KEY POINTS:
Compared with the extremely exclusive $289,000 Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black we drove earlier this month, the new C 63 AMG sedan might seem a little ordinary. It has 42kW less power, a more subdued exhaust note and much less carbon fibre adorning its exterior. What do you expect for a saving of $134,000?
By any other standards, though, the C 63 AMG is completely mental. Imagine, if you will, a compact-executive sedan. Imagine that car with a 6.2-litre V8 stuffed under the bonnet.
Imagine a chassis configured by anally retentive Germans with an annoyingly precise eye for detail and motor racing in the blood.
The C 63 AMG still does 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds. It still howls under load. It still has a rear-drive chassis that wants to break free around every corner.
AMG cars have always been much more than simply Mercedes-Benzes with big engines. But this C-monster takes things further. It's arguably the most complete and driver-focused AMG road car to date.
Sure, it has that monster engine: but it also has different steering from the regular C-class, redesigned front suspension with a 36mm-wider track and a host of other changes.
Earlier this year I was lucky enough to drive the entire AMG range around the Mt Panorama circuit at Bathurst. Aside from the irregular heartbeat and sweaty palms, one thing really stood out: the superiority of the C 63's steering, transmission and chassis over everything else in the range. Among a catalogue of very special cars, this is the most special of all.
And yet it still plays the lout really well. The V8 rumble is outrageous - especially when you click the paddle shift for the seven-speed automatic to go down a cog, and the computer blips the throttle for you, matching engine speed to road speed perfectly.
Naturally, there are plenty of home comforts in the C 63. The front sports seats are superb and have a backrest that you can pump in or out, although the deeply sculpted shape cuts into rear legroom.
The dashboard looks suitably sporty, with an AMG instrument cluster and lots of flashing lights. Oh hang on, that's the stability control warning.
This is a practical supercar, with four doors and decent boot. It even rides really well, despite pretty serious AMG sports suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels. Clever fellows, these Germans.
At worst, the C 63 is just a bit too hairy chested - a "muntery" muscle car, as one friend described it. At best, it's inspiring to drive and a hilarious way of giving two fingers to, well, just about everybody on the road. It's so irresponsible you have to love it.
The most disturbing thing for the socially responsible is that there's a whole sub-genre of cars like these. Forget about the big, blingy stuff: compact muscle-models like the Audi RS4 and BMW M3 continue to be hero cars for their brands.
Subtle it's not. But the C 63 is also the most polished and accomplished AMG car you can buy, and certainly the most exciting and involving to drive. Unless you have $289,000 to spend.
