New Mercedes-AMG range top of the class

NZ Herald

1 Mar, 2015 04:03 PM5 mins to read

The Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG 4Matic can show flashes of sporting character.

A new generation is coming for Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz is developing a new high-performance brand.

We all know and love the top-line AMG product: you may already know that from mid-year, when the latest C63 and GT coupe are launched, these cars will be branded not as Mercedes-Benz but Mercedes-AMG.

But that's not the new high-performance brand we're talking about. The Three-pointed Star is also establishing a range of vehicles colloquially known as AMG sport.

The company explained the philosophy of these new models at an AMG media event in Portugal this month.

These cars are seen as stepping stones into the AMG brand, so they are based on the top-line versions of mainstream Mercedes-Benz models. To these cars are added enhanced AMG design, powertrain and chassis elements - although the makeover does not extend into the extreme territory of the full AMG product. They've been breathed on, rather than broken down and completely rebuilt by the boffins at Affalterbach.

Inside, the C450 gets an AMG instrument cluster with chequered-flag motif, special trim and sports seats.

Bringing the AMG brand to a wider audience could potentially be quite confusing for buyers and perhaps even undermine those genuine AMG cars, which is presumably why there's been such a focus on rebranding. So for the record, the full-house cars will now be called Mercedes-AMG, while the new generation of entry-point cars will run under the Mercedes-Benz AMG moniker.

Mercedes-Benz has been flirting with this formula for a while now in the A-Class. The A250 Sport, for example, is based on the flagship A-class model and features AMG-enhanced styling, powertrain and suspension components - while falling some way short of the madness of the full-strength A45 AMG. Same goes for the A-Class-based CLA 250 Sport sedan, which adds 4Matic 4WD into the mix.

The AMG sport range is rapidly gaining momentum and will gain a star performer in New Zealand with the arrival of the Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG next year. It will be a flagship model for the highly acclaimed C-class and of course a milder sibling for the highly focus

ed Mercedes-AMG C63, which is set to arrive in just a few months.

Why the long wait for the C450 AMG? Production is prioritised for left-hand drive at the moment. But perhaps there's also method in establishing the C63 as the hero car before filling in the gaps with the likes of the C450.

We had an early drive of the C450 AMG in Portugal this month and it's clear that what's mild by AMG standards is still quite wild in the world of the mainstream C-class. The C450 AMG is powered by a tuned-up version of the biturbo 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine that's currently used in the E600.

The engine gains 25kW/40Nm to make 270kW/520Nm in the smaller C450 AMG, so it's little wonder that 4Matic four-wheel drive is required to keep the chassis in check. That extra traction contributes to a 0-100km/h time of just 4.9 seconds, while performance tuning for the 4Matic system puts 67 per cent of power to the rear wheels even in normal driving.

Putting 4Matic into the C450 also maintains an important point of difference between this car and the C63. Mercedes-AMG has emphasised that it eschewed 4Matic for the new C63, in a favour of re-engineering the rear-drive chassis with different suspension and a wider track to maintain the maximum in driver involvement. A few key elements from the C63 suspension package have been carried across into the C450, though, including some aluminium components and the AMG Ride Control adjustable dampers.

The C450 AMG is still a low-key machine on the road, but press it hard and those flashes of sporting character burst forth. The engine is incredibly strong in the mid-range and in Sport mode the AMG-enhanced exhaust pops and crackles during gearchanges or on overrun.

The seven-speed automatic gearbox benefits from a faster shift protocol, although it's not quite at the pace and responsiveness of the C63's bespoke Speedshift transmission. You always have the option of full manual control, though: press the M-button on the centre console and the transmission will hold your chosen gear even if the engine is running at the redline. Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters are standard.

The C450's styling package features an AMG body kit and wheels, diamond-mesh detailing on the grille (similar to the A 250 Sport), a unique AMG badge on the front guard and a "simulated" (that's Benz-speak for fake) air vent on the side that pays homage to the C63. Many exterior elements such as mirror housings and window surrounds are finished in high-gloss black.

Inside, the C450 gets an AMG instrument cluster with chequered-flag motif, special trim and sports seats.

The C450 will sit above what is currently the most expensive C-class, the $94,900 C300, but still represent a considerable saving on the $164,900 price of the soon-to-be-launched C63. We'd pick it as a $120,000 proposition.

What next for AMG Sport? This year Mercedes-Benz will launch the GLE coupe, a fastback version of the M-class crossover. That model is coming in full Mercedes-AMG specification, but there will also be an AMG sports version - powered by the same biturbo six that's in the C450 AMG. Many more will follow.