C-Class would be a weight penalty. However, it is easy to exchange high-dollar Mercedes components, as we see here on the Black Coupe. Anyway, more power, better suspension, a wider stance and form the basic differences.
There remain many additional options. For example, for zero dollars, you could add it back to the rear. Please do not, because you do not need another 70 pounds. The other options cost money. The AMG Track Package provides a sticky, 80-treadware, R-compound tires and a transmission cooler. So you are aware, we are the Black Coupes pushed around Laguna Seca eating tires at an alarming rate. Every time I turned around, was one of the four cars on the road to a new lift for rubber. Sure, we were on a track, but these bands were barely making it 20 laps. That's almost two tons of weight for you. Fortunately, they are optional.
Sticking to the options, there is the aerodynamics package that features a splitter, flics (those little winglets on the sides of the nose) and an adjustable, trunk-mounted wing great - all made from carbon fiber. AMG has assured us that not only are they all functional, but you can not remove the wing and keep the other pieces, because the airflow from the flics will disrupt the car without downforce. If your Black (Series), we would recommend getting all the pieces. Because why on earth not? The car looks mean dressed in full racing gear, especially in the new creamy golden yellow.
I would be remiss in my duties if I do not have the clunkily named AMG Performance Media Suite. Huh? Well, without too geeky, it's essentially a GPS-enabled lap timer. Using all satellites above them, the car realizes, "Hey we are on track!" and shows a small digital map on the screen. After that time you said as you race around track and shows not only your best lap time but also your best lap sections. But that's not all - you can download your lap on a USB stick and upload them to a computer or even your friend's Black Coupe. How cool is that?
How much carbon you need to cough, to preview the third AMG Black Series model itself? Probably less than the $ 134,000 price tag for the original CLK Black. At one point we heard under $ 100,000, but the actual number is probably closer to $ 125,000. Make your deposit now: AMG takes only 90 samples to the U.S., which means that this very special car will be that much more expensive. And are looking for dealers charging huge premiums.
Back to the Miata comparo. The Black Coupe is one of the most neutral handling car I have ever ridden. Both are purpose-built sports cars. Turn-in at the Black Coupe is phenomenal, immediate and direct, and the kind of heavily weighted, but precise control you want, especially on the track. The 2.2 turns lock to not hurt his case. The engine power to the wheels via the seven-speed AMG transmission and wet clutch hits the ground running, as traction is excellent. The engine is very easy to modulate.
Long story short, the Black Coupe does exactly what the driver asks. The harder you work, the harder it works. When you right down to it, that's really a Miata-like way to behave. Ask for it and you get upset. Cook it in a corner and you'll get understeer. Usually you are struck by the feeling that the car listening to your input, responding specifically to what you do, not what it is programmed to interpret. In my case, I am again beaten track of how much training I need. Still, I know enough to know how well the C63 AMG Black Series Coupe. It's for real.
Oddly, or perhaps revealing, Mercedes does not let us experience his latest toy anywhere but on the smooth surface of Laguna Seca. A strange, almost over-privileged complaint, I know. Still, you'd be even richer than most Black Series owners of these cars only run on the track. Means that most potential owners rightly want to know how the car feels and behaves on the actual roads with less than perfect pavement. You're going to have to wait a few months to figure out ours. Fortunately, two cars press their way over from Germany to come in January, and we already have a request. Now the really sad part: We have to wait until June before we return to the Black Coupe Laguna Seca for Best Driver's Car. As I said in a Mercedes employee when she asked if this car has a chance to win the 2012 title, "Oh, yes."
Source: Auto Kedabra
It is sometime since the technicians at Mercedes have done something a little well, out of character, now she seems to have deal with the Mercedes Benz A Class, and think long and hard about how the next generation can look, and the results are impressive .
The A-Class concept, shown in the figure above, is apparently set to be unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show in April, and when in the flesh, it seems to do something in the concept sketch it's a pretty big leap the Class, and a pretty substantial change of the target group, which Mercedes is trying to address.
The current A-Class buyers are not particularly young, not particularly in the sports driving, and certainly not in their car stereo to play at full volume when ze cruise on 15 mph through the local shopping area, the concept we are if it seems to appeal to exactly that kind of buyers.
If the production model looks like the sketch suggests, it's hard to think of a model of any manufacturer of such a complete reversal in terms of their target demographic, indeed incredibly difficult to imagine a driver who would A current class choice model always picking up something similar to the concept that we displayed.
All that aside though, the sketch looks mouthwateringly tempting, and we cannot wait for the car itself can be seen, and while we pity the average A Class buyer must scratching their heads for a while to think about what other model that they can buy instead, we cannot help but applaud this step by Mercedes to make such a dramatic change, it is brave, and the way we see it, a real step forward.
