Mercedes has revealed the next generation AMG C63, and the turbocharged M177 V8 is gone. The automaker has opted for a hybrid horsepower, pairing a four-cylinder turbo with an electric motor. But the V8 won’t go quietly at night thanks to Manhart, who unveiled the new CR 700 Last Edition.
Based on the V8-powered C63 AMG S, this car gets a tremendous performance boost thanks to the Manhart upgrade. This model is available with a Manhart Turbo Performance Kit that upgrades the turbocharger and intercooler, which are two pieces of a larger puzzle.
22 Photo
Aftermarket specialists also added a carbon intake and its ECU map, bringing the 510-horsepower (380-kilowatt) stock sedan to 712 hp (530 kW). The torque rating saw a similar jump, increasing from 516 pound-feet (700 Newton-meters) to 678 lb-ft (920 Nm). The Manhart-tuned Mercedes can sprint from 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) to 124 mph (200 kph) in 5.5 seconds, which the tuner claims is a “big improvement of a few seconds” compared to the standard model.
The car also received an upgraded exhaust, with the Race and Sport Manhart downpipe exhaust system available for export only. One does not have a catalytic converter, while the other features a 200-cell. Manhart added an unspecified upgrade to the transmission and installed a height-adjustable H&R coil spring.
Twenty-inch wheels are standard, which Manhart offers with a custom finish. The wheel in the example above has a matte black finish and gold rim accents. Another new design detail is the gloss black radiator grille finish.
Manhart’s high-powered C63 is a great gift for a car, and many enthusiasts may not like the next generation of downsizing. However, the 2024 AMG C63 will be pretty tough, pairing petrol with electricity. The plug-in hybrid will make 671 hp (500 kW) and 752 lb-ft (1,019 Nm) of torque, and all power will send it to 60 mph (96 kph) in a claimed 3.3 seconds. That’s about 0.5 seconds faster than its predecessor.
While the new C63 will have the performance numbers to support the switch to hybrid power, there’s little to replace the jarring tone of the V8’s exhaust. The Manhart CR700 Last Edition gives the engine a proper goodbye, but we’re excited to see what the tuner can do with the stock 671 hp.
